Decline in sale of Dholak, Madal disappoints traders

By Bijaya Kumar Shah,Dhalkebar, Mar. 16: Traders from India who came to Dhalkebar in Dhanusha to manufacture and sell Dholak and Madal have started finding themselves disappointed with the falling business.

 Astana Ali, hailing from Kaswa, Uttar Pradesh, India, has set up shop at West Chowk of Dhalkebar, crafting and vending Dholaks and Madals. 

He expressed his dismay, stating that despite hearing about the promising business during festivals in Nepal, his expectations were not met. 

Ali, who arrived a few days prior, is planning to return to India after Holi. 

He lamented, “I expected abrupt sales, especially during Tihar and Holi. However, I am barely managing to sell two or three instruments a day, making it difficult to cover expenses.”

Ali said that Dholaks and Madals are sold at Rs. 700 to Rs. 1,200 per piece and he imported all the necessary materials from India. He attributed the decline in sales to the preference for modern sound instruments over traditional ones during festivals in Nepal.

 Ali arrived with 1,000 sets of materials for making Dholaks and Madals.

Sujan Chaudhary, a local youth, has observed the declining popularity of traditional markets in Nepal due to the rise of information technology.

He emphasised that Dholak and Madal, being symbols of tradition and authenticity, are now facing a crisis due to modernisation. 

Chaudhary believed that traditional instruments like the Madal and Dholak are being sidelined nowadays in favour of large sound systems at festivals and fairs. Likewise, local Dharma Lama recalled a time when these instruments were integral to festivals, but now they are overshadowed by the prevalence of sound systems. 

He remarked, “Previously, Dholak and Madal traders thrived, but now their businesses are fading away. Everywhere you go, you hear blaring sound systems, while the traditional tunes of Dholak and Madal have faded away. Just a few years ago, these instruments were a common sight in villages.”