5 Interesting facts about Guthi

 Here are some interesting facts about Guthi :-

1. Guthi is derived from the sanskrit word “Gosthi” and simply means gathering of people.Members of “Guthis” are called “Guthiyars”.

2. Traditionally, Guthi is a trust land  donated by kings or rich people to local communities for the maintenance of temples, pati pauwas, dhunge dharas .  conducting various jatras, festivals, local rites, rituals  or other social well being  by utilizing products produced from such lands.

3. Nepal is the only country to have this system and is believed to be in practice since the Licchavi period which is recorded in the pillars erected at Changunarayan Temple which itself is the oldest temple of Nepal.

4. Present forms of Guthi:

1. Land tenure form:

i) Duniya/Niji Guthi: 

These are the guthis  managed by private individuals/families which were granted lands by the state.

ii) Raj Guthi: 

Guthis managed by council members selected by the state.At the present,   “Guthi Sansthan'' (established in 1964 AD) is a centralized government body that operates all  Raj Guthi.Guthi Sansthan also provides some fund for other Guthi to conduct festivals, jatras etc.

           eg. Raj Guthi of Pashupatinath Temple 

2. Socio-cultural institution:

i) Death guthi (“Si” Guthi) :

Guthi responsible to  carry out funerals of  its members.Male are only its member.They conduct feast at least once a year and discuss plans/policies of guthi.

ii) Guthi that organizes Jatras like Rato Machhindranath, Seto Machhindranath etc. by Newar community.

Similarly, there are various kinds of guthis based on clan, lineage, territory etc.

 

5) On 30 April, 2019 communist Government of Nepal proposed a bill in “Upper House of Representative” to make a separate authority under Nepal Government to manage and nationalize all the Guthis.This was highly criticized by the people and ‘Newar community’.At last government was forced to step back.

References:

https://www.spotlightnepal.com/2019/06/23/the-guthi-system-should-be-regarded-as-important-intangible-cultural-heritage-prof-david-gellner/

https://english.onlinekhabar.com/guthi-system-in-nepal-and-perpetual-debate-win-win-deal-is-possible-and-inevitable.html

https://digitalcollections.sit.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4205&context=isp_collection#:~:text=Nepal%20is%20the%20only%20nation,tenure%20and%20Newari%20social%20units.&text=There%20are%20many%20types%20of,roles%20in%20Newari%20social%20life.