Lukeko Gaun: Aryal’s dream project for spiritual salvation

By Avaya Shrestha,Gotikhel, Lalitpur, Aug. 8: Popular theatre actor and activist Gopal Aryal was out of the scene for a long time and his whereabouts used to be an issue of talks among the theatre lovers in Kathmandu. 

“I was surprised to have heard from Gopal when he invited me to attend the inauguration of Lukeko Gaun (Hidden Village) some weeks ago,” playwright and theatre director Ashesh Malla shared the information a few days ago.

 Actors Sarita Giri, Pashupati Rai, Srijana Subba, authors Saguna Shah, Rajani Dhakal, Archana Thapa, Prava Baral, Pratima Silwal, Maya Manavi, Biplov Pratik, Mahesh Bikram Shah, Yubaraj Nayaghare, Sabitri Malla Kakshapati, psychologists Bijayaa Bijukchhe and Nirjala Bhattarai among others felt the same when they were also invited.

“Actually, I was in search of spiritual salvation and peace and I found it over this peaceful village as Lukeko Gaun,” Aryal said at the inauguration of his organisation at Bhukhel in Mahankal Rural Municipality -1, Lalitpur recently. 

The three-day ceremony marked many sessions including Yoga and Pranayam, healing sounds, Shabdakiri poetry presentation, hiking, sapling plantation, mental health counselling, dramatic games and others.

“I first dreamt of this project at a workshop in Senegal with 30 theatre practitioners in December 2015 during my first visit to Africa,” Bhawani Aryal alias Gopal said.

The bristle-headed actor claimed, “Actually, it is a natural venue for arts and bio-farming, events and performances. A residential farm stays for the art, healing, love, bio-agriculture with the facilities of y accommodation and cultural exchange.”

Established in 2018, Lukeko Gaun can serve as a model for sustainable and holistic community-led eco-tourism.  Although located just a distance of two and a half hours’ drive from the capital city, the village remains hidden from most of the world, and the local community remains untouched by the development that has been taking place around the world. 

Aryal said that the main goal for establishing the Lukeko Gaun was to bridge the gap between the local community and the outside world whilst maintaining the organic manner of the community. “It holds a vision of being a home for transformative learning journeys for social arts practitioners from around the world,” he added.

Born in Kailali, Gopal acted in many Nepali and English plays, including Malami, Bahula Kajiko Sapana, Charan Das Chor, Apple Cart, Diary of Anne Frank, A Wilderness, Singha Durbarko Tender, Pretka Pitaharu, Khairati Master. 

He was chairman of Arambha Theatre and Tandav Theatre but he is now not with them. Along with Lukeko Gaun, he runs International Social Theatre Nepal Pvt (Ltd).

Gopal mainly worked in community plays. He has been doing it since 2007. After the 2015 earthquake, he taught acting to many local children, women, and youths and performed more than 1,000 plays centred on local problems. “Through the plays, we tried to inspire and raise mental health awareness among the quake-affected locals,” he said.

A disciple of theatre directors Birendra Hamal and Pravakar Dev Sharma, Aryal worked in drama with directors Anup Baral, Ghimire Yubaraj, Ashanta Sharma, Dayahang Rai, Rajan Khatiwada and Luniva Tuladhar among others. He acted in four plays in English directed by Deborah Merola. In addition, he worked in teleserials with MaHa, Pradip Bhattarai, Dhurmus-Suntali and Magne Budha. He acted in the Nepali film Kohinoor with late Shri Krisna Shrestha as well. Besides, he acted in a number of radio dramas.

Is Gopal retired from theatre then? “No, not at all,” he said, “I repeat a song Aljhen Kahi Ta K Vo, Bato Bhuleko Chhaina (Although I am hindered, I haven't forgot the way), sung by late Narayan Gopal, whenever I am  taken that way.” Gopal is using the plays for healing. He loves tours and trekking. He has conducted a workshop on healing through drama in Alaska of the USA, as well.

“Lukeko Gaun itself is a venue for experimenting different sorts of arts, such as yoga, meditation, healing arts, theatre, literature, painting, handicrafts, woodcrafts, music etc.” he said. Gopal claimed that Lukeko Gaun is working for the preservation of local traditional arts as well.