Lakhey Dance being preserved in Kaski

By Santosh Subedi,Kaski, Aug. 13: Lakhey Dance is a traditional dance popular in the Newar community across Nepal.

 Every year, to ward off evil spirits and prevent disturbances from departed souls, people perform this Lakhey Dance wearing a Lakhey mask to the rhythm of drums. 

The Newar community in Pokhara has also been showcasing the dance for a long time, especially from Ghantakarna to Krishna Janmashtami for around 15 days.

The Lakhey Dance, which was performed annually, had disappeared for some time. 

Although the Rambazaar Tayaḥmacha Committee organised a provincial-level competition in 2017, it did not continue. 

However, according to Ashok Palikhe, the president of the Newa Khala Kaski, the dance has been revived in a competitive format for the past two years because of the active involvement of the youth. 

He said, “Lakhe Dance has been traditionally performed in Pokhara from earlier times. Wherever there is a Newar community, this dance is performed every year, so its history is very long. Although it disappeared for some time, it has been revived. Lakhey Dance has now progressed in a competitive format. This time, the Newa Khala Prithvi Chowk in Pokhara organised the Lakhey Dance competition.”

 He further added that even after the competition concludes, Lakhey Dance will continue to be performed in different neighbourhoods until Krishna Janmashtami. 

According to Palikhe, the dance is not only performed in the markets of Pokhara but also the villages.

Lakhey is revered by some as a demon and by others as a deity. According to Palikhe, there is a tradition of worshipping and honouring the demon to drive away bad and inauspicious things. 

According to a legend in the Newar community, the practice of Lakhey Dance began to prevent evil spirits from troubling people.