Where Water Hyacinths Grow

In the wilderness of Koshi Tappu, Dharma Devi Sardar and women of the Sardar tribe use water hyacinths, an invasive plant, to weave a better future for girls in their tribe. The women of the Sardar tribe, clad in culturally unique tattoos, reside in Koshi Tappu, a protected wetland in Terai of eastern Nepal. Their traditional society is rife with poverty, inequality, and illiteracy for girls. However, their heritage of weaving has been integral in uplifting them. When Sardar women clear out water hyacinth infestations and repurpose them to weave and sell mats, they not only help the ecosystem of Koshi Tappu but also earn financial independence through their craft. Dharma Devi Sardar is an iconoclast amongst her tribeswomen in this regard, fighting against conservative societal pressures to empower her daughters. This documentary explores how she and many Sardar women like her coexist and grow together with water hyacinths.