The role of Nature and Environment in Tharu Religious Life: A Cultural analysis

The Tharu community, an indigenous ethnic group residing predominantly in the Terai belt that stretches across the Indo-Nepal border, holds a profound and time-honored spiritual connection with nature. This community has traditionally lived in harmony with their surrounding environment, developing a symbiotic relationship with the forests, rivers, animals, and seasonal cycles that characterize the region. Their religious and cultural practices are deeply embedded in an animistic worldview, wherein natural elements are revered as sacred entities imbued with spiritual significance. This ecological consciousness is reflected in their rituals, agricultural methods, architectural styles, and everyday practices, all of which demonstrate a deep respect for the natural world and a commitment to sustainability. This research article seeks to explore the intricate nexus between environmental stewardship and spirituality in Tharu life, with a particular emphasis on the Tharu settlements in Palia Kalan Tehsil of Lakhimpur Kheri district, situated close to the Indo-Nepal border. Drawing upon ethnographic fieldwork, cultural documentation, oral histories, and insights from ecological anthropology, the study examines how the Tharu people's intimate knowledge of local ecosystems informs their socio-religious practices and cultural identity.