Kathmandu. Kathmandu Metropolitan City has honored 236 traditional baja gurus with Rs 30,000 each. On the occasion of the 30th Metropolis Day 2081, Deputy Chief Sunita Dangol, Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragain, Coordinator of Heritage and Tourism Committee Ashaman Sangat and members of the committee honored the Gurus in a ceremony held at the National Assembly Hall.
Among the honored Gurus are 63 Mu-Dhime Gurus and 54 Dafa Khin Gurus from the traditional 63 villages recommended by Japu Mahaguthi Nepah, Yen Mahanagara Samiti. There are one guru from each of 25 villages recommended by the Gunlabajn Management and Conservation Association, one from each of 69 villages recommended by the Nepal Khadgi Service Committee, and 15 gurus recommended from nine villages by the Nepal National Khadgi Society.
Three people from three villages recommended by the Central Manandhar Association and seven Baja Gurus recommended by various organizations were honored.
In the program, Deputy Chief Dangol said that the number of girls and women in traditional music is increasing. “Along with music, the presence of women in cultural activities has been accepted. Due to this, Jatra festivals are becoming gender-friendly’, she said, ‘Traditional instrument gurus have a big role in this. To encourage women, gurus should encourage children, adolescents and women.”
In the event, Ashaman Sangat, coordinator of the Heritage and Tourism Committee, said that it is expected that the respect of Baja Gurus will contribute to the preservation of intangible heritage. “Many people of the Newar community have not been able to go to work to save the musical tradition. Even those who left have not been able to regularize their profession. If we cannot understand this situation, we have started the honoring program of Baja Gurus, realizing that the tradition cannot be saved,” said Nhuchekaji Maharjan, a member of the committee and president of Ward No. 18.
In the event, the winners of the school-level attendance competition were awarded. The winners were awarded cash prizes of Rs 6,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 4,000 respectively. Rasas
