Seconded By: Bengin Ahmad,
Every winter, people from upper Dolpo migrate south from their homes in the high mountains to the lower regions, following ancient salt and grain trade routes. They have done this for generations to find winter grazing pastures for their animals and to trade for or purchase grains and other essentials. Many have abandoned this way of life, migrating instead to the city of Kathmandu for the winter. But this is not an option for Rinzin Dolma Gurung, age 56. She has no option but to continue this seasonal migration to keep her animals alive.
Her home in Saldang, Upper Dolpo will be closed for five months, with snow blocking the passes and mountains, no food for her animals, or opportunities to earn any money. So every year, she must travel to a lower village of Kalikada outside of Dolpo, where she trades her weavings for grain that she will then take back to Dolpo to get her through until the next winter.
This year, however, the people of the lowlands deliberately burnt down all the pastures to make way for new grass. And there was little demand for her weaving, so she was not able to obtain all the grain she needs for the winter. Although this practice of traveling to the lowlands in the winter is based on tradition and long-standing intergenerational relationships, the power balance is uneven; Rinzin’s community is considered impure and unwelcome in the homes of the lowlanders. Discrimination is embedded in these social structures, so her hard work is not fairly compensated. This season, Rinzin managed to procure only three sacks of grains to last till next winter.
Rinzin; Till Next Winter
Kalikada a remote village in a lower Dolpa a netsang village fictitious family village during salt and grain tradition
Rinzin; Till Next Winter
Rinzin Dolma Gurung 56 on her way from Kalikada to another neighboring lower village in search of grain and work
Rinzin; Till Next Winter
When Pastures are deliberately down by the lower villages to renew the grass Rinzin is worried for her animals
Rinzin; Till Next Winter
When the whole pasture is burned by the village for renewing the grass Rinzin is worried for her animals
Rinzin; Till Next Winter
The last snow falls before Rinzin returns back home to her high mountain Dungdar Saldang Upper Dolpo
Rinzin; Till Next Winter
Rinzin returns to their one-room hut after a night-long work in her netsang a salt and grain br fictitious family relationship houses br
Rinzin; Till Next Winter
Rinzin managed to collect only three sacks of grain that year to take back home
Rinzin; Three Sacks of Grains
Rinzin weaving for her netsang a salt and grain fictitious family relationship in Kalikada
Rinzin;Till Next Winter
Rinzin and her husband Lhundrup 53 in their burrowed one-hut house Kalikada
Rinzin;Till Next Winter
The last snowfall in Kalikada the land of grains before Rinzin and her husband returns back to their home in the high arid mountains of Dolpo Nepal
