The construction of the museum has been initiated with the aim of preserving the original identity, culture, and historical heritage of the Aathpahariya community.
What you should know
It will take some time for the Aathpahariya Museum, which is under construction near the Thuyurre Haat in Dhankuta Bazaar, to be operational. Although the building construction work has reached the final stage, it will take some time for the exhibition to open as the internal management and operating procedures have not been approved.
The Information Officer of Dhankuta Municipality, Bikash Adhikari, said that it will take some time to bring the museum into operation due to insufficient structural preparations including operational modalities, material collection, and operational ownership. He said that preparations are underway to bring it into operation within the current fiscal year after completing the procedural and construction work.
The construction of the museum has been started with the aim of preserving the original identity, culture, and historical heritage of the Aathpahariya community. The goal is to document the lifestyle, traditional costumes, musical instruments, agricultural tools, household items, and religious and cultural practices of the marginalized Aathpahariya community living in Dhankuta and surrounding areas in one place.
Sitaram Gautam, Planning Administration and Monitoring Officer of Dhankuta Municipality, said that about Rs 30 million has been invested in the construction of the museum so far. Gautam said that some work on the courtyard and interior is still pending.
The museum is expected to inform the new generation about its own identity, preserve endangered traditions, and promote domestic tourism. The project, which is being built in collaboration with the local level and the community, will further highlight the cultural diversity of Dhankuta, said Komal Aathpahariya Rai, central general secretary of the Kirat Aathpahariya Samaj. He said that the display management, security management, record keeping system, and management committee formation process inside the building have not yet been completed. The museum needs to have clear procedures, staff management, and long-term financial resources to operate, and the Dhankuta Municipality has stated that it will be formally inaugurated within the current fiscal year after completing these works.
