Tanahun, Jan 2: Two community groups in Tanahun are actively working towards the conservation and promotion of Jhamare Dance, the traditional dance of the Magar Community.
The Lapha Youth Club and the Jaya Durga Mothers’ Group, based in Dukudanda of Rhishing rural municipality-6, have taken the initiative to promote this traditional dance, which holds significant cultural value for the Magar people.
Club coordinator Dan Bahadur Ale expressed concern about the potential disappearance of this traditional dance without substantial efforts to promote it. As he said, they are doing their best to encourage the new generation to learn about the Jhamare dance with the goal of passing on the skills of this dance to the younger members of the community.
A local resident, Siddha Ale, expressed regret witnessing the declining popularity of this distinctive dance of the Magar people due to the influence of modern culture.
The Jhamare dance traditionally begins on the eighth day of the Dashain festival (September-October) and continues until mid-February. It involves the use of traditional folk musical instruments such as Madal, Jharra, and Damphu, and is performed by youths in groups.
This dance is prominently performed in Magar-majority areas including Tanahun, Nawalpur, Palpa, Syangja, Gorkha, and Baglung, particularly in Rhishing rural municipality in Tanahun.
Rhishing rural municipality Chair Rajendra Krishna Shrestha said the local government has assisted the efforts to revive the dance. “Rhishing is rich in art and culture. In addition to this, the culture of Jhamare dance adds a special identity, and the budget has been allocated for its preservation.”
