An 8th century hiti in Nagbahal.
Photo credit:Ritesh Man Tamrakar/Flickr
Dhunge dharas first emerged during the Licchavi Kingdom (circa 400750 AD).
In Nepalese culture, offering water to the gods is considered a highly meritorious act.
Manga Hiti in Patan, built in 570 AD, is considered to be the oldest working dhunge dhara.
Over time, more hitis began to dot the landscape of the Kathmandu Valley.
The Malla period (circa 12011779 AD) witnessed a proliferation of hiti systems.
The spouts of Manga Hiti, Patan.
Alternatively, some draw water from underground aquifers.
These basins are crafted from a blend of stone and brick, with spouts protruding from the walls.
Positioned above each spout is usually a shrine dedicated to a specific deity.
Any excess water is either collected in a pond or directed to agricultural fields for irrigation purposes.
Manga Hiti in Patan is the oldest dhunge dhara still working.
Photo credit:S Pakhrin/Wikimedia Commons
Even today, dhunge dharas remain integral to daily life for many residents.
They are used for public bathing and laundry purposes.
They also provide a place for religious ceremonies, such as washing of images and idols of deities.
Similarly, in Bhaktapur, there is a longstanding tradition of offering water from Sundhara to the Goddess Taleju.
A number of hitis are also believed to possess healing properties.
Similarly, the water from Washa Hiti in Patan is renowned for its medicinal qualities.
The traditional custodians of hitis were the local community organizations known asguthis.
Furthermore, frequent earthquakes have damaged the royal canals, leading to the drying up of numerous hitis.
The gold spout of Nag Pokhari in Bhaktapur.
The spout has the shape of the mythical makara (also called hitimanga).
Photo credit:Gerd Eichmann/Wikimedia Commons
Some of the 108 brass spouts of Muktidhara.
Photo credit:Felix Dance/Wikimedia Commons
An elaborately carved spout at Mangahiti, Patan Durbar Square.
This spout depicts four animals, each born from the mouth of another.
With a burgeoning population, the demand for water has surged beyond the capacity of municipal piped water systems.
During dry spells, many residents rely on hitis to fulfill their daily water needs.
In Kathmandu Valley alone, there are nearly three hundred hitis that continue to function.
In recent years, concerted efforts have been made to restore many of these hitis to working condition.
Additionally, some hitis have been adapted and modified to better cater to the needs of the local population.
Tusha Hiti in Patan Durbar Square.
