Life in a Farm in Nepal
Plowing the farm
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Milking
Every morning and afternoon my mother hand milks our water buffaloes. When I’m in the farm I do it for her. I find a kind of pleasure while milking. In the morning at 5, when I open the barn's door and switch on the light, the mother and daughter are spontaneously awakened. They stretch their bodies and moo.
I ruffle the calf’s head. She is tied to a wooden pillar by a plastic rope. I free her; she hastens for her mother's teat. Mother is very obsessed with her daughter. She licks her daughter while the daughter sucks milk. In a short interlude, I strain the calf and tie her to the same pillar. She agitates and strives to reach her mother. Her titanic struggle is gone vain.
The mother tosses and turns her head towards me, she sniffs and looks satiated. I pat her and squat beside her hind legs. I wash her udder and gently rub it with butter. They are warm and thick. I place a bucket under her udder and start pulling the teats with my thumb and index finger. Milk seeps out and drops into the bucket. I milk her three teats, the fourth is for her daughter. After milking, I pat and free the calf. She hastens towards her mother and looks satisfied. Her agony and exasperation has ended. Now she can suckle as long as she likes.
Hand Milking
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Farming
Agriculture technique in Nepal has not improved in two thousand years. (It is believed rice has been farmed since 2000 years). The same kind of wooden plow pulled by oxen or water-buffalo and driven by human is used in farming. No surprise, why agrarian economy imports food.
It is not easy to industrialize agriculture in Nepal. Gas is very costly, in fact, there is always a kind of energy crises in Nepal. Tractors and other machinery have to be imported, and people are poor.
People in agrarian Nepal live close to the earth, bound to plants, which is natural, almost predetermined, a reality that has not changed with time. They move with seasons. Rain is planting of rice, autumn is festival time, winter is harvesting. In summer, they sell grains, making money to get going for the entire year.
Delightful languor
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Photographer’s note
It’s not that I hate being photographed while working. I just make sure that no one touches my camera. More than posing for camera clicks, I love shooting. Everyone is not camera friendly. I let it go when people hid their faces, actually most of the time I don’t want to capture their faces, I want to portray their life and stories. But sometimes they scold me. You don’t have any work, they yell. “This is my work,” I try to assure them. “Your work is bothering us,” they snap.
Usually I don’t ask permission, I don’t even inform them that I’m taking their pictures. When they are in jolly moods they want to see how they look in pictures. Some of the people are quite embarrassed when I catch them working. They ask me to take their photographs when they are in clean clothes. It is not always easy to shoot people. But I love my work, telling stories in pictures.
Harvesting
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Comments
- AUTHOR
Hi Sparkle, thanks for stopping by.
Fantastic portrayal of daily life! Thank you for sharing what you see!
- AUTHOR
sgbrown, thanks for your words of appreciation.
Regards
Congratulation on Hub of the Day, this hub is well deserving of it. You give such a wonderful insight into your family's life. Your pictures are excellent and each one tells a story itself. Thank you for sharing this part of your life. Voted up and awesome! Have a wonderful day!
- AUTHOR
Hi Urmila, all my life I have lived in a city, but my family has been in farming since the beginning of out family tree.
Thanks for reading, viewing and leaving a wonderful comment.
Cheers
I don`t now how I missed this hub. This has brought back memory when I was young and used to visit at my grand parents village in India, where they have big farm and did milking and plowing etc. You are natural writer and on the top of that your stunning pictures are so priceless. Oh, and Congratulations on hub of the day award! Take care.
yes Vinaya, it took me to retrospect,
cheers
- AUTHOR
Hi Shushil,
I'm glad that this hub made you nostalgic.
Cheers
after going through your publication I found myself in my own place..its an original life of us.
- AUTHOR
Hi Shalah, thanks for following me. I'm glad that you liked my story.
This is a wonderful story of life in your world. Thank you for writing it and sharing with us.
- AUTHOR
Hello lzzy,
HubPages is a niche content site, where every day expert learn, share and earn from their written content.
Thanks for stumbling upon this page. Your wonderful comment made my day.
Regards
Vinaya, I don't really know what a hubpage is, I just happened upon this- but it is beautiful! The photos and story are so personal and clear. It is unique to have an actual Nepali voice, so many times we hear and see things from an outsiders point of view. It is your position as one of the community which makes this so lovely- and vital. Please keep up the good work! I look forward to reading all of your works. Thank you!
