Herne Katha

We spent three days on the road before we reached Darchula's headquarters Khalanga from Kathmandu. From here, we still needed to go north - to Changru and Tinkar, villages at the border of China and India. However, there is no way to reach these villages through Nepal. One has to go through India. That is, if you are permitted by the Government of India.

It snowed all night at Nile - the last human settlement in Tsum Valley. If you go a little further, you will find a monastery and then yak pastures and hills for harvesting Yarsagumba. If you keep going, you will stumble upon Tibetan villages that have become isolated by the snow.

Nestled between Ganesh Himal and Manaslu is a hidden valley, which until about 15 years ago, was closed off to foreigners. Tsum Valley is known for its mixture of Tibetan and Nepali ways of life. Our journey to Tsum Valley begins from Chhekong.

It's only fictional heroes in movies that are always successful. The life of a common person is sometimes a bed of roses, and sometimes full of thorns. Stories of success are often told, but who will tell the stories of failure?

Villages in Nepal are disappearing due to out-migration. While some people have left to chase their dreams, the others are driven away by compulsion. Villages near the Baitadi headquarters however, have been chased away by monkeys.

Story of the horse riders at Rara Lake.

A motor road barely takes you from Mugu headquarters to a place called Chhayla. Even that is not possible in monsoon. The rations for 12 villages in Mugum Karmarong are then carried by either mules or humans. Lifesaving medicines also ride the mules.

A few years ago, while travelling through Dailekh, we were surrounded by little children from a nearby Badi community singing on the road. This time we could not find them on our way, so we headed towards their settlement - "The New Settlement". But, the old wounds still hurt the same.

It takes two days of walking to reach the Pulu village of Karmarong; a remote village situated under the shadow of the lonely mountains in Mugu. Tulasi Shahi walked up these lonely mountains years ago, with a single purpose - to heal.

Krishna Lawad from Dehimandu, Baitadi has an interesting but a tough profession. He goes deep into the forest to find sticks. With his inherited craftsmanship, he turns them into strong and beautiful walking sticks and sells them in the market.

High above the steep hills of Jajarkot, Nepal, four lives are tied together in the rugged cliffs of Khal Taakuri . Along the extreme topography of Nepal, and across the mental and emotional geographies of the tenacious human spirit, this documentary witnesses the perilous journey into the tiger’s jaw.

It has been generations since people left the mountains of sorrow in Nepal to find happiness in the mountains of India.

Half a century ago, Taranath Sharma walked from Jhulaghat, Baitadi to Dadeldhura. His account of this difficult journey, "Ghanaghasya ko Ukalo Katda" was also included in the older Nepali textbook. Now, 55 years later, we decided to take the same journey up the steep hills of Ghanaghasya.

A group of technicians are gearing up to enter the forests of Bardiya National Park. Their job is to count tigers.

A person is a person as long as they are alive. After death, one becomes a dead body. “Where does one’s soul go after death?” Vishwanath Harijan does not have time for these questions. All he knows is that a person is taken to the morgue after death. However, he himself goes to the morgue alive.

Our destination was Mugu. But the weather had the last word. We changed our route after the rain washed away parts of the Karnali Highway. Barekot, the northern part of Jajarkot, became our new destination.

Story of years long conflict between humans and elephants in Bahundangi, Jhapa.

Bagwana village is located at the edge of the forest, approximately 27 km from Birgunj metropolis. Every morning, two buses leave from the village to the city. One belongs to Asiya Devi and the other to Sadhana Devi. Asiya and Sadhana are the owners, and the conductors of their buses.

There is a small family in Ladiya village of Danabaari, Ilam. A family of three siblings, Anisha, Anish and Anup. After losing both their parents, they have had to learn how to be each other’s guardians.

Before reaching Thori of Parsa district through the Hulaki highway, a narrow unpaved road leads us towards a dense forest. After passing through the thick forest, we reach a village. It is surrounded by Chitwan on one side and Parsa National Park on the other. This village in the forest is called the 'home of hunters'.

During the British Colonization, indigenous people from Jharkhand, India were transported in trucks and tractors to work in the tea plantations of Assam and West Bengal in North-East India. They, who left their soil, cultivated treasures in these gardens. Generations passed.

Godpasara village of Parsa district did not receive enough rainfall this monsoon. The paddy in the fields have withered. The soil is parched. Six years ago, they faced a similar drought in the village. When it happened again this year, the villagers decided to pray for water.

Mitho Katha, directly translates as "A Sweet Story". A story about a mother and her son, who, despite their bitter past experiences have rewritten their life story, filling it with infinite sweetness.

No matter where life wanders, it is the memories that follow you. Julabi Chowk of Sundarharaicha, Morang reminisces the shadows and colors of the hills it left behind.

The wrinkles of her smile hide the signs of her age. The children playing around her look like butterflies in a garden, swarming around their favorite flower. She then transforms into a little child herself, running after them.

People from 12 villages in northern Mugu have migrated to Jumla in search of a better life. After all, how long can one live walking the trails of snow? But when they moved their homes, they didn’t just leave behind the memories of cold sorrows; they lost their language, they lost their identity.

