THE VILLAGE
THE FACES OF BIRTA DEURALI
Birta Deurali is no exception to Nepal's tradition of diversity. This multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation is home to just over 100 ethnic and caste groups, more than 90 languages and 8 major religions. According to the 2001 census, Birta Deurali's population was 3,212, representing 9 distinct ethnic groups.
About 40 percent of Nepal's citizens live below the poverty level of $240 per person per year, as do many of Birta Deurali's residents, some of them far below, in extreme poverty. Many of these are members of indigenous tribes such as the Tamang, Majhi, Bhujel, Pahari and Biswokarma. Years of political unrest during the Maoist insurgency (1996-2006) put even greater pressure on those trying to subsistence farm on extremely challenging terrain like Birta Deurali's, and isolated them even farther from any national infrastructure or support.
You can see the village's diversity, and Nepal's, in the faces of Birta Deurali.