- AUTHOR
Hi techygran,
so nice of you to leave a wonderful comment.
Thank you very much.
Vinaya, your lovely hub has the most activity of any hubs I am following! I think that that is some kind of sign-- get these photos and the story into LOTS of contests... keep up the great work!
- AUTHOR
@Cynid, thanks for visiting my hub and leaving appreciative comment. Cheers
@iefox5,city life is compulsion for many people because they do not find jobs in the country side.
Thanks for stopping by.
Beautiful scenery. More and more people are moving to cities especially the youth, but With fresh air,unpolluted water and food, low living cost etc,countryside is a better choice.
Hello Vinaya, A great hub with beautiful pictures. It gives such insight into the farm life in Nepal. Thank you for sharing a little bit of it with us.
- AUTHOR
Dear Peggy,
you are a wonderful community member, you always reciprocate nicely.
Thanks for your appreciative comment.
Regards
I missed seeing this when it got awarded a Hub of the Day. Well deserved and belated congratulations! It is wonderful how you capture those natural photos showing the farm people going about their business. The photos are wonderful and are capturing a slice of history in Nepal. Thanks! Up votes.
- AUTHOR
Dear Angel,
You bless me with your love and sincerity.
Cheers
Sir , this hub teaches so many values to us.. simplicity , love in a family , cooperation , contentment and being hardworking. This indeed an award winning hub..Pictures are excellent.
My goodness, you are not only a wonderful poet, but also brilliant photographer
- AUTHOR
@greatstuff
Thanks for following my hubs as well as me. I'm honored and blessed with a hubber friend like you.
@Debby, thanks for tweeting.
Vinaya ~ Time to share with Twitter friends these delightful photographs and story. Have a blessed weekend, Debby
Hi Vinaya. I found you through your 20 interviews with 20women series and am now following you. Enjoyed reading this hub. You are right, most farmers hate to be photographed. To catch them in their natural poses, you just have to take candid shots.
- AUTHOR
Hello writeronline,
I feel great because you have managed to visit this page and leave a wonderful comment.
Cheers
I missed this when it was HOTD, Vinaya. (I saw it, but got sidetracked, to be honest, and never made it back.)
Happily, I just did. The whole piece is wonderful, imo. the photographs enhance the story perfectly, and the whole tone is one of calm; serenity even. Congratulations.
- AUTHOR
I recommend these wonderful hub authors to the hub community.
http://hubpages.com/@sunshine625
http://hubpages.com/@poeticfool
http://hubpages.com/@rajanjolly
Thank you my dear friends for your wonderful comments.
Hi Vinaya. I do miss the calm, quiet and unhurried farm life. Your hub with its excellent photos took me back in time. And what an excellent write up. I really enjoyed.
Thanks for sharing. Voted up and awesome.
Farm life is simple yet so much at peace. You could capture that innocence...jai ho to you!
Congrats on winning this contest...well deserved!
Well described..loved the descriptions. So adventurous too. Thank you =)
Fascinating and enlightening hub, Vinaya. I don't know how I've missed it so long. It's great to get some insight into your life and life in another country. Thanks for sharing!
Outstanding photos, details and storytelling. I enjoyed my visit to Nepal. Thank you!!
- AUTHOR
@billybuc, we have been farmers since generations. My educated father did not want to continue farming. But when he retired as a journalist there were no other options left, so he went to the farm. Today he cannot think other than his animals and crop. I'm also trying to fit in my father's shoes.
@Christy, internet, and to be precise, hubpages, is so wonderful that you read my writings and I learn from your articles.
How wonderful is the internet that I can see photos and read descriptions about Nepal from here in Canada. Well done!
A wonderful hub sir! I come from a family of farmers and one day I will own my own farm and continue the family tradition. You have done well with this lovely hub!
- AUTHOR
Dear Debby
Thanks for your appreciative comment. I'm blessed to have a writer friend like you.
Regards
Dear Vinaya ~ I'm absolutely sure I posted a lovely comment here on this page, but my computer has been going wacky recently. Well, it's never too late to congratulate you on this marvelous award and to say I'm a devoted follower of your work, writings and photography. Blessings, Debby
- AUTHOR
Hello imaudraleigh, thanks for coming back to congratulate me.
I'm honored and blessed with a supporter like you.
Cheers
Congratulations on receiving the accolade for hub of the day!
- AUTHOR
Hello imaudraleigh, thanks for your compliment.
Regards
I love your pictures and your story :)
- AUTHOR
Hello Katrina, thanks for stopping by.