We humans are driven by stories. It is stories that connect us, and stories that drift us apart. There is a group of people who have arrived in Pokhara with their own tales. There is a difference in what they do to survive and what they do to live a life. To survive, some of these people run a pharmacy, some sing folk lore, some paint the walls of houses, and some are artists. However, in order to live, they all sing songs; Songs of People.

Rubber farming in Jhapa district in Eastern Nepal.

We have tried to explore the abandoned walking routes to Jomsom, Mustang. The trails used by trekkers, mules, and pilgrims have been replaced by motorable roads these days.

Life in small islands (Srilanka Tapu, Jampani Tapu) made by Koshi river in Eastern Nepal.

We took an adventurous and difficult journey from Jumla to Dolpa in the Karnali region. Met people who have to walk for 2 days to reach Jumla from Dolpa.

Story of an amazing relationship between Durga Paudel and Mala Tamang which started more than 30 years ago in a small village in Eastern Nepal.

We have been telling the stories of people for a long time. Let's watch the stories of birds and animals too. In this episode, we are going to tell the story of vultures. Searching for the stories of vultures, we have travelled all around Pokhara. We, sometimes, travelled to the Seti river bank and sometimes, we waited for vultures at the vulture restaurant situated at Ghachowk.

Kulalbada, a small Dalit settlement near Jumla Bazar is changing slowly. The story of Kulalbada tells more.

A small Yadav settlement in Morang district in Eastern Nepal has produced nearly 30 doctors. How the village of farmers did this?

Story of friendship, family and love: Bauwa- a tailor from Birgunj, Nepal.

For many years, people in eastern Nepal are risking their lives to transport bamboo through Koshi (one of the largest rivers) and sell them in southern plains. One fine morning, Herne Katha team joined this adventurous river trip of villagers from Udaypur and witnessed the hardships, struggles and smiles of the bamboo rafters.

Story of Deu Kumar Rai, an ex British Gurkha, now following some dreams back in his home village in Eastern Nepal.

We followed a mountain village to it's journey to collect medicinal herb called Seto Chini, also known as Khiranglo and Hidde in local language.

Story of an aspiring musician who left Kathmandu and started farming in his own village with likeminded friends.

We followed a traditional wedding ceremony in a remote village in Jumla district, Karnali Province, in Western Nepal.

Story of a happy family built of love, passion and struggle, from southern Nepal.

Story of a dedicated teacher who has transformed a government school in his village to an exemplary school in the area.

Story of a cricketer's journey with some ups and downs.

Most of the villagers in this part of Baglung (western hills), stay in hilly areas to feed their cattle for around 6 months. As the weather gets cold, they return to their village with their cattle's and belongings on the last week of September, to be exact, on 'Asoj 5.' This is the tradition that the villagers are following from decades. In this episode of Herne Katha, we have followed the villager's journey back to the village.

Story of a 'Fish Village' in Bara, Bodhban. The villagers are switching to fish farming as it provides higher return compared to other traditional farming.

Story of a challenging journey to meet a couple who are herding buffaloes in the middle of an isolated forest on top of a hill near Pokhara, Kaski.

Stories of old Limbu people from East Nepal who are prepared to die and celebrate death.

Story of traditional Laathi Khel (Stick fighting) from Narainapur a small town bordering India in western plains of Nepal.

Colorful story from Western plain of Nepal bordering India, where a boy named Ishwar dresses as a woman and dances in parties to make a living for his poor family.

Story of a shepherd from Taplejung in Eastern Nepal.

Story of a beautiful Tharu village, Bhada in Kailali district of western Nepal.

By the age of 20, Abadesh didn't just dropped out of his college, he left his family life too. Nowadays, he is seen in a Geru dress far away from his home. His friends don't call him as Abadesh, brother anymore. He has become 'Bhikkhu Metteyya' now. Story of a Bhante from Lumbini.

Story of folk musician from Eastern Nepal.

Stories inside the tunnels of coal mines in the mountains bordering Dang and Rolpa district in the mid west Nepal. Koila Khaniko Katha - Story of Coal Mine.

Extreme scarcity of drinking water in a small village in western Nepal. The story of water. Paaniko Katha.

Stories of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal who want to go back to their country.

Story of a abandoned village near Pokhara in Western Nepal.

Stories of people and villages in the mountains of Eastern Nepal bordering India.

Story of Manjuliyadevi from Morang in Eastern Nepal, who inherited her husband's profession of traditional barber after his death.

Story of Senmikha, a young shepherd from Chakhewa, Bhojpur.

Two families from different parts of Nepal, unknown to each other, are connected by a fatal road accident in Saudi Arabia. 'Marisakeko Manchhe' (The Man Who Died Once) is a story of life and death, unimaginable sorrows, surprises and some measure of comfort and happiness.

Story of porters from Pathibhara temple in Taplejung, Nepal who carry pilgrims on their back to make living.

Story of a shepherd family from the mountains of the western Nepal.

