Women conserving Hudke dance in Karnali

By Netra Shahi,Jumla, July 26: Nisha BK, a 17-year-old from Jumla Chandannath Municipality-2, has been passionate about Hudke dance since her childhood.

While watching Damai community’s performances at weddings and festivals, her love for the dance grew further. 

 Similarly, her 16-year-old cousin, Tika BK, also developed an early fascination for watching others dance.

 Today, both girls have excelled in Hudke dance, with Nisha performing the male role and Tika the female role. They want to promote the traditional dance in their district.

Tika said that their interest in Hudke dance stemmed from watching performances on TV, leading them to embrace the cultural heritage of Jumla. 

Over the past year, they have been practising at home and while performing at local fairs.

 Their talent was showcased at the annual festival of Karnali Secondary School in Jumla, and they have since performed at numerous events.

Nisha, who has always preferred cultural dance over modern styles, now enjoys the thrill of performing on stage and receiving audience appreciation.

 They have graced major events like the Jumla Agriculture, Tourism, and Cultural Festival, and the Karnali Technical College Annual Festival in April this year. 

However, financial challenges make it difficult for them to afford proper costumes. Nisha mentioned that they often rely on borrowing clothes from men in the village, which sometimes do not fit well. Her father, Hari Kami, stressed the need for financial support to buy the necessary materials and costumes for their performances.

Arjun Pariyar, a veteran of Panjebaja and Hudke dance, highlighted the importance of preserving the Hudke dance as part of their tradition.

According to Arjun, the Hudke dance requires an outfit consisting of  ‘Daura and Suruwal’, a waistcoat, two waistbands (Patuka), and a costume with a ‘Furka’ (tassel).

 He has been assisting Nisha and Tika with costumes for their performances. 

Historically, girls have not participated in Hudke dance, making Nisha and Tika’s involvement groundbreaking, he added.

Hudke dance is a unique cultural identity of the Karnali region and continues to captivate audiences.

 Young women like Nisha and Tika are now taking an active role in promoting it at various events. Experts suggest that such cultural dances can be leveraged to boost tourism. Dilmaya Shahi, vice president of the Jumla branch of the Nepal Journalists Federation, emphasised that Deuda and Hudke dances performed by women are special cultural treasures of Karnali.