Echoes in the Valley 2023 returns to Ason

By Mannu Shahi,Mar 12: Echoes in the Valley (EITV) is a unique aesthetic experience that celebrates diverse traditions, ethnicities, and communal activities with music as the event's centerpiece. Initiated in 2017, this annual festival, in a short span of time, has diligently created a reputation as one of the most prestigious music-celebrating platforms in the country.

A concept of the members of Kanta Dab Dab, a Kathmandu-based World Fusion trio comprising: Sunit Kansakar on sitars, Rizu Tuladhar on bass, and Nikhil Tuladhar on drums/ percussions, the EITV intends to revive Nepal’s traditional sounds by showcasing its local music.

Since their inception in 2017, the very first event was held at Ason; the following year the celebration continued at Banepa in 2018; back to Ason in 2019; shifting to a virtual edition in 2021; and finally taking place in Kirtipur last year in 2022. 

The festival returns back to its birth streets of Ason for 2023 and includes a bonus celebration day at Teku. Scheduled to take place at Pachali Bhairab, Teen Dewal Shivalaya, and Laxmishwor Mahadev on March 17 for Day 1 Teku edition; the festival will continue at Bhotahity, Indra Chowk, Jana Baha, Kamalachi, and Nhyankatala on March 18 for Day 2 Ason edition. 

The various dabalies and paties, and similar traditionally designed rest-stops around native Newari communities are turned into stages where countless national and global performers unite to share their music with pedestrians and celebrate a day of inclusive music. 

This very idea of initiating the event was also triggered from an equivalent experience when the members of Kanta Dab Dab were on a Europe tour in mid-2016 and they got a chance to attend a festival where the entire community got out in the streets for a day to exchange music alongside their cultural practices and locally brewed products. 

All three members hailing from the peripheral regions of Ason-Basantapur-Nardevi then gathered together with their friends to curate and execute this vision a year later from their very home ground. Ever since the core organizing team has comprised Kanta Dab Dab as the founders; Shilpakar & Co. as the producers; in association with Phatcowlee, Kutumba, 

and Night. 

However, this year the festival has also partnered with various institutions to enhance further their educational outlets, conferences, and workshops: Kathmandu University Department of Music and Sibelius Academy, University of Helsinki for music education; Udaaya Museum for storytelling; UNESCO for heritage walk sessions; Quixote’s Cove for 

poetry and literature.   

The collective believes, “EITV aims to uncover, revive and make relevant Nepal’s intangible heritages and disappearing sounds by showcasing local music, art, and 

performances of daily rituals. It transforms small neighborhoods within the valley into grand stages for musical conversations between international 

and local artists. While also offering interactive educational initiatives, music conferences, creative workshops, guided neighborhood walks, open museum of communal art and artifacts as well as vending of cultural cuisine and locally manufactured products.” 

The entire event is free of cost and, alongside music, will feature local products, food stalls, and art displays for a wholesome indulging experience. The dates for the workshops and any further info regarding the festival are available on their social handles.