Older generation of Magar community passing on traditional dance to youth

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Beni, Mar. 14: Older generation of the Magar community has begun teaching the youth to preserve their traditional dance. The Magar community of Jugja in Malika Rural Municipality-5, Myagdi, has formed an ancestral dance group to pass on the dance to the younger generation.

The dance, performed in the ‘Sorathi’ (traditional dialect) is popular among the Magar community. 

Patiram Sherpunja, chairman of the Jugja traditional dance group, said the group was formed to teach the youth the Maruni dance, which is an original dance form of the community, and to provide training and education.

The group consists of 28 members, including both elders and those from the younger generation. 

Sherpunja,74, said that he started teaching the younger generation to prevent the disappearance of this cultural identity. He added that the youth were interested in learning.

“Our traditional culture is on the verge of disappearance,” said Sherpunja. “If we do not teach the younger generation, our original art and culture will vanish. That is why we have started this initiative. The youth are also showing interest in preserving our traditions.” 

The village has now started incorporating both youth and elders in the traditional dance performances.

Rabin Fagami, 32, who has been learning Maruni dance for the past two years, emphasised the importance of cultural preservation.

“I used to dance Maruni, a traditional dance form of the community performed by wearing women’s attire. It was difficult at first, but now I am performing well. The youth of the village have joined the group to continue the legacy of our ancestors,” he said.

In the Magar community, there is a tradition of performing traditional dances on the occasions such as birth, death, marriage, chhewar (tonsure) ceremonies, and during special village gatherings.

The sight of dancers moving to the beats of madals, dressed in Kachhads (a short sarong) and topi (Nepali cap), singing in long, expressive voices, is captivating.

Those who play the madals (Nepali folk musical instrument) while dancing are called Madales, while men who dance in women’s attire are known as Marunis or Singarus. The traditional dance is performed in pairs, where men dressed as women dance alongside the Madale, while a group of women sings in the Sorathi dialect.

The elders and youth of Jugja performed the traditional dance during the ninth foundation day celebration organised by Malika Rural Municipality in Darbang. In recognition of their efforts, the rural municipality honoured the group for their dedication to preserving the traditional culture.