Leaf-playing competition held to preserve old tradition

By Nabin Raj Kuinkel,Lamjung, Mar. 8: There was once a tradition of playing leaves that sounds like music to express one’s emotions while going to the fields or herding cattle in villages. 

 However, with the advancement of information technology and mobile phones becoming widely handy, this practice has gradually disappeared.

 Recently, efforts to preserve this art have begun in Lamjung by organising a leaf-playing competition.

 The elderly reminisced about their past while watching the competition.

In the hilly villages of Lamjung, the sounds of leaf playing were once commonly heard.  However, due to the increasing use of technology, people playing leaves in the forests are now rarely seen. 

In the past, friends would communicate through leaves while herding cattle, and some even used leaf playing as a way to attract one another.

Nawaraj Pahadi, the president of Thado Bhaka Lok Kala Pratisthan Nepal, said that the practice of placing various leaves in the mouth to play sounds and communicate in the jungle has been disappearing.

 He added that the organisation is dedicated to preserving this vanishing art.

Buddhiman Dura ‘Dhamphu,’ a patron of the organisation, emphasised that if such traditional practices, which are deeply connected with emotions and musical expressions, can be passed down to the younger generation, originality can be preserved. 

Writers from the Nepali Culture Protection Council in Assam, India, also attended the leaf-playing competition.

Birendra Rana, the General Secretary of the Nepali Culture Protection Council in Assam, expressed his amazement, stating that it was the first time he had seen such an art form.

 “We were all astonished to see the ability to produce exact song melodies through leaf playing,” he said. “The state should pay attention to preserving such a living art form.” He also mentioned that he would try to introduce this art in Assam.

A total of 17 participants took part in the competition. 

Sukmaya Mijar from Dordi Rural Municipality-8, Duar, secured the first place.  Devi Giri from Madhyapur Municipality-2, Tandrang, Taksar, came in second, while Santosh Bhujel from Madhyapur Municipality-1, Jita, secured third place, according to the head of the judging committee, Devaraj Gurung.

Additionally, Parbati Nepali and Madhukar Giri from Tandrang in Madhyapur Municipality-2, were awarded consolation prizes. 

The first-place winner received Rs. 7,000, the second-place winner received Rs. 5,000, the third-place winner received Rs.  3,000, and the two consolation prize winners received Rs. 2,000 each along with certificates.