Former chairman of the Bandipur Tourism Committee, Bainsha Bahadur Gurung, said that the Bhujung Ghatu dance performed at the end of the program, which concluded on Saturday, won the hearts of tourists.
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Muna Gurung and Indrakashi Gurung, 19, from Bhujung, a tourist village in Lamjung, study in Pokhara. They returned to Pokhara after dancing Ghatu for five years in the village this time on Baisakh Purnima.
Nukashi Gurung, Ankita Gurung and Riya Gurung, whom they taught in the village, are dancing Ghatu. During Ghatu dancing, the Nepal Tourism Board and Bandipur Rural Municipality organized a village tourism mart in Bandipur. Ghatu gurus from Bhujung Community Homestay, who were invited to the program, reached Bandipur on Saturday with Muna and Indrakashi. The team, including Ghatu guru Buddhiras Gurung, led by Tourism Management Committee Chairman Tul Bahadur Gurung, reached Bandipur with a team. The team reserved a jeep and reached Bandipur after a journey of about 4 hours.
The program, which was inaugurated by Gandaki Province Industry and Tourism Minister Yashoda Rimal on Friday and concluded on Saturday, invited homestay villages to perform mythological cultural performances. The Bhujung Ghatu, which was performed at the end of the program, won the hearts of tourists, said former chairman of the Bandipur Tourism Committee, Bainsha Bahadur Gurung.
It has been four years since Muna and Indrakashi stopped dancing Ghatu continuously. Muna is a second-year BA student at Bhadrakali and Indrakashi Prithvi Narayan Campus in Pokhara. ‘I came to the village on Ghatu Purnima. I had to come to Bandipur to dance Ghatu. We are happy to show the culture of the village,’ both said in unison.
According to Guru Lil Kumari Gurung, who taught them Ghatu, the Bhujung Ghatu in Bandipur was excellent. ‘It has been three or four years since I have danced.’ When both of them danced Ghatu without any damage, it saved our honor,' she said. According to Nauraj Gurung, president of Laligurans Youth Club Bhujung, Bhujung's cultural performance is excellent in many places. He said that it has been achieving success in competitions as well.
Bahramase Ghatu was presented by Bhujung Community Homestay in Bandipur. Wearing crowns in Gurung costumes, they danced as symbols of medieval King Parashuram and Queen Hyomaudi (Yamphawati). Tourists who came to Bandipur captured the scene of two people twisting their waists and turning their lives while singing Ghatu of classical raga to the rhythm of madal and harmonium on mobile phones and cameras. Not only that, many took photos and videos with Ghatuni. Ghatuni also took photos and selfies in Bandipur in Ghatuni's costume.
Ghatu is danced especially on the full moon day of Baisakh. The Ghatu dance series, which started on Baisakh 18 in Bhujung, a tourist village in Kholasothar Rural Municipality-4 of Lamjung, will continue till Baisakh 21. Local Gamimaya Gurung, who is also the vice-chairperson of the rural municipality, said that Kusunda (a type of Ghatu) will be danced on Sunday (20th) night and Ghatu will be performed on Monday evening.
Ghatu dance is an art form that involves slowly moving the body and limbs to the rhythm of music and songs. Ghatu, a slow-paced and rhythmic form of mythological lyrics and language, is an original lyrical poem. According to Ghatu Guru Buddhiras Gurung, initially, girls who have not menstruated were chosen for this dance. One is considered a symbol of the medieval King Parashurama and Queen Hyomaudi (Yamphavati). Girls who are not menstruating, have not cut their hair, have no injuries or blemishes, and have not been bitten by snakes, dogs, etc. are selected for the Ghatu dance. The first girl to reach the Ghatu from among the selected girls is made the king.
On Sri Panchami, the Ghatusari (Ghatuni) is washed and cleaned, and the Ghatu dance begins. In some places, a lacquer crown made of roasted rice is made on the head of the Ghatusari. The original costume, Gunyucholi, is worn. The themes of the marriage, love, accession, hunting, and war of King Parashurama and Queen Yamphavati are covered. The songs depict the lifestyle of a person, birth, work, adornment, marriage, fishing, farming, etc.
Although there are two types of Ghatu, namely Bahramase and Sati, recently Kusunda has also been recognized as a separate Ghatu. Bahramase is the one that can be danced for all twelve months, Sati is the one that starts on Shree Panchami in the month of Magh and ends on Vaishakh Purnima, and Kusunda is the Ghatu based on the story of the queen who went to Sati and became Kusunda after being burnt by the pyre and went into the forest.
To relieve the unpleasant moments of Ghatu, there is a tradition in the village society to perform comedy, tell jokes and sing and dance for fun. Some say that Ghatu dates back to the 15th century, while others say that it dates back to the 17th century. It is believed to have originated in the Gandak region, especially in the eastern Lamjung, Marsyangdi and the Dobhan area of the Chepe River.
Although there are differences in the story of the Ghatu, it contains the life story of King Parashuram and Queen Yamphawati. Ward Chairman Narayan Gurung says that every year a Baisakh Purnima fair is held in Bhujung, Lamjung to see the Ghatu that reflects Nepali life. According to him, it is customary to bless guests by wearing the Akshata of Dahichalam and singing Ghatu songs.
