Tradition of playing swings during festivals fading away

By Amar Raj Naharki

Tanahun, Oct.30: Swings used to be a part of major festivals from Dashain to Thulo Ekadashi. Rote and linge swings (traditional swings set up with rope and bamboo poles and poles of Shorea robusta) used to be a common sight in the village. But now, they are rarely seen. These swings are disappearing as the practice of setting up swings in the village is on the wane. 

Uttam Kaini, a resident of Byas Municipality-11 Polyang, said that the place where they met earlier used to be a place to play swing. "It used to be a lot of fun to watch swing being set up, all the villagers and neighbours would gather together resulting in exchange of joys and sorrows," he said.

Brishraj Shrestha, president of Shantibarsh English Secondary School, located in Byas Municipality-5 Chapaghat, informed that the practice of setting up swings as per the tradition of Nepali culture is on the verge of disappearance. 

But some efforts are being made not to let that happen. "Students are very happy as the school set up a swing at the school in an effort to preserve the dying Nepali culture," he said.

Principal of the school, Deepak Sigdel, said that since children are addicted to mobile phones, the swing at the school will help them enjoy themselves outside their homes at least during the festival season.

He said that the students were happy after arrangements were made for free horse riding in the school in addition to swing.

"Children who enjoy watching TV, YouTube, Facebook and TikTok ditch all of them for a while and come to school to play swing and ride horses," Sigdel said. "If children are given a choice, they can have fun outside the house."

Krishna Acharya, a teacher at Chandi Devi National Secondary School in Byas Municipality-10, said that the sal (Shorea robusta) wood required for the swing is not easily available and due to the lack of young manpower in the villages, the practice of keeping such swings is fading. 

"Due to the lack of employment in the village, some of its youths have gone to cities in search of job, some abroad, making the village devoid of youth. It takes hard work and manpower to set up a swing," Acharya said, "There is no activity like before, the custom of keeping a swing has also started to disappear.”

He said that even though he used to set up swings here and there, the number has dwindled significantly. Linge Swing is prepared by burying bamboo in four directions and using a rope made of Babiya and, when the head is decorated with different varieties of flowers, it looks like a bride.

Although people of all walks of life and from all ages play swing, adults show a penchant for it. 

“Rote Swing is made of sal wood so that many people can play at the same time. 

People used to wait for hours in line to get their turn to play swing, and as they play it, the competition to hit the highest point would heat up the atmosphere. 

All this has become like a story now," Acharya said.

He blamed the unavailability of materials like wood, bamboo and rope used in making swings for hitting the tradition hard and said that the increasing urbanisation and modernity has not only reduced the availability of land but also cut the free time for the people. “As a result, the tradition of playing swing is fading.”