A documentary follows the life of Moti, a 14-year-old boy from a small village in northwest Nepal, as he learns the traditional skill of harvesting honey from the Himalayas. Moti's father is one of the last honey hunters in the valley, and Moti is eager to take over the family profession. The documentary shows the dangers and challenges of honey harvesting, as well as the importance of preserving this traditional skill. Moti faces many obstacles, including the risk of bee stings, treacherous terrain, and the physical demands of the job. Despite these challenges, Moti is determined to become a skilled honey hunter like his father. The documentary also highlights the poverty and struggles faced by Moti's family and community, and how the honey harvest is a vital source of income for them. Ultimately, Moti is successful in his first honey harvest, and the documentary ends on a hopeful note, with Moti looking forward to continuing the family tradition.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The story takes place in northwest Nepal, in the foothills of the Dalagiri range.
2. The Dalagiri range has a peak that is over 8,000 meters high.
3. Every spring, men in the region risk their lives to gather honey from the big black bees of the Himalayas.
4. To reach the village of Cuine, one must take a plane from Kathmandu to Pokhara, then drive for four hours to Beni, and then walk for a full day along perilous tracks.
5. Moti is a 14-year-old boy who has not been to school for several years due to lack of money.
6. Moti's father is one of the last honey hunters in the valley.
7. The honey hunters set off for around 10 days to cliffs that are perched at around 3,000 meters altitude.
8. The cliffs have names, and the honey hunters must make offerings to the gods before venturing up.
9. The honey harvest is a time of worrying for the families of the honey hunters, as they risk their lives to gather the honey.
10. The honey is roughly filtered through old rice bags to get rid of the dead bees and wax.
11. The cliffs belong collectively to the villagers, and every family has the right to a share of the honey.
12. Those who risk their lives on the cliffs only receive one share more than the others.
13. The honey is sold in the town of Bini, where the honey hunters walk for a whole day on a treacherous path to reach.
14. The price of the honey is 700 rupees a liter.
15. The honey is not heated, and the honey hunters consider it a good medicine.
16. Moti's father is satisfied with the price he got for the honey, but considers it not great considering the risks they take.
17. Moti wants to become a honey gatherer like his father, not for the money, but for the experience and tradition.