The women of Ribdikot rural municipality-3 here have started showing their skills in religious festivals and gatherings including weddings, fasts, after taking training in playing panjaibaza.

Aruna Chhahari, the coordinator of the tribal group, said that they learned to play the instrument with the help of the rural municipality and the ward, as it will help in income generation along with the preservation and revival of tradition.  Although it is called

panchaibaja, a team of nine people is required in this group. Two people play sanai, two people play karnal, two people play damaha. One person in the group plays dholki, tamko and cymbal.

16 women from 40 to 55 years old belong to this group. Since there were no young people playing instruments in the village, we had to call them from the neighboring villages, and when there was no manpower to play the instruments from the neighboring villages, the ritual work was affected, so the women learned the skill of playing the instruments and started the business," she said. 

After the women moved forward for the protection of Panjaibaja, the men also supported it. Co-ordinator Chhahari said that men have helped with the rhythm of playing the instrument. 

For cultural preservation and self-reliance, the rural municipality and ward office trained and bought weapons for women. Women belonging to the group have started playing instruments. Ward President Narayan Bahadur KC said that the tradition and culture of playing instruments in auspicious functions such as weddings and fasts started disappearing due to the lack of manpower due to the departure of young men and women abroad.

According to Mani Prasad Khanal, chief administrative officer of the rural municipality, the instruments were purchased from the 50,000 budget allocated to the ward by the rural municipality last year, but this year, the women have been taught to play instruments through the 50,000 budget. After getting skills and materials, women started playing instruments professionally.