Folk Musical Instruments of Nepal

Introduction

A musical instrument that developed among the common people and usually does not have a known inventor is called a folk musical instrument. It is played in folk music. The music played during fairs, festivals, ceremony, Jatras, etc is known as folk music. Folk music is associated with particular place, race, religion and culture, etc. Folk musical instruments are played along with folk songs. Generally, folk musical instruments are made using the locally available materials. Madal, Sarangi, Jhyali, Sankha, etc are some examples of folk musical instruments of Nepal. The folk music represents the culture of a certain place and race. Folk musical instruments may differ according to the place or community. For example: Jhyali is a common musical instrument of Newar community living in Kathmandu valley and other cities of Nepal. Yalamber is a popular folk musical instrument of Kirants of eastern Nepal. Sarangi is a typical musical instrument of Gandharba community. Similarly, Damphu is an important folk musical instrument of Tamangs. Panchai Baja is played by the Damai community during the wedding ceremony. Along with folk songs, various musical instruments are also played in different festivals, jatras and ceremonies in Nepal. A brief introduction of folk musical instruments played in Nepal has been given below:

Madal: 

It is one of the most popular folk musical instruments of the Nepalese community. It is believed that it was first introduced by the Magar community. Later on, it gained popularity throughout the country. It is made with a hollow piece of a thick log and its open sides are covered with leather and tightened with leather strings. It is carried around the waist and played by both hands. The part, where Khari (a black paste) is put called Maidaan. A ring, at the edge of both sides of Madal which is used to tighten the leather strings is called Mathara. Similarly, the leather string, used for carrying Madal is called Juine. For making a Madal, a log from Khamari tree is used.

Sarangi: 

Sarangi is a traditional folk musical instrument played by the Gandharba community. It is a popular string-instrument made of a piece of wood. At the bottom of which, a hollow is made and four pieces of strings are fastened tightly with four wooden nails fixed on the top of it. It is played by rubbing on a group of strings especially left and right repeatedly with a bow called Gaj. Gaj is a stick which is fastened with some thin strings or hair of horse’s tail. Sarangi is made from the wood of Khirra tree and its hollow part is covered with leather. Sarangi in Nepal has been used as an instrument used to convey the message and news across the country. The people of the Gandarva community play the Sarangi in various folk songs. It produces a melodious tune.

Flute (Bansuri/Murali): 

Flute is a musical instrument played by blowing air through mouth. It is made by making holes on a small piece of hollow bamboo pipe (Murali Baans). It is popular throughout the country. Bansuri is played by blowing air through mouth but Murali is played by pressing with lips and blowing air on it.

Panchai Baja: 

Panchai Baja is a set of five folk musical instruments. It is played on the occasions like marriage ceremony, Bratabandha and other social, cultural and religious programmes. Panchai Baja is traditional musical instrument prevailing in Damai community. Nowadays, the people of other community also play it professionally. The set consists of Narasingha, Jhyali, Sahanai, Nagara and Tyamko.

a. Jhyali/Jhyamta/Jhurma: 

It is made of bronze. There are two plate-shaped instruments and they are played by striking each other with both our hands.

b. Narasingha: 

It is made of copper. It is long and curved like a half circle. It is played by blowing air through its mouth.

c. Sahanai: 

It is made of brass. It is played by blowing air with our mouth and moving fingers on the holes made on it.

d. Nagara/Damaha: 

It is made of copper or brass. It looks like bowl and its open part is covered with leather. It is played by hitting with stick on one side.

e. Tyamko: 

It is like a Nagara/Damaha but small in size. It is played by hitting with two sticks on one side.

Khainjadi: 

It is made of wood and covered with leather in one side. It is held with one hand and played with other hand when Roila, Balana, Kaura, etc songs are sung. It is also played during Bhajan-kirtan by the Hindus. A piece of wood from Daar tree and skin of golden monitor lizard or barking deer are used to make a Khainjadi.

Pungi (Bin): 

It is made of the harder cover of coconut by attaching bamboo pieces on it. This instrument is played to make snake dance in Terai region. It is played like Murali by blowing air through mouth and moving finger tips.

Tunga: 

This is a popular musical instrument used in the Himalaya region. It is made from rhododendron wood and has four wires like the Sarangi. Its hollow part is covered with the skin of sheep.

Yalamber: It is made of bamboo (Bhaalubans) with two wires of bamboo stick. It is used by the Kirant community. It is named after the name of the first Kirati King Yalamber.

Ekatare: It is a single string musical instrument used by the sages and ascetics. It is made of wood, leather and string.

Urni: It is made by using outer hard cover of coconut, skin and a rod. It is popular mainly in the Dhimal community of eastern Terai. It is played while worshiping the family god and while performing social and religious functions.

Dhol/Dholak: It is like a Madal and played in the same manner. It is made of hollow cylindrical wood covered with leather.

Dhyangro: It is used by a witch doctor like Dhami-jhankri and made of wood and leather. It is played by hitting with a stick. The Sherpa and the Tamang community use it during their cultural rites.

Hudko: It is like a Damaru and used in the Karnali Province and Sudurpashchim Province. It is mainly used in Khaptad fair. The person who plays this instrument is called Hudke.

Binayo: It is popular among the Kiranti people. It is made by making a hole in a piece of bamboo (Maalingo Baans) and thread is connected to both ends. It is played by blowing air through mouth and pressing by fingers.

Murchunga: It is made of iron and it produces the sound like Binayo. It is also popular among the Kiranti people.

Damphu: This musical instrument looks like Khainjadi and used in the Tamang

community and made by covering the wood with the leather. It is held by one hand and played by other hand.

Masak: 

It looks like the Sarangi and is used in Bajhang district of Sudurpashchim Province of Nepal.

Dafali: It is used in the western Terai of Nepal. It is circular wooden frame with one side covered with leather. The wood from jack tree is used for it.

Phasmuk: It is used in the Limbu community and made of three pieces of bamboo.

Dangmen: Dangmen is a musical instrument prevailing in the Sherpa community. It is made of wood and eight wires.

Kakuwayan: It looks like a Bansuri and played in the same manner. It is mainly prevailing in the Newari Jyapu community. It is made up of a piece of bamboo.

Aarbajo: It is a traditional musical instrument of the Gandharba community. There is a human image at the top of this instrument which is respected as the first Guru. It is also considered the first and religious musical instrument. Aarbajo is considered as male and Sarangee is considered as female musical instrument.

Pung: It is made of the horn of an ox or buffalo