GHORAHI: Country's sole Tharu museum at Panaura of Ghorahi in Dang is awaiting proper maintenance and protection. The museum reflecting the culture and identity of the Tharu community was established some eight years ago.

Dispute over undertaking the maintenance responsibility is the reason because of which the cultural heritage has been neglected for long, the stakeholders concerned said.

The museum remained operational in the initial years of its establishment. However, it is now completely shut, museum protection committee member and journalist Santosh Dahit said. The museum has remained shut for around three years, much to the disappointment of people coming here to visit the site.

The long shutdown has started causing damages to museum artifacts and other objects related to the Tharu culture and tradition, Dahit said.