Badki dance is on verge of extinction

By Our Correspondent,Sindhuli, Jan. 10: Badki dance of Danuwar, a tribal community  living in Kamalakhonch  area in Sindhuli district, is on the verge of extinction. The seniors of the Danuwar community have expressed their concern as the traditional dance of their community is about to disappear.

 According to the Danuwar Jagaran Committee, the Badki dance is in crisis in lack of its protection and the undermining the importance  of the traditional dance by the new generation. Badki dance is performed in groups of five to 10 dancers, wearing long ‘fariya’ and colourful clothes and playing different musical instruments.

 According to the Danuwar community, during the Badki dance, they express their grief by reciting 'Ramlila' in memory of their ancestors. It is also said that if one remembers one's guru or ancestors while dancing, one should not disrespect the words of the guru, said Suman Chaudhary, secretary of Danuwar Jagaran Samiti.

The Badki dance of the Danuwar community has been in practice since ancient times. Mallab Adhikari (Danuwar), a leader of the Danuwar community in Dudhauli Municipality-4, said that Danuwari language is becoming weak due to thematic studies in different languages like Nepali and English, and with that, the Danuwari culture like Badki Dance is in crisis.

He said that the youth of the new generation of Danuwar community do not show interest to learn Badki dance. They have been influenced by various modern instruments, DJs, and television and it seems that the people of the new generation are shy to perform the traditional dance, he added.

He said that the Danuwar Jagaran Committee prepared a detailed project report (DPR) in the year 2076 and started the construction of a museum with the financial support of the Bagmati Province Government for the conservation of Danuwar culture. However, due to lack of budget, the construction of the museum has not made any progress, he added.

According to the committee, the DPR construction cost of the museum is Rs. 116.69 million. The  museum is planned to be built in Dudhauli Municipality-5 Sirtauli in an area of 5,000 square feet.