KATHMANDU: Deuda, a traditional folk dance of Sudurpaschim and Karnali, has begun at Tundikhel in Kathmandu as communities from the two regions gather to celebrate the Gaura festival.
Sudurpaschim and Karnali residents living in the Kathmandu Valley, along with members of the general public, have turned up in large numbers to celebrate the festival.
Young people and elderly participants dressed in traditional attire have formed circles, holding hands and performing Deuda to traditional songs. A large crowd has gathered at Tundikhel to watch the performances. The Deuda programme, which began on Friday, will continue until Sunday.
Deuda is regarded as an important expression of the traditional folk culture of Sudurpaschim and Karnali and is one of the main attractions of the Gaura festival. Through Deuda songs, participants express social, cultural and contemporary issues while sharing their joys and sorrows and strengthening social bonds.
Shamsher Rokaya, originally from Sudurpaschim and currently living in Kathmandu for his studies, said Gaura is not merely a religious festival but is closely connected with the community’s cultural identity.
“Gaura is our traditional festival. It is a way for us to share our joys and sorrows and exchange our cultural sentiments,” he said.
This year, residents from Sudurpaschim and Karnali living in Kathmandu have gathered together to continue their traditional culture and practices. The enthusiasm of younger generations toward Deuda has added to the festive atmosphere at Tundikhel.
People from the two regions who have been living in Kathmandu for years, as well as those who have come to the capital for employment, education and business, consider Gaura an important occasion to meet friends, relatives and acquaintances.
Nabin Sarki, who is originally from Gadsera of Doti and came to Kathmandu for his studies, said Gaura provides an opportunity for people from Sudurpaschim living in the capital to come together.
“Gaura is a festival that brings us together and reflects our culture and traditions. We regard it as a festival of reunion,” he said.
According to Sarki, people who live away from their hometowns for employment, education and other purposes gather during Gaura, bringing back memories of their villages and strengthening their relationships. The opportunity to meet relatives, friends and acquaintances from their hometowns is another reason why large numbers of people gather at Tundikhel during the festival.
Gaura is deeply rooted in religious faith and cultural traditions. As part of the festival, fasting women traditionally prepare figures representing Gaura Devi, or Parvati, and Maheshwar, or Shiva, using rice, saun, sesame, apamarga and other materials before performing rituals and worship.
Biruda also holds special significance during Gaura. It is prepared by mixing five types of beans and grains, including black gram, horse gram, wheat, peas and chickpeas. Women’s participant Khimadevi Bisht said Biruda is taken as prasad, shared with relatives and neighbours, and placed on the head after worship.
Alongside the religious and cultural rituals, Deuda adds to the festive atmosphere. Men and women join hands to form circles, singing and dancing to the rhythm. Deuda songs cover themes including love, culture, social relationships, joys and sorrows, village life and contemporary issues, making the tradition an important form of folk expression in Sudurpaschim and Karnali.
The Gaura festival in Kathmandu also provides residents from the two regions with an opportunity to preserve and pass on their cultural heritage to younger generations.
Participants say the enthusiastic involvement of young people in Deuda has created an environment where their language, traditional dress, arts, customs and traditions can continue to be practised even while living in the capital.
Tundikhel was also made more vibrant by the presence of men and women dressed in traditional attire. The gathering of young dancers and spectators created a festive atmosphere throughout the day.
Participants believe Gaura not only reinforces religious faith and cultural identity but also strengthens social harmony, fraternity and community unity.
For Sudurpaschim and Karnali residents living in Kathmandu, celebrating Gaura collectively deepens their connection with their homeland, culture and traditions.
Thus, for people from the two regions living away from their ancestral homes due to employment, education and other professions, Gaura is increasingly becoming more than a religious observance. It has emerged as an important occasion to keep their traditional culture, heritage and identity alive.
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