Nil Barahi Dyo Pyakha begins
Summary
The 500-year-old Nil Barahi Dyo Pyakha has begun in Madhyapur Thimi, with masked dancers performing sacred rituals through the night for three days and four nights. Organizers say the tradition is struggling as younger generations lose interest and financial support remains limited.
Key Points
- The historic Nil Barahi Dyo Pyakha, a 500-year-old sacred masked dance honoring Goddess Nil Barahi, began on Sunday in Madhyapur Thimi.
- The dance runs for three days and four nights, with performances and rituals carried out across several local shrines and neighborhoods.
- Prem Chandra Aduwa Shrestha, 75, has performed as the main Nil Barahi dancer for 68 years and says he started at age seven.
- Organizers say the tradition faces challenges from declining youth participation and a lack of financial support.
