Youth working to preserve Purkhyauli Dance, Sorathi

By Our Correspondent,Myagdi, Dec. 5: The young generation of Magar and Pun communities have, of late, been active for the preservation of their traditional art and cultures. 

 The older generations are also engrossed in teaching the traditional original art, culture and skills to younger generation. 

‘Purkhyauli Dance’ and ‘Sorathi Song’, which are popular in the Magar community, are also being learned by the young generation people.

Young people often perform traditional dances to welcome the guests in their villages.

Leader of Annapurna Rural Municipality-5 in Myagdi district Raju Pun said that with the development of modernisation, the traditional original cultures were disappearing. 

Pun said, “We are worried that our identity will be lost, so these days we have started teaching young generation the traditional dance.”

Purkhyauli dance is considered to be the cultural identity of the Pun and Magar communities. 

Recently, they gathered to worship ‘Karbakeli Baba’, the main deity of the community, and performed the Purkhyauli dance in Kafaldanda for two days.

 The young and the old generation gathered at the same place and enjoyed singing songs in Sorathi Bhaka and  performed Purkhyauli dance.

There is a tradition of showing Purkhyauli dance in the special ceremonies like birth, death, marriage, Chhewar  ceremonies of the Magar community.  

To perform Purkhyauli dance,  12 men  are required and the same numbers of women are needed to sing the Sorathi song. 

Until a few years ago, it was not easy as to perform this dance, which requires a lot of skilled manpower, said the locals.