The tea shops lining the feeder roads to Narayangad, Chitwan District's main bazaar town, provide an excellent arena for observing interaction between the different caste/ethnic groups that comprise the multi-ethnic population of the Rapti Valley resettlement area. The tea shop is at once a place for relaxation and refreshment, and a place to conduct business. Low status castes may be restricted access to certain areas of the tea shop, but they are not excluded altogether. Since tea at least is virtually neutral in terms of ritual purity, all caste/ethnic groups will drink tea prepared by any 'touchable caste' (Nepali: paani chalne jaat). Nor is lack of money a bar since no purchase is necessary and many people seek only a drink of cold water and a seat in the shade. Tea shops thus witness a daily mingling of people from a wide variety of economic and caste/ethnic backgrounds.