Cheers
What a wonderful hub! very useful and interesting too. It is a beautiful farm life.
- AUTHOR
Hello Don Simkovich, I'm glad that you have Nepali friends. It is great to know you, thanks for stopping by.
I'm glad I came across this hub. I have friends who live in Nepal. They've studied here in the States and then returned. Another friend of mine from Nepal now lives in the Toronto area. It's great to see the pictures. Keep up your good work.
- AUTHOR
Angle, very nice of you.
I hope all is well with you.
Cheers
Life in farm is so simple yet so fulfilling.. This is a good tribute to farmers. Your the best as always.
- AUTHOR
Hello Rosa, thanks for sharing your thoughts. Even my county men hate working in farm, because they think agriculture is related to poverty and backwardness.
What a wonderful stroll through your part of the world! Thank you for sharing it with us. As always, the photos are breath-taking ... It's funny to me that people here often sigh and talk about how simple things were in the "old days" before technology and mechanics took over. Some people talk about how nice it would be if we went back to those days. *snicker* Most of us in North America wouldn't survive a week doing the kind of work you must do there :-D
- AUTHOR
Hello Kavita, thanks for leaving appreciative comment. You make me happy with your lovely words.
Cheers
Hey Vinaya, this is such a wonderful hub. All your photos are so vibrant, capturing life in the beautiful countryside in an effortless manner. I could almost feel the sun on my face and smell the green grass as I browsed though your photos. Charming, enchanting and captivating. Congrats on being selected as HOTD
- AUTHOR
@Gia
@Karishma
Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate your comments.
You have done a wonderful job. Thanks for telling the world who we are.
An introduction to rural Nepal. Well done.
- AUTHOR
Hello peperuhi, thanks for your comment and following. I'll definitely read your hubs and follow you back.
- AUTHOR
Hello techygran, it is good to know you. Thanks for appreciating my work. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
Cheers
Fascinating hub and wonderful pictures! I love to read the stories of peoples in other countries who go about their day-to-day life in a way that hasn't changed dramatically in centuries... thank you! Keep up your good work! I wish you much success here on Hubpages! (voted you up)
- AUTHOR
Thank you my dear fellow hubbers for reading, commenting and standing by me.
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Sorry, I could not thank you individually. However, I will always cherish your words.
A great article along with the background narratives! And beautiful pictures! I've been to India on vacation and was struck by the farming culture and lifestyle. Your photos captured all and more...congratulations on the hub being selected as 'Hub of the Day'!!
You have shared such a personal wonderful thing, your real life. Thank you so much and I know the photography is priceless, as you experience in your world. We can only watch in awe and I am so thankful you have given me this insight. It is beautiful.
Beautiful farm life and photos. Voted up.
The love you have for your work shines through in this amazing and beautiful hub. You are so talented! Congrats on getting the Hub of the Day. You deserve it!
Congrats on being elected the HOTD. It deserves to be. I love the way you have captured the spirit and the soul of your country and her people in this hub. Again another beautiful peek into Nepal. Be a blessing! Peace!
- AUTHOR
Thank you my dear fellow hubbers for reading, commenting and standing by me.
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Sorry, I could not thank you individually. However, I will always cherish your appreciation.
- AUTHOR
Thank you my dear fellow hubbers for reading, commenting and standing by me. http://hubpages.com/@rtalloni
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Sorry, I could not thank you individually. However, I will always cherish your appreciation.
Wow, Vinaya, you deserve the front headline with this hub. I enjoyed every sentence and all the excellent photographs. If this was a book it would sit on my coffee table for all to see. Great work. Thank You. Jamie
These are superb photos that really tell a story. I loved learning about the farming lifestyle in Nepal. Congratulations on Hub of the Day.
superb hub and congrats on becoming the hub of the day.The photos attched here are well taken and the add rich content to this hub. keep hubbing like one.
What a nice hub and how interesting to see the farming and beautiful country and people in Nepal. Thank you for this and congratulations!
Vinaya, this is a wonderful hub and certainly deserves the Hub of the Day award! I loved looking at your beautiful photos and reading about life in Nepal. Thank you for sharing the information.
I loved this hub. Great choice for hub of the day. It's such fun to learn about far away places. Keep up the good writing!
