Making Music in Boudha

by Shila Shrestha
April 1, 2019
 

We went to Boudha today. There were lots of people at Boudha worshipping the gods. There were also a lot of international visitors.

The people performing the flute were Anita, Vidheha and I. Sabina Miss took photos and videos of us playing the flute. We started by playing the National Anthem then went onto all of our other songs like Kalilo Tamalai, Resham Firiri, Titanic theme music, Mangal Dhoon, Om Jaya Jagadish, Chyangba Hai Chyangba, and Lekali Hey Choya ko Doka.

We made sure that people would hear songs that they most likely knew. When Westerners came over, we played the Titanic theme music and when Indian pilgrims came, we played religious Om Jaya Jagadish Hare.

We made sure to get most of our songs in but we left some out because they were not easy to listen to. A crowd gathered, looking at us and listening to our music. They started taking photos and videos as well. They told us that our music is really nice. That made me proud.

We played in several locations of Boudha. We sat with a blind person and his wife. We played to him and he liked our music. One man gave us Rs. 450 because he liked our music. We said goodbye to the blind man and his wife and gave him the money.

In front of the gompa was another location we played music. There was a big bell behind us. Newari women and girls listened to us, there was a baby as well.

Then we went to the stupa and played music. Here we had pilgrims, tourists, local Tibetan people and Nepal people who listened to us, sat with us, took photos of us and with us. It was fun sitting under this huge stupa making music that people wanted to listen to.

Heading back, we saw a Newari Janko. This is a celebration of a wife and husband when they have married more 50 years or more. There was a music ensemble with the procession: the man and woman were placed on a doli and carried on human shoulders. Wooden flutes, tambourines, cymbals, madal, mridangna, dhime drums and other music instruments were played and its was all very beautiful to see and listen to. We looked at them amazed and then we played the flute again before heading back home!