Most top folk duet singers come from Syangja

By Arjun Kafle,Syangja, May 17: Folk artists from Syangja have dominated Nepali folk music through their powerful lyrics and music.

 Legends such as Chandra Bahadur Sen 'Masane', Savitri Shah, Rajendra Lamsal Chhetri, Dil Bahadur Shrestha, and Purushottam Neupane are some of the popular names in Syangja’s rich history of folk music.

Purushottam Neupane, a folk and duet singer, was born in Balam Beltari of Kali Gandaki Rural Municipality -5.

 At the age of 17, he passed the vocal test from the Radio Nepal in 1989 by singing 'Balam Devithan'.

 He has contributed his vocals to over 42 albums and more than  1,000 songs, including his popular songs 'Aaina Herera' and 'Mirmimuni Kali Thuneko' and national songs, hymns, Teej songs, Magar language songs. 

Neupane has developed his career in Pokhara and is the former central president and current patron of the National Folk and Duet Song Academy, Nepal.

Sharmila Gurung, a folk and duet singer hailing from Khalte, Waling Municipality-4, passed her vocal examination in 1999 and has lent her voice to over 1,500 songs, spanning various genres such as folk and duet, single, salaijo, and kauda. Some of Gurung's most popular songs include 'Mirmimuni Kali Thuneko' and 'Ranighataima'. Khuman Adhikari, another popular singer, hails from Kali Gandaki Rural Municipality -5, emerged in the music industry in 2004 with the song 'Ishwar Pani Debre Parechhan'.

 He gained popularity with many other songs, such as ‘Tyo Man Runna Hola Ra’ and ‘Syangjali Lai Nabhana Jaali’, which helped establish him as a notable singer in the Nepali music industry.

Similarly, Bishnu Majhi, from Chapakot Municipality-10, started her career in the music industry at a young age.

 Having lent her voice to more 5,000 songs, Majhi has produced dozens of popular tracks, including 'Chari Jelaima' and ‘Pachheuri Leau Baina.’

Ramji Khand, a singer born in Chapakot Municipality-4, entered the Nepali folk music industry almost 18 years ago by singing the song 'Waling Bazaar' with his own words, music, and voice. 

He has given voice to over 500 songs, and a dozen of his songs, including Ful Fulera Pahelai Bhayo,' are famous.

Eknarayan Bhandari, a composer, has created words for more than 600 songs but now is unable to compose due to health reasons. Born in Galyang Municipality-9, Bhandari's compositions include the famous duet songs 'Supari Chamro,' 'Lalupate Nughyo Bhuitir,' as well as modern songs like 'Tirkha Layo Pani Khaye,' 'Ma Bachekai Timrai Lagi Ho.'

Pashupati Sharma, another well-known name in Nepali folk music, was born in Putalibazaar Municipality-3. Many of Sharma's songs, such as 'Campus Padna Aauni' and 'Malai America Yehi,' are currently popular.

Syangja district has also produced other notable artists like Bhagwan Bhandari, Ramesh BG, Raju Gurung, Shiva Hamal, Loknath Sapkota, Shankar 'Birahi' Gurung, Rupak Dotel, Buddhisagar Basyal, Srijana ‘Birahi’ Thapa, Ghanshyam Rijal, Rajan Karki, Sujan Lamsal, Gopal JT, Arjun Gaire, Krishna Kafle, Jagannath Neupane, Roshan Gaire, Krishna Gurung, Deepak Bhattarai and Jyoti Neupane.