Kartik Naach
.jpg) Kartik Nach 2018 | |
| Etymology | Dance performed in the month of Kartika |
|---|---|
| Genre | Nepalese folk dance |
| Year | 1641 |
| Origin | Lalitpur |
Kartik Naach (Nepali: कात्तिक नाच, also known as Kachhalā Pyākhan (Nepal Bhasa: कछला प्याखं)), is a dance musical play that is performed every month of Kartik (October or November) in Nepal.[1] It was started in 1641 AD by Nepali Malla King Siddhi Narsingh Malla.[2][3][4] The play is performed in Kartik Dabali, Patan Durbar Square every year.[3][5]
It is usually presented for two to 27 days with 17 tales of Hindu god Vishnu.[3][4] Originally it was shown for two days, but Narsingh Malla's son Shree Niwas Malla added seven days, and Narsingh Malla's grandson Yog Narendra Malla added 15.[4]
Background[edit]
The play was preserved by Kartik Naach Prabandhan Samiti, but the Kartik Nach Preservation Committee (KNPC) has been preserving it since 2013.[3] The play usually starts with dancers in colourful clothes portraying Hindu deities including Barahi, Ganesh, Shiva, and Krishna.[4] The dancers also wear festoons around their necks.[4] It is performed by Newar people and in 2015, there were "45 musicians and 10 helpers" performing.[4]
It is also performed near the golden window in Patan and the window is opened only at the play. Legends say that it was built to honour the King Siddhi Narsingh Malla.[6][7] Most of the dances and music is thought to have been composed by Narsingh Malla, but there have been minor changes to it.[8] Hari Man Shrestha, previously a director of KNPC, has penned a book on the play.[8]
The April 2015 Nepal earthquake critically damaged Patan Durbar Square.[citation needed] Seven months later, Kartik Naach was performed for 10 nights, while it was still damaged.[citation needed] Xinhua News Agency wrote, "Despite the tragedy, thousands of Nepali people, young and old, trooped to the temple to watch the open-air presentation of the historical dance-drama to the accompaniment of folk music".[citation needed] In 2018, Lalitpur had distributed 200,000 Nepalese rupees to the play.[2]
Gallery[edit]
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A dance depicting god Ganesh -
A person preparing for the play -
A person depicting god Ganesh sitting with the audience -
Two people dancing -
The golden window that is opened once a year. -
Newar musicians performing
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References[edit]
- ^ "Kartik Naach festival held in Lalitpur, Nepal - Xinhua | English.news.cn". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Despite lack of resources, the Kartik Nach plays on". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Karthik Nach- Outside the Dabali". My City. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f "Kartik Naach: Punishment for evil deeds". The Himalayan Times. 22 November 2015. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "'Kattik Naach' begins in Lalitpur". The Himalayan Times. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ "Kartik Nach: The Show Must Go On". ECS NEPAL. Archived from the original on 21 November 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ Amatya, Rishi. "Old traditions, new meanings | Nepali Times Buzz | Nepali Times". archive.nepalitimes.com. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ a b "Kartik Naach: This centuries-old festival of Patan celebrates devil's defeat every year –". OnlineKhabar. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
External links[edit]
Media related to Kartik dance at Wikimedia Commons
