Music and Dance

The last few years has seen a revival in Nepali music and songs, both folk and ‘Nepali modern’. Staple Hindi film songs have been supplanted by a vibrant local music scene thanks to advances made in FM radio (which blares out of many shops and taxis in Kathmandu).

Dancing and traditional music enliven festivals and family celebrations when streets or entire villages will erupt with the energetic sounds of flute, drums and cymbals, or sway to the moving soulful sounds of devotional singing and the gentle twang of the four stringed violin.

Nepali dance styles are as numerous and varied as the ethnic group in Nepal, with something for just about every occasion. They range from the subtle foot stomping, quasi line-dancing style of the Sherpa people and the religious Cham dancing performed by Tibetans to the complex, sometime very melodramatic interpretive Hindi dances. Joining in with an enthusiastic group of porters from different parts of the country at the end of the trekking day is a great way to learn some of the moves.

A good introduction to modern Nepali folk music is the trio Sur Sudha, whose evocating recordings such as festival of Nepal and images of Nepal will take you back to the region long after you’ve tasted your last dal bhat and flown home.