Tamghas Newars reviving Dhime Baja

By Our Correspondent,Resunga (Gulmi), May 16: The Newar community in Tamghas, Gulmi, has become actively involved in a campaign to preserve its indigenous culture.  Under the leadership of the Newa Khala, children, youths, and elderly members are enthusiastically learning to play the Dhime Baja.

There are 81 Newar households in Tamghas and the community has traditionally performed the Lakhey dance accompanied by traditional musical instruments. 

 According to Chairperson of Newa Khala Tamghas, Raj Kumar Shrestha, since the Dhime Baja is considered their indigenous instrument, it is believed that, after training, participants will become culturally stronger. In Tamghas, Newa Khala has long been performing the Lakhey dance at various fairs, festivals, and celebrations. It is expected that with the addition of the Dhime Baja alongside the Lakhey performance, the Newar culture will become even richer, said the President of the Gulmi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mrigendra Prasad Shrestha.

At present, the Newar community is practising Dhime Baja playing in three daily sessions. The aim is to connect the new generation with traditional instruments through regular practice. Children and youths participating in the training have shown great enthusiasm for learning this special instrument. Most of the learners from the Newar community are school-aged. 

A participant, Himal Shrestha from Resunga Municipality-1, said that learning the new instrument has been a new experience for him. He has been performing the Lakhey dance for a long time and stated that they are now learning Dhime with the aim of performing in upcoming cultural programmes. The participation of both elderly people and youths together in learning the instrument has sent a positive message of cultural unity and generational transfer, said Hom Nath Kafle, Coordination Officer of the District Coordination Committee, Gulmi.  He added that although a large budget is often spent on economic strengthening, efforts made in cultural preservation appear innovative and fruitful.

The Newar community has been preserving its unique culture through language, dress, dance, and musical instruments. At a time when there are growing concerns about the erosion of traditional culture due to modernisation, the Dhime Baja training initiative in Tamghas is expected to further unite the community culturally, said trainer Sudan Munikar. According to Munikar, the Dhime Baja is not merely a form of entertainment but a cultural heritage deeply connected with Newar civilisation and identity. Due to limited time, only basic training in the Dhimé Baja and flute has been provided.

The Dhime Baja training programme is supported by the Cottage and Small Industries Office, Gulmi. Office chief Rajiv Aryal said that they are working not only on entrepreneurship development and facilitation but also on cultural preservation.