Story of Marpha village in Mustang, Nepal - exploring its unique historical traditions.

Men from 'Damai' community in Rukum, Western Nepal played a set of instruments called 'Panche Baja' (Five Instruments)

Story of Thaggu Chaudhary and his 3 year old daughter in Buwako Katha (A Father's Story)

Stories of hearing impaired people from Eastern Nepal.

A group of women from 33 to 72 years old, dream about performing a theater play. With no previous knowledge and experience on acting and theater, these women work hard for months. Finally they perform a play named ‘Ruwa (Cotton)'

Story of a Shepherd and a Cowboy from Eastern Nepal who live nomadic life for the sake of food for their cattle.

Eighteen years ago, a young Maoist boy disappeared from a battlefield.

Chandranigahapur in southern Nepal is famous for it's women football team. Despite coming from poor families how the girls chased their dreams.

Stories of three different lives from Eastern Nepal who have befriended music. We met them at a music school run by Sunita Katwal in Itahari.

We took a challenging journey to Gobargada village in Eastern Nepal, a small island created by the Koshi river.

Stories of different characters who were involved in Maoist insurgency in Nepal.

The changed life story of Dushad community from southern Nepal, who were famous for robbery and thievery, some 40 years ago.

Stories of three paragliding pilots from Pokhara.

We followed the life of Sehenaj Khatun from Kathmandu to her village in southern Nepal. Sehenaj has given birth to 8 child at the age of 22.

A dog lover family in Kathmandu who have devoted everything they have for stray dogs and cats.

Stories of girls from Rolpa and Dang, working at a brick factory in Kathmandu.

A long dated tradition of buying and selling whole village in Dom community in Southern plain of Nepal.

Padahari village in Palhinandan Gaupalika in Southern Nawalparasi is home to many Pahalwan (wrestler). Some of them are hobbyist and some of them are professional. The tradition of playing 'kusti' (wrestling) dates back to ancient age.

Duita Katha (Two Stories) shows lives of two different Nepali women in their own world, both from Western Nepal. Jhupri Kumari Bhandari from Achham and Himani Tharu from Bardiya.

Story of a 'Jogi' who walks out at night to make rounds of other's houses hymning mantras using their blowing horn to make conch like sound. It is believed that the mantras and the blowing horn scares away evil spirit and restores good luck. A long dated tradition in many communities in Nepal.

Story of a Tharu woman from Dang, who happened to be a leader of her village.

Story of a young boy seeking his identity, struggling with poverty, trying to win life.

Story of courage and struggle of Kamala Chaudhari, a former Kamlari (bonded labour) from Dang, western Nepal.

Stories inside a small Muslim village called 'Chudeli Gaun' in Achham district in Western Nepal.

Stories of the last group of a nomad community in Nepal known as 'Raute'

Story of people in a village near Narayani River in Chitwan National Park, who make living from river and jungle.

Story of a village in Dailekh district in western Nepal, where all male members of family go to India to find work. It is difficult to find men in the village - Bhurti Gaunko Katha

Jana Samyukta Primary School in Dhodeni Gumi was in the verge of merging with another school. One day, Gajendra Rana Magar arrived.

A physically disabled boy from a poor family in Achham district has strong desire to read and write.

Story of a father and daughter from Eastern Nepal who make living from singing. Gandharbas (Gaine) are travelling musician with their instrument called Sarangi. We followed their musical journey all the way to Kurseong, Darjeeling in India.

Zindagiko Katha (Story of Life) tells some painful stories of ups and downs of old people living in Bishranti Ashram in Mulghat in Dhankuta.

Life of the shepherds of Babanpur.

Story of a 12 year old boy who lives alone in a house.

Lives of people living at the India-Nepal border in Jhapa in Eastern Nepal.

Lives of people from Kinghariyan (Muslim) community in Nepalgunj of Western Nepal

Some heart wrenching stories from the past and present from the Baadi women in western Nepal, whose primary profession is sex workers since ages.

Zubaida Khatun, like most of her friends got married at the age of 14 when she was studying at grade 7. Zubaida's struggling journey from a girl married at early age to an aspiring politician in her area.

Story of people in a village in Western Nepal, who earn livelihood from horses.

Rat hunting is a traditional profession of Satar (Santhal) community in Eastern Nepal. They hunt rats for food and fun.

Story of 72 year old Chandrabir Oli from Dang in Western Nepal. Who for 2 years, alone carved a road through forest and mountain to his home, so that his blind family members could walk.

A day in the life of an ethnic community called Sonaha in Western Nepal. People from this community find gold on the bank of river with their bare hand using few traditional wooden tools.

A family of Bhutanese Refugees re-settled in Canada since last 9 years revisit their old shelter camps in Eastern Nepal where they had spent two decades after fleeing Bhutan in the 1990s.

When winter begins, whole village of Dhorpatan in Western Nepal migrates to another warmer place called Bowang. Only few women called 'Chaukini' are left in the village who guard the whole village during 5 cold months in the mountain.

A day inside the restricted walls of a girls only Madarsa (muslim school) in southern Nepal.