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Memories That Last forever: Nepalese Indigenous Dances and Sports

Indigenous Gangai dance. Photos: Smita

Kathmandu, August 15, 2008- I felt fortunate to be part of this year’s World Indigenous Day, August 9 celebration in Kathmandu. It was a most colourful event featuring many indigenous cultural dances, traditional ethnic sports and foods.

Among the 59 indigenous/nationalities communities enlisted by government, 29 Nepalese indigenous communities participated in the cultural rally and event while other indigenous peoples joined with them shaking their legs.

“It was a huge success as every indigenous community was so enthusiastic about showing off their unique cultural dances. That made this years celebration more colourful with different flavours from Himal, Hills and Terai indigenous people,” said Kabita Ale Magar, the coordinator of Cultural programs in the event.

In the week long celebration many indigenous communities from Himal, Tarai and Hills showed their unique dances such as Gurung’s Ghatu dance, Magar’s Kauda and Sarangya dance, Thami’s Maruni dance, Sakela dance of Rai, Sunuwar’s Dhol dance, Barha Gau dance, Yolmo/Helmo dance, Majhi, Urau and Gangai dance from Terai and many others. The dancing was performed at the Dashrath Rangashala Stadium and once again proved that the the Nepalese indigenous peoples are the beautiful flowers in the garden of Nepal.

Indigenous Bhote Samaj dance

While the unique indigenous dances from Himal, Terai and Hills were making people shake their legs in one corner, in another corner, a sporty atmosphere was making sports lovers go crazy, cheering and hooting for their respective communities’ volleyball players, Taara hanne and Thelo/Chhelo khelne.

Indigenous Sunuwar dance

Magar community took gold medals for winning in both volleyball and Thelo/Chhelo (men and women). Thakali (A) took the gold medal and Chhantyal took silver medal in Taara Hanne (archery).

Magar boys and girls volleyball winner teams. Photos: Smita

For 6 Magar boys to hold on to a gold medal in volleyball was like chewing iron during their game with Tharu boys in the semifinal. But in their final game with Chhantyal (both girls and boys) did not have to sweat so much. Chantyal players (men and women) took the silver medal in volleyball.

Indigenous Thakali Tara Hanne winner team leader receiving trophy from Constitutional Assembly Chair Subhaschandra Nembang.

“Taara Hanne and Chhelo khelne were there to represent our indigenous/traditional games while volleyball was included in celebration as it is much favoured and loved by today’s youth in a way that represents today’s modern world. It showed indigenous people are not only following their traditional games and values but are equally up to date with modern values and games,” said Krishna Sherchan, the coordinator of Sports in the World Indigenous Day celebration.

In this year’s Taara Hanne (archery) game Thakali, Chhantyal, Magar and Gurung participated.

Taara Hanne (archery) is mainly famous among Thakali, Magar, and Chhantyal communities. It has indigenous roots as it is believed to have started during the Stone Age for hunting. This game is performed by Thakali to celebrate their new year “Toran La”. They have special worshipping and singing in which they share the best wishes at the start of their new year. Chhantyal play this game in Chaite Dashain and Magar community plays during Maghe Sakranti.

Bom Kumari Budha Magar, a culture expert says Magars celebrating Maghe Sakranti with Taara Hanne is an inauguration for hunting. “Magh month is a time of seasonal change which is better for hunting so for people who have hunting tradition, Maghe Sakranti is a day in which they not only open the hunt but also train the new generation in hunting skills,” explained Magar.

In Chhelo/Thelo game, Janak Kumar Batha Magar from Dang (originally from Rukum) the national player in Chhelo game, took first position. Among women, Tara Pun Magar from Myagdi held the first position. Batha Magar was awarded 25 feet ‘pheta’ and a certificate as the award while Pun Magar was awarded with a Pashmina shawl and a certificate.

“It always feels good to win, however, our new generations have potential to do better so we need to bring them from the villages and expose their talents in games for them to be motivated and get started”, Batha Magar added.

NEFIN President Pasang Sherpa trying Tara Hanne

President of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) Pasang Sherpa joining in the celebration of indigenous-hood in the World Indigenous Day said, “These unique and colourful dances and traditional games demonstrate our cultural identity and our survival skills. Through these celebrations we are not only being aware of different cultural dances and livelihood, but also promoting and preserving them.”

This year’s World Indigenous Day was celebrated in Nepal for a week with cultural programs, sports events, food festivals and discussion programs where Nepalese indigenous people held their head high and celebrated for being indigenous nationalities. They not only shook their legs in different indigenous dances and let their loudest voices ring out while hooting for the players in the games, but they also brought their brains together to decide on the direction to follow to ensure that indigenous issues are addressed in the new constitution of Federal Republic Democratic of Nepal.

-Smita Magar in Kathmandu