KUTUMBASANGA HATEMALO II - POKHARA

KUTUMBASANGA HATEMALO IN BATULE CHAUR

It had been a long day of political campaigning at Batule Chaur. Residents had patiently listened to three parties in a row and by 2 pm the sun was hot. The crowd began to stir restlessly. Across the field, a large stage had been set up and people eyed it curiously. An array of Nepali instruments adorned the two-tiered platform. 7 young musicians arranged themselves amidst their instruments and a familiar folk tune filled the air. The restless crowd spilled over. A special show had begun.

Kutumba, a folk instrumental ensemble committed to the celebration, research and preservation of the diversity that exists in indigenous Nepali art forms, firmly believes that the richness in Nepali music is directly significant of the rich diversity that exists in the Nepali people.

In collaboration with the Nepal Gandharva Community Development Center, Kutumba completed a four-day workshop series with local sarangi, madal and arbajo veterans from March 25th to 29th in Batule Chaur, Pokhara. Students from Pokhara Academy and over two-dozen other young local musicians also took part in the workshops.

Supported by the Embassy of Denmark, Kutumbasanga Hatemalo is Kutumba’s long-term initiative aimed at preserving and promoting indigenous folk art forms across the country. In November 2007, dhimay, nagara and khin workshops took place in Kavre. The Batule Chaur workshops focused on the sarangi, madal and arbajo. Later in 2008, Kutumba hopes to visit Janakpur.

As the final culmination of the workshop series, the performance at the Batule Chaur maidan on Saturday drew a crowd of over 1000 people. Local musicians including Bhim Bahadur Gayak performed sarangi, madal and arbajo numbers.

Batule Chaur, known for its strong community of Gandharvas, is home to many talented musicians including the legendary Jhalak Man Gandharva. Like many others around the country, this community struggles with a classic plague that affects its youth. Most young people are not inspired to pick up their traditional folk art forms. For a variety of reasons, including the shame and discrimination that comes with being identified as a Gandharva, the youth of Batule Chaur do not identify with the art of playing instruments such as the sarangi.

The workshops and final performance were opportunities for local youth to engage with Kutumba and local gurus who are often taken for granted. Seeing Kutumba and the scope of folk music, they will hopefully see worth to learning their local art forms and taking pride in them.