Tungna, Damphu handed over to preserve Tamang culture

By Prem Adhikari,Pashupatinagar, June 22: In a meaningful step towards preserving indigenous traditions, Suryodaya Municipality in Ilam district has handed over traditional musical instruments, Tungna and Damphu, to the local Tamang community. 

These instruments, now considered endangered, are vital elements of Tamang culture.

Under the municipality’s approved Annual Indigenous Nationalities Cultural Preservation Programme for Fiscal Year 2024/25, the Women, Children, and Social Welfare Division facilitated the transfer of Tungna and Damphu worth Rs. 250,000 to the Nepal Tamang Ghedung Suryodaya Municipal Committee.

According to Tara Sherpa, head of the Women, Children, and Social Welfare Division, four Tungnas and twenty-five Damphus were handed over to the Tamang Ghedung’s cultural group. 

Having a population of 27,382 in Suryodaya Municipality alone, the Tamang community constitutes the third-largest ethnic population in Ilam district, making cultural preservation efforts even more significant.

During the handover ceremony, Mayor Rana Bahadur Rai emphasised the importance of institutionalising and safeguarding these cultural instruments by housing them in a dedicated space. “Such endangered instruments must serve as a bridge to transfer the customs and culture of the Tamang populace to future generations,” he said.

Nitesh Tamang, chairperson of Nepal Tamang Ghedung Suryodaya, expressed gratitude, noting that the cultural tools would play a vital role in preserving and promoting Tamang heritage within the community.

The event saw active participation from Deputy Mayor Durga Kumar Baral, Ward Chairs Pema Ugen Lama, Shiva Kumar Basnet, and Lok Bahadur Rai, as well as representatives from various Tamang cultural groups.

This initiative is seen as a significant stride towards cultural continuity, especially for communities whose traditional practices face the risk of fading amidst modernisation.