Septuagenarian Damai working to preserve traditional instruments

By Govinda Sharma  

Banke, May 16 : Tike Damai, a resident of Hasnapur in Ward No. 8 of Baijnath Rural Municipality, Banke district, has been active in preserving the Panche Baja (five traditional Nepali musical instruments) and the Naumati Baja (nine traditional musical instruments)  even at the age of 71. A group of 23 people, including Damai, who are interested in Panche Baja and Naumati Baja have been working to preserve the traditional music since their childhood. 

After the people of the first generation engaged in preserving the use of the traditional instruments became physically weak, Hasta Damai, 40, son of Tike is now leading the group. This group has been playing the instruments jointly by forming the Simtali Ekta Baja Group. 

Panche Baja and Naumati Bajas are more popular in Surkhet, Salyan, Rukum, Jajarkot and other districts of Karnali than in the Terai districts. They are trying to transfer the skill of playing the instrument to the new generation of people living in the Terai districts including Banke and Bardiya. 

Septuagenarian  Damai, the leader of the group, said, "We have thought of preserving the tradition that our ancestors brought to the Terai from the hills by teaching this culture to the new generation.”

During the wedding season, the group cannot manage to reach every house from where they are invited because of their growing demands. Damai said, "I am happy for being able to preserve the ancient culture as well as to make income from this tradition.” 

Hasta,  who agreed to lead the group at the request of his father, said that they were responsible for promoting the ancient culture and introducing it to the new generation.

All castes, not a particular one, should feel ownership of the tradition in order to preserve the culture, Hasta said. 

They, however, complained that they have not received needed support from the local levels and other agencies for the continuation of the tradition, although their main aim was to preserve the cultures.