By Binu Shrestha

Kathmandu, Nov 22 : Staging of a drama based on a tragic love story of Pachali Bhairav and Rukmani or Naiajima that had begun on November 11 concluded here on Saturday.
The play was staged for nine days at the Kaushi Theatre in Teku.

On the last day of the show, former Minister Krishna Gopal Shrestha, Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya and Deputy Mayor Hariprbha Khadgi Shrestha enjoyed the play. They also presented appreciation letters to all artistes.

Sudanman Munikar and Shrishtina Munikar did the lead role in the play presented by Bajra Kala Kunj.
Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) has financially supported to stage the drama and over 1,000 enjoyed the play, according to the organiser.
The drama has narrated how Palambar Kirati king became famous as Pachali Bhairav.

As the starting of drama, it showed that Palambar Kirati king had the habit to bathe in the Ganga at Banaras, India and he was returning to Kathmandu in the form of handsome man at holy place Panchalingeswar of Teku, confluence of the Bagmati and Bishnumati Rivers for mediation.

Rukmani saw him usually at the Panchalingeswar during her working process. They attracted each other and fell in love and she became pregnant before marriage.

Then, Rukmani forced her lover to reveal his identity and he finally agreed to reveal himself. He told Rukmani to throw some grains of rice to at him so that he could return to human form. She was afraid of the terrifying face of Bhairav and ran away from there and forgot to throw gains at him.

Bhairav pursued her throughout the night, but when day began he sought to hide himself. He reached a cremation site and wrapped a bamboo mat around him.
He did not have enough time to disappear totally underground- the stone venerated today at Teku is his unconcealed buttock.
After that, people started worshipping as a Pachali Bhairav, as a guard of their city.

The drama also portrays the challenges faced by a single mother in the society. The drama shows pains and social discrimination that a single mother faces in society.
According to director Munikar, the play is based on many written an oral stories and myths.

Pachali Bhairav dance, which is performed once in 12 years, is one of the most famous mask dances of the Kathamndu Valley.