Newar community of Tanahun under protection of Lakhey Naach

KATHMANDU: Tanahun’s Newar community has recently become active in the preservation of the Lake Nach dance. Because the present generation places less emphasis on Lakhey Naach, the Newar community of Tanahun is attempting to preserve it.

A national level Lakhey Naach competition for the preservation of Lakhey Naach has been established in Bandipur Rural Municipality-1 Dumre of Tanahun with the goal of conserving culture and customs.

On Saturday night, Vishwakarma Lakhey Chwakh of Bhaktapur took first place in the tournament hosted by the Dumre Cultural and Social Protection Committee.

Jhingu Newa Puch from Dumre in Tanahun came in second, and Khadkamai Cultural Group from Bandipur came in third in the tournament of thirty one groups.

The first, second, third and consolation prize winners in the competition received Rs 40,555, 20,555 and 5,555 respectively.

According to Ghanshyam Shrestha, coordinator of the preservation committee, the Lakhey Naach is a Newar tradition, and the tournament was created to preserve it.

“There used to be a special excitement when there were no lakhs,” he added, adding that this pattern is progressively fading. We attempted to safeguard it.”

According to Ashok Palikhe, a linguist of Newari culture, the Newari community should band together to safeguard their culture and customs. He stated that lakhs are not burned for the purpose of exorcism and that it is everyone’s obligation to protect it.