I too, have milked a cow. And aimed it at the cat's mouth. And my head was slapped by the cows tail. I am a country girl. You put a lot of time and effort into this hub. Fantastic pictures and thanks for sharing your life with us. Ann Davis
I enjoyed your hub very much. The photographs are excellent. I'm embarrassed to say I don't know where Nepal is, but I'll be looking it up post haste. Thank you for the education about water buffalo and daily life for many -- in Nepal.
Awesome! Love thephotos- they are delightful. Your hub gives great depth into your culture. Wow.
Vinaya, I love your pictures and the way you were honest about farming. A lot of times we hear it one way or the other but I'm glad you gave real perspective to it being a job. Great Hub!
The photos are each a story. I love how you have shown us how the work is done on a farm. Simply amazing. Your writing always is so close to the heart, very beautiful!
This is such a beautiful hub Vinaya. I love seeing the diversity of the world and the people in it. I am so glad hub pages is world wide and we can share our cultures and differences. This hub is exceptional. Congratulations on Hub of the Day!
Thank-you for sharing this. I really enjoyed the information you provided and the photos really help tell the story.
Wonderful hub Vinaya! Living this close to the earth has some wonderful advantages--life can be brutal, but it is simpler--choices are simpler--I loved how you help on the farm--
Hi Vinaya, great hub and the photos are exceptional.
Congrats!
John
Thank you for taking me to Nepal and showing me around a farm community. :) I enjoyed the journey and story.
Vinaya , This is voted awesome and beautiful , interesting and useful! Why? because it is all of the above. I am reminded of the National Geographic of years ago , by your writing ! I believe as well that here in America , we long for the days of a more agrarian society as we once had . Very nice article.....:-} And hub of the day too!
What a terrific job of telling your story. And not just with words. The pictures add such texture and depth. Congrats on getting the Hub of the Day....well deserved
Congrats on hub of the day. Well deserved. I felt as if I were right there with you when the milking occurred. Thanks for sharing this peek at farming in your land.
Very well done. I love the photos. Congrats on getting Hub of the Day!
Beautiful photos! They really bring this hub to life.
Hey Vianya, great Hub beautiful pictures, the people of Nepal must be hard working and very happy.
What a way to live, self sufficent I really admire that way of life. Useful, interesting and informative.
VU and SS...Thank You for sharing :)
Vinaya, Congratulations on Hub of the Day. This is fantastic. I have seen farmers here that work almost as simply as yours do. I also have seen farms that are huge and almost totally mechanized. I value both as they are all necessary.
Farming and farmers are the backbone of any country. Without them, people do not eat.
Your country is beautiful and I have enjoyed seeing your portion of it in your wonderful pictures. Thank you for sharing with us.
Enjoyed reading and learning on your hub well done !
Dear Vianya
How in the world did I miss this one! What a wonderful beautiful hub! I loved it so much. Sure did deserve to be hub of the day...hub of the year I am thinking!:) You know how I feel about your farm and trying to find a way to fit in the box to come for a visit..lol
Maybe many still do things as many years past but many that have all the techno gadgets here are trying to move back to simple life of old. Amazing...
Take care my friend,
Sunnie
Vinaya, Congratulations on 'Hub of the Day'. You deserve it! Regards, snakeslane
Hello Vinaya! Congrats on the Hub of the Day-it is well deserved! These pictures look like they are from National Geographic Magazine! What an awesome Hub! I look at these photos and they remind me of the way of life in Cambodia. It seems so foreign to me but yet, these are your everyday experiences. Very well done my friend! Voted up and SHARING!
JSMatthew~
You live in a beautiful part of the world. The pictures are awesome. I find it amazing that agricultural techniques have not improved in 2,000 years. I guess it is no surprise why they import food. Still, what a beautiful place. I can only assume that the people are probably great people to know and be acquainted with. A vote up for a great hub. Thank you so much for sharing.
Vinaya, you deserve your hub of the day success. The Harvest picture is stunning as is the rest of the article. Congratulations.
Vote up / beautiful.
Congrats! I loved reading about farm life in your country. I grew up milking the cows and the goats! I look forward to reading more about your country and the life there. Again, beautiful Hub, beautiful photos. I voted this UP, etc.etc.
Vinaya...
This is an absolutely wonderful hub with great pictures. THIS...is Hub of the Day material which is why you probably won it, huh?
Excellent job my friend! Congrats!
Thomas
I enjoyed your photos! Interesting. And it reminds me of my home country, pretty much the same and I remember my childhood memories being on the rice fields. :)
Congratulations on being named Hub of the Day, Vinaya!
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