It has become common to play instruments like murli, flute and sahanai with the mouth, but Matrikaprasad Sangraula of Subhang in Panchthar can play these instruments with his nose. Currently living in the city of Jhapa, he has a unique talent of playing instruments like Jor Murli, Jor Bansuri, Sahanai, Melodica for hours through his nose.

Skilled in playing different types of instruments, he also has a collection of cultural and folk instruments in his house. He is skilled in playing 50 types of instruments including Narasimha, Masak, Hukumuku, Ektare, Tungna, Khainjadi, Damaha, Sarangi, Harmonium and has been playing the instrument for more than a decade and a half. During this time of sadhana, Sangraula has established himself as a musician and instrumentalist as well as an instructor.

56-year-old Sangraula, an employee of the Nepal Electricity Authority, has not received formal education or training in playing an instrument. Due to spontaneous practice and sadhana, he became proficient in playing different instruments by blowing his nose. He sings songs, poems, ghazals, bhajans and muktaks in old and new bhakas, from making music from leaves to making music from leaves. From Jhapa to Ilam to Panchthar, he never misses an invitation to any musical event, and Sangraula also enthralls everyone by presenting his art for hours at such events.

Sangraula has performed in Sikkim, India along with Nepal by playing murli, bansuri, tungna, murchunga, masak binayo and paat. When he plays instruments such as piper, flute, sahanai with his nose in public programs, the audience listens in amazement and enchantment. "I was able to play this much through regular yoga practice," says Sangraula. He said that he learned to play the instrument with his nose while trying to do it in a different way. A bhajankirtan group has been formed in Shahre Dangi.

Sangraula trained folk instruments for the first time seven years ago to members of a women's group in his village. Now invitations are coming from different districts of Ilam, Jhapa and Morang to give training on playing instruments. I try to manage my time and reach the place I am called to," he said. So far, he has given musical training to more than 2000 people. He says that most of the trained people are young people. He argues that imparting knowledge and skills based on traditional and folk rhythms to the youth will help in building culture.

While taking training, most of them played binayo, murchunga and other instruments, but he had the experience that he could only play the tharai with his nose. "Those who know how to play well with their mouths try to practice with their noses, but as soon as they enter their noses, they start to laugh and laugh. Seeing them laugh makes me laugh too," he says. Sangraula has decorated a room of his house with old and new tools and tools used by his ancestors. He sits in the same room at leisure and hums songs and bhajans to the rhythm of folk music. The other room has been decorated with various books by making it look like a library. Anyone is free to go to the library and read books according to their interest. Sangraula is equally interested in

writing genre. So far, 9 works including stories, poems, novels, short poems and hymns have been given the form of books. His songs, bhajans, poems and folk songs have been released so far. Along with this, he has opened the Matrikalaya Foundation of which he is the patron. He said that he plans to offer the knowledge, skills and instruments he has acquired to this establishment. Sangraula says that Anekan Hunder and Thakker, which he ate during his life, led him to music.