This year, I have come from Chandrakot to the district headquarters, Tamghas, to sell madal during Tihar. I have brought 8 madals from home. Earlier, they were sold in the villages. Now they are no longer being sold. I came to the district headquarters after they were no longer being sold in the villages.

I went abroad 8 years ago and was sad because I couldn't make a living by making a matal. Even if I shed blood and sweat in Saudi Arabia, that much income wouldn't be enough for a lifetime. For now, the village profession is starting to suit me. That's why I returned to my ancestral profession.

My father and grandfather used to make matal. I have also started making a living by doing the same thing now. It takes a lot of effort to make a matal. For this, I first had to find wood. I use wood from Khamauri, Mauya, Ghwari, Khiro and Siundi. After applying goat skin and khari, the matal is ready. Even though the investment in making a matal is small, it takes a lot of effort. I feel very happy when the matal I made with hard work is sold.

I have a house in Balibang, Chandrakot Rural Municipality-1, Dibrung. I am now 38 years old. I sell a lot of the madals I make throughout the year during Tihar. My wife Tara also helps me make madals and prepare the raw materials required for madals. I have four daughters. I meet all my education and household expenses by selling these madals. It takes 5 days to make one madal. Depending on the size of the madal, it costs 2,000 to 7,000 rupees. I sell 25 to 30 madals in a year. From which I earn a turnover of 100,000 rupees. Even though I work hard, I get a profit of 50,000 rupees. That is why my household expenses are running.

Even though my income is small, there are no such big expectations. The income from selling madals has helped me meet my household expenses happily. There are no big expenses at home. Girls study in government schools. It is enough with normal expenses. There is no need to buy vegetables at home. It is enough to have normal lentils, rice and vegetables in the kitchen. There is enough to enjoy and have fun during festivals. There is not much interest in wearing clothes. After normalization, our family will be happy. That is why our family is satisfied. I was not very satisfied when I lived abroad. But, I am very satisfied when I live here in the village. I have lived with my family. The income is very small.

I sell the madals that I make throughout the year, especially during Tihar. I prepare those madals specifically for Tihar. Even though I do not get the market like before, they are sold lightly. Due to which, even if it is only during Tihar, I am earning a living by selling madals. Our ancestors taught us how to make madals. Due to which we do not have to go hungry. After learning the skill, you can do something to meet your household expenses. My ancestral skills have helped me to earn a living.

Business is not like it used to be. Now this too has become modern. In the time of our ancestors, no matter how hard you work, there was no value. But now our hard work gets value. I am satisfied with this. The sad thing is that our next generation is not interested in making Madal. They do not want to learn this skill. That is why I am worried that it will gradually disappear.

Technology is gradually taking over the market. People have started having fun through digital means. However, Madal is still used during Teej, Dashain and Tihar. I am worried that it will gradually disappear. We ourselves should try to preserve it. The madals we make are filling the rhythm of various songs. Which is giving a feeling of fun. The culture of making, playing and enjoying madals should not be lost. It seems that even people who are suffering feel fun.

The profession of madal making should be embraced not only by our community, but also by others. If we learn the skills and become professionals, this profession will continue to exist. However, if we look at it only as an ancestral profession, it seems that it will disappear soon.