Historical Cannon Returns To Dailekh After Five Decades [Photos]

DAILEKH: JAN. 6 – The Sundari Top, which literally translates into the beautiful cannon, has returned home to Dailekh after half a century. The cannon was brought to the district amid a huge celebration from the Nepali Army’s Mid-Western Division’s headquarters in Surkhet, where it had been for the past 50 years, and placed on the premises of its Indradal Company in Kadachaur on Wednesday.

The cannon used to reside in the historic Kotgadhi fort in the district headquarters of Dailekh under the care of the Jwala Dal Battalion. However, when the Battalion moved to Surkhet in 1971 due to famine in Dailekh, it took the cannon with it citing security concerns. Since then the brass cannon had remained there. But now, it has been brought back to the district. The Sundari cannon was made in 1789 during the reign of King Rana Bahadur Shah.

Ratna Bahadur Khadka, mayor of Narayan Municipality, told The Rising Nepal that the local government had been asking the army to bring the cannon since its formation in 2017. “Our efforts finally bore fruit on Wednesday,” he said with a big smile on his face. “I cannot be more delighted that the cannon has returned during my term.”

He added, “I will consider it one of our greatest achievements if we are able to restore the cannon at its original location at the Kotgadhi fort.”

The cannon was paraded around the Dailekh market accompanied by cultural performances and taken to the Indradal Company on Wednesday. “The fort is being reconstructed at the moment. The cannon will be taken there as soon as the reconstruction completes,” Khadka informed.

A total of Rs. 10.5 million has been spent on the fort’s reconstruction to date.

The Sundari cannon holds great significance in the cultural life of Dailekh residents. It used to be ceremonially fired to signal the arrival of Dashain and was part of the feu de joie celebrations of the festival. “That tradition will be revived now,” Khadka stated.

Tirtha Narayan Shrestha, chairman of Ward No. 1 of Narayan Municipality, informed that the cannon also came with 81 cannonballs. He also credited the local administration, political parties, civil society and the Indradal Company for the successful return of the cannon.

Shrestha also believed that the cannon would boost Dailekh’s tourism and stated that the municipality would take responsibility for its security.

Major Dinesh Lama of the Indradal Company said that the process of the cannon’s repatriation began after the Company wrote to the army’s western command informing that the Narayan Municipality would be in charge of the cannon’s security and maintenance.

Along with the Sundari cannon, one other cannon was taken out of Dailekh in 1971. That cannon is currently being located.

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