KATHMANDU: Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Jeevan Ram Shrestha today participated in the Gunla cultural ritual and circumambulated the Swoyambhu Mahachaitya temple.

As part of this month-long ritual, the devotees go round the Mahachaitya with the accompaniment of playing of traditional music. Minister Shrestha paid obeisance to the god Swoyambhu and circumambulated the temple in this connection.

On the occasion, Minister Shrestha said that this festival not only belongs to the Newar community but is a historic festival of all Nepalis. As he said, this festival has a special significance in the Buddhist tradition in Kathmandu.

Musical instruments as Dhaa Dhime Nagara, Naykhin, Damakhin, Dabdab, Bhridanga, Pau Picha and Kwocha (Khin) are played and special worships performed during the month of ‘Gunla’.

The devotees follow the people playing the above musical instruments and singing hymns during the ‘Gunla’ procession that circumambulates the Mahachaitya.

The Culture Minister opined that this festival has helped preserve the various traditional musical instruments and the native culture. He called for cooperation from all sides for keeping this tradition alive.