Folk singer Pariyar honoured

BY NABINRAJ KUINKEL,Lamjung, Apr. 16: During the ninth Smart Village Invitational Gold Cup- 2026 and a series of cultural programmes held in Ghalegaun, recognised as a model tourist village of SAARC nations, four individuals, including folk singer Raju Pariyar, were honoured. 

Khwolasothar Rural Municipality honoured Pariyar, also known as 'Lok Swar Samrat’, at a function held at Swargabhumi Stadium in Ghalegaun in recognition of his contributions to Nepali folk music.

Former minister for communications and vice chairman of CPN-UML, Prithvi Subba Gurung, Rural Municipality Chairman Surya Prasad Gurung, and Vice Chairman Gami Maya Gurung presented him with a certificate of appreciation and a traditional blanket (radi). Chairman of the Tourism Management Committee of Smart Village Ghalegaun, Prem Bahadur Ghale, felicitated him with a traditional bakkhu, while the Aama Samuha presented him with a ceremonial shawl.

Similarly, Laxmi Ghale, a resident of Ghalegaun working at Radio Marsyangdi, was also honoured for her contribution to promoting tourism in Ghalegaun through the media. Former minister Gurung, Committee chairman Ghale, and Rural Municipality Chairman Gurung, presented her certificates. 

At the same event, Kebindra Jung Gurung of Ghanpokhara of Marsyangdi Rural Municipality-2, was honoured for his leadership role in initiating football competitions in the Dashthar region for the first time. About four decades ago, under his leadership, a football tournament was organised at the present Swargabhumi Stadium, then known as ‘Nasarkon Bazaar.’ A former British Army serviceman, he also pledged to contribute Rs. 50,000 annually to support this event in Ghalegaun.

Late Tej Bahadur Gurung was posthumously honoured for his pioneering role in launching the football tournament by contributing Rs. 50,000 at the time. His son, Devendra Gurung, received the certificate and ‘bakkhu’ on his behalf, informed Umal Bahadur Bik, Secretary of the Tourism Management Committee of Smart Village Ghalegaun.

The event also featured musical performances by singers Pariyar, Kesh Bahadur Gurung, Anuj Adhikari, and female artists Madhu Thapa Magar, Usha Gurung, and Priya Gurung, among others.