Traditional wooden utensil-making profession faces crisis amid poor sales
Summary
Wooden utensil maker Raju Chunar in Gorkha is struggling as plastic, metal and other modern products replace traditional household items. Declining demand is threatening both his family income and the survival of an old craft passed down through generations.
Key Points
- Raju Chunar of Gopling in Gorkha Municipality-14 says sales of wooden utensils have sharply declined in recent years.
- Traditional items such as theki, madus, mana and pathi are being replaced by plastic, steel and modern utensils.
- The fall in demand is threatening the livelihoods of craft workers and the preservation of a long-standing indigenous skill.
- Local priest Nar Bahadur Naharki says the decline in use is also causing traditional craftsmanship to disappear gradually.
