Charya Pravah showcased in capital

BY A STAFF REPORTER,Kathmandu, May 25: Kathmandu Metropolitan City has intensified its efforts to promote Nepal’s creative and cultural industries by honouring renowned Charya dance master Guru Yagya Man Pati Bajracharya during a special solo performance event held in the capital on Saturday.

The metropolitan city, in collaboration with Nepa Dance Academy and Nepa Cultural Pucha, organised ‘Guru Yagya Man Pati Bajracharya Felicitation and Charya Dance Solo Evening 2026 – Charya Pravah’ at Rastriya Naach Ghar. Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol presented a special honour to Guru Bajracharya in recognition of his lifelong contribution to preserving and passing down the ancient Charya dance tradition. 

Acting Mayor Dangol praised Guru Bajracharya for selflessly dedicating his life to preserving and transferring the knowledge of Charya dance to younger generations. She pointed out his inclusive teaching approach, stating he teaches students regardless of age, caste, religion, gender, or social background, and even adapts his schedule to suit learners.

Guru Bajracharya expressed gratitude for the recognition and said that such event made him realise the true value of his work. “Today, I feel my life has become meaningful,” he said. He also emphasised that Charya dancers were not merely artists but spiritual practitioners capable of invoking divine consciousness through dance.

The event featured a series of sacred Charya dance performances, including Guru Vandana, Panchatala, Ratnamandala Offering, Panchopachar Offering, Vajra Saraswati, Kalabhairav, among others. Around 75 performers participated in the presentation.

Rooted in Vajrayana Buddhist philosophy, Charya dance is considered a sacred and esoteric art form practiced traditionally among Buddhist communities in the Kathmandu Valley. The dance embodies the forms, emotions, and gestures of various deities and is performed during rituals invoking gods, goddesses, and ancestors. 

The event drew diplomats, cultural experts, artists, and scholars, including Israeli Ambassador to Nepal Shmulik Arie Bass and UNESCO Nepal representative Jacques du Toit. Organisers said the programme aims to preserve classical dance traditions while inspiring greater interest among younger generations in Charya dance and Buddhist heritage.