Kuragraphy of Names and Naming Practices in Nepal

 Folklore: A Tale of Thendi (The Bolt lock)

Compilation: Kishore Subba (Limbu)

A long time ago, there was a man in the village. His name was Dhane. In winter, Dhane brought the plough cutting from the jungle, and the next day, he went to the woodcutter and bought a 7-foot-long wooden beam to make the Harish (a long wooden beam used in the plough to connect the plough and oxen). When Dhane arrived at the house and looked at the beam, he saw a rough cut on the side of the beam. Then he was supposed to better cut off the sides of the beam. Then he began to cut to make plain with his Khukuri (a traditional Nepalese knife). He cut and cut for a long time, a little bit upper and upper, until the beam was shorter than he needed for the plough. Sometimes his wife approaches him and says, "Oh, Punte's pa!" "Isn't it supposed to be shorter?" Dhane replies to her, "Pay attention to your job." "This isn't your concern," he said, continuing to cut with his khukuri. After a while, again, his wife.

A Random portrait of Peasant
Photo Source: Social Media of Halo Khabar

came nearby and told him, "Look, your beam is already too short for the plough." And Dhane said to his wife, "Are you the master or me?" "Don't try to teach me..."He continued to cut after noticing that the 7-foot-long beam was already shorter than 1 foot.Oh, pa! What the hell is this? It is too short already. Then he takes off his cap and keeps thinking while he is smoking tobacco—what to do now with this short beam? Then he decided to make a Thendi (the bolt lock). Then, using the 7-foot-long beam, he creates a lovely thendi about 4 inches long.Then he said to his wife to show that the beautiful Thendi had happened: "It doesn't matter that it didn't happen to Harish; look, this is happening to a beautiful Thendi; I am such a skilful man." He flattered himself, and his wife rubbed her lips in reaction.

A Necklace of Gold to the Listeners!

A Flower Necklace for the Storyteller!

This story will go to heaven, and it will come spontaneously in the time of storytelling!

*****