SATV, Kathmandu, Aug. 13 - Folk bhajan singing has become particularly vibrant in Ratamata of Paralmi, Resunga Municipality-14.

The performances, coordinated by young people and children, are especially captivating.

Sixty-year-old Yuvraj Acharya of Paralkmi has been singing bhajans since he was 14. Even today, Acharya forms a group and takes part in various competitions as well as local worship ceremonies, fairs and festivals.

Although he leads the group, many of the singers, dancers, actors and instrumentalists are young people.

“Once I take the lead, the young people happily join in. This has helped pass the art on to the next generation,” Acharya said.

The Resunga Conservation Committee organises a bhajan competition every year during the Saune Mela. Acharya’s bhajan group secured first place both last year and this year. 

Gopal Panthi, secretary of the Resunga Conservation Committee, Gulmi, said the competition was being organised to make the Saune Mela more attractive and to help preserve devotional music in society.

A bhajan performance by the renowned Rudragan Bhajan Group from Rupandehi resonated throughout the famous religious site of Dibrung Shivalaya Parmananda Dham.

At the request of local residents, the Rudragan Religious Organisation travelled to Dibrung with a 50-member bhajan group to promote the historic Parmananda Dham, said Kamal KC, ward chairperson of Chandrakot Rural Municipality-2, Bishukharka.

He expressed confidence that the performance would help promote Dibrung and contribute to religious tourism.

Likewise, young people in Tamghas, Gulmi, have been organising weekly bhajan evenings. Every Monday, they visit temples around the district headquarters and perform bhajans.

Dinesh Basnet, coordinator of the bhajan group, said young people from various professions and businesses have been voluntarily performing bhajans to preserve the local folk-bhajan tradition. 

The bhajan evenings organised by the young people also attract significant participation from local residents.

Bhajans are also performed every week in various neighbourhoods and temples of Ruru Rural Municipality.

Ruru Rural Municipality Chairperson Yadu Gyawali said singing bhajans together with the younger generation in villages provides entertainment while helping preserve and pass on the culture to future generations.

He said that a tradition of local folk bhajans, once largely confined to the older generation, had now become accessible to young people, who were increasingly able to sing and play the instruments themselves.

There are also numerous groups that perform bhajans professionally in Chhatrakot, Satyawati, Musikot and Chandrakot.

Rudragan’s bhajan performance at the renowned religious site of Dibrung.