‘Back to the 90s’ to revive Pokhara’s iconic musical bands

By Santosh Subedi,Kaski, Jan. 28: A musical programme ‘Back to the 90s’ will be held in Pokhara to revisit the legacy of the city’s iconic bands.

Organised by the Pokhara Musical Artists Association Nepal in collaboration with the Gandaki Academy, the event will take place on Saturday, February 8, from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Pokhara Exhibition Centre, Naya Bazaar.

The programme will feature performances by seven successful bands from the 1990s that gained national and international fame, according to Man Kumar Shrestha, member secretary of the Gandaki Academy and coordinator of the event. 

The bands performing include Kandara (Bivek Shrestha), D-Marcha Band (Bhaskar Dhoj Shrestha), Lekali Band (Navin Gurung and Bhai Gurung), Deurali Band (Shanta Bajracharya), Bro-Sis Band (Prakash Rana), Madhyanha Band (Karn Das and Kumar Gurung), and Vagabond Band (Shyamsung Tamang).

Harkaraj Gurung (Bhai), president of the Pokhara Musical Artists Association Nepal, said that the programme is being organised to revive the legacy of Pokhara as the capital of musical bands. 

“At one time, Pokhara was the hub of musical bands. In the 1990s, bands from Pokhara attracted attention both domestically and internationally through their art and music,” he said. 

“Over time, due to various commitments and circumstances, this identity slowly faded. However, with the feeling that the time has come for a revival, we are organising this programme to bring back that legacy,” he said. 

He expected that the event would help attract global attention to Pokhara through music once again.

The main goal of the event, according to Bhaskar Dhoj Shrestha, the association’s secretary, is to revive the dormant old bands and encourage the younger generation to realise that they can also build a future through music. 

“The event aims to rebrand Pokhara, promote both internal and external tourism through music, spread hope and resolve despair through songs, provide messages to youth about avoiding harmful practices and addictions and strengthen national unity and harmony,” he said.

Sunil Thapa, the association’s former president, added that attendees would be able to relate to the atmosphere of the 90s, recalling the time they grew up, and the love and struggles they shared during that era.

To organise the event, a 501-member main organising committee has been formed under the coordination of Man Kumar Shrestha, member secretary of the Gandaki Pragya Pratishthan.