Generational Traders Carry Pots and Pans on Backs to Remote Nepali Villages

Myagdi. Phul Bahadur Tamang, 60, from Sindhupalchok, has been carrying pots on his back to remote villages in Myagdi since 2037 BS, exchanging them for old utensils or selling them. Phul Bahadur, along with three other traders from Indrawati Rural Municipality-8, Sindhupalchok, have been leading a nomadic life for 45 years selling utensils.

Chet Bahadur BK and Bisu Gurung from Dhading also carry pots in baskets on their backs with Tamang to sell them in Beni, the district headquarters of Myagdi, and in all settlements across the six local levels here, said Bisu Gurung. They store their utensils in Armadi, Parbat.

Tamang, who has three sons and a wife in his village, is unsure exactly when his ancestors started this nomadic trade. However, Phul Bahadur stated that he continued the profession because his fathers and grandfathers had been doing it.

Tamang, who first left home with his father to trade pots at the age of 14, is still in the same profession.

Gurung arrived in Armadi, Parbat, from Dhading in the last week of Mangsir. He informed that his group plans to return to their village after trading in this area until the first week of Chaitra, and then move to another location for trade.

Bringing new utensils in baskets and exchanging or selling them in villages is the ancestral work of traders from Sindhupalchok. He said, "We determine the price for our new goods and the old goods from the customer, and if the values are equal, we take the old one and give the new one. If the value of the new one is less, we give the difference, and if the value of the old one is less, we take money from the customer to exchange," he said.

Gurung mentioned that the income has decreased as the trade is not as good as before. Stating that they come to areas including Parbat, Baglung, and Myagdi for trade once a year, he noted that after deducting all expenses, they manage to save around NPR 20,000 to 25,000 per month.

With the development of modern technology, people are turning to faster and more reliable services. The use of modern resources is increasing to fulfill their needs. With the development of road transport, local residents in rural areas can now go to the market themselves to buy new utensils, having access to facilities right in their villages.

Until a few years ago, old utensils were seen in every house. Those who exchanged utensils used to roam from village to village doing exchanges. Nowadays, it is rare to see someone walking around villages carrying pots in a basket.