Kartik Naach
Kartik Naach is a dance musical play that is performed every month of Kartik (October or November) in Nepal.[1] It was established in 1641 AD by Nepali King .[2][3][4] The play is performed in , Patan Durbar Square every year.[3][5] It is usually presented for two to 27 days with 17 tales of Hindu god Vishnu.[3][4] Originally it was shown for two days, but Narsingh Malla's son added seven days, and Narsingh Malla's grandson added 15.[4]
Background[]
The play was preserved by Kartik Naach Prabandhan Samiti, but the Kartik Nach Preservation Committee (KNPC) has been preserving it since 2013.[3] The play usually starts with dancers in colourful clothes portraying Hindu deities including Barahi, Ganesh, Shiva, and Krishna.[4] The dancers also wear festoons around their necks.[4] It is performed by Newar people and in 2015, there were "45 musicians and 10 helpers" performing.[4] It is also performed near the golden window in Patan and the window is opened only at the play. Legends say that it was built to honour the King Narsingh Malla.[6][7] Most of the dances and music is thought to have been composed by Narsingh Malla, but there have been minor changes to it.[8] Hari Man Shrestha, previously a director of KNPC, has penned a book on the play.[8]
The April 2015 Nepal earthquake critically damaged Patan Durbar Square.[citation needed] Seven months later, Kartik Naach was performed for 10 nights, while it was still damaged.[citation needed] Xinhua News Agency wrote, "Despite the tragedy, thousands of Nepali people, young and old, trooped to the temple to watch the open-air presentation of the historical dance-drama to the accompaniment of folk music".[citation needed] In 2018, Lalitpur had distributed 200,000 Nepalese rupees to the play.[2]
Gallery[]
A dance depicting god Ganesh
A person preparing for the play
A person depicting god Ganesh sitting with the audience
Two people dancing
The golden window that is opened once a year.
Newar musicians performing
References[]
- ^ "Kartik Naach festival held in Lalitpur, Nepal - Xinhua | English.news.cn". Xinhua News Agency. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Despite lack of resources, the Kartik Nach plays on". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Karthik Nach- Outside the Dabali". My City. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Kartik Naach: Punishment for evil deeds". The Himalayan Times. 22 November 2015. Archived from the original on 4 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ "'Kattik Naach' begins in Lalitpur". The Himalayan Times. 12 November 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ "Kartik Nach: The Show Must Go On". ECS NEPAL. Archived from the original on 21 November 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
- ^ Amatya, Rishi. "Old traditions, new meanings | Nepali Times Buzz | Nepali Times". archive.nepalitimes.com. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "Kartik Naach: This centuries-old festival of Patan celebrates devil's defeat every year –". OnlineKhabar. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
External links[]
Media related to Kartik dance at Wikimedia Commons
- Events in Nepal
- 17th-century establishments in Nepal
- Dance in Nepal