Music Museum of Nepal: a hidden jewel of folk instruments

-

"Nepali Lok Baja Sangrahalaya" also known as Nepal's only music museum is located in Tripureshwor on the sacred premises of Tripureshwor Mahadev Mandir, the core area of Kathmandu Valley. Established in 1995 by Mr. Ram Prasad Kandel, till date it has been 28 years, still with the same resilient energy and passion, he has been committed to researching, collecting, preserving, providing space and glorifying ancient folk instruments. This museum is a dedication to his teacher Swami Akhandananda Sarswati in return as an honour to his pursuit of knowledge in meditation. Ever since, the museum is a converging home ground of around 655 types of 1200 folk instruments representing different culture and ethnic groups across the country.
 
The instruments are rescued from various corners of Nepal reflecting the originality of the place it was held in. Every individual instrument has its own knitted story heard when its being played and the amazing craft created on it speak volumes on the life of the craftsman. So, often these musical instruments are known to be the open journal of our ancestors When we start up a rhythm, we can be aware of our ancestor's footstep.

In many Nepalese society, music is performed according to the ritual calendar.  Like most popularly Panche Baja is played on the auspicious occasion of wedding ceremony. These folk instruments are known to accompany human life cycle events. Musical instruments can be even used as a healing purpose. Music can be the medium of communication between the world of humans and the realm of gods. Musical instruments are frequently considered sacred, inhabited by gods and treated with respect. 

The corridor of the museum holds the vibrant smile of Sarangi hung across the walls.  Every instrument whether it be bells, gongs, murchunga, drums, they are calm and collected as if they are 
waiting for the arrival of the visitors to observe them, know them and to play with them generating a beautiful melody. Along with the instruments, the museum also holds various audio-visual archives and films of folk instrument from all around the world.  

Sadly, most of the young people today are attracted more to modern music played on modern imported instruments. Consequently, somewhere it has resulted declining interests on our folk musical instruments, which happens to be our true identity. Visitors from around the globe attend the museum to know a one particular side of Nepal. But still the existence of this museum is lesser known to the valley resident themselves and is almost like a hidden jewel even after 28 years of its establishment.  Moreover, the museum is a non-profit organization started alone by Mr. Kandel, so even the space is rented from the guthi organization and governmental help is still out of reach.  There has been a constant conflict on the space where the museum is held and in certain times it has often reached to a point of its demolishment. This distressing act might make a lot of our instruments homeless resulting its existence woken to be extinct. Even though, after all Mr. Kandel with high hopes and strong desires is open to continue this museum in an open roof because he firmly believes no hurdle will stop him from showcasing and educating about these folk instruments to all the visitors and students coming from different schools. He aspires the children of today to be the upcoming future dwellers and he ensures to leave a captivating impact of the museum on them.

Culturally rich, Nepal's one of the impactful assets are these rare folk instruments embodying the spirit of our ancestors. Thereby, Music Museum of Nepal is a significant place to get in touch with our roots and identify the different spectrum of folk instruments. With this immense respect and honour to Mr. Ram Prasad Kandel who have had single handedly continued to conserve the instruments and encourage on the occurring impact. 

Lastly, I would like to request all the readers out here to visit the museum. Your single step will give life to the deserted instruments out there. Thankyou. 
(picture credit: Music Museum of Nepal gallery)









Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

new girl in the city

-
Image
narayani ko tir tira  As a premed student, never have I thought that I would move out of the nyano comfort of  ktm valley and settle apart by own. Leaving mommy, baba and dai and just visualising the home without me ached my heart.  I will not deny the fact that I am this pampered valley girl who was exposed to less of the outrage of being on own and facing the world. Me a more shy creature, the survival instincts were really doubtful on being apart lol. Yet, the placement to a new place, Chitwan was less of choice and more of base mark from where I could unlearn things and most importantly grow out from the shelter of comforts. Chitwan, known as the medical hub of the country. My first insight to you was more farakilo roads and more of greens, pollution comparatively less. I saw hamro CMC and line of hospitals and medical centers and was convinced my future profession placement is somewhere in the right place. (the only way i could convince myself on accepting moving apa...
Read more

a year of medical school : an experience

-
Image
Going to a University for pursuit of medicine was one of the choices not at ease. A noble profession demanding relentless hard work and discipline, pretty aware about the hardships unfolding but forever  grateful to have had this opportunity to engage in being one. Reflecting back it was a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, with continuous effort of trying to be the best despite all odds, hustling up to master the undiscovered infinite potential within. Being miles apart from home was little desolating but circle of friends, seniors, hostel staffs were friendly enough to make me feel warmer like home and would admit only few of times the feeling of homesick gathered on me, other than it was all fine, heads ready to hustle. Initial days were awakening of the wanderer inside me, knowing different people from different places, learning new things, trying to be independent somewhere, having this opportunity to wear the white gown was like a stardom and all excited for a new story to...
Read more

for the better

-
rare of times where i have not much in head yet this need to write it out. a time in life, a good memory, a chapter, a lesson or a feeling. How an invisible average looking human was appreciated and the presence was valued. How the way I look out was noticed and how this often stressful brat was assigned to calm the hell down. How the melancholy of songs like jiyein kyun and aaja matra was not understood and tried best to push away fearing to be left with this gut wrenching feeling. How silliest of little things had been cute over cringe. We live in a pretty strange world, where moments lay down as lessons which at the end is all for the better. No matter how hundreds of trial from both, yet the digit appears as a binary zero and not a one. The situation of the meet happens to be in an off time and certain circumstances not made by us make things awkward.  Yet at the end peace is maintained with no hate but mutual respect and probably the best memories. Its human to feel upset on n...
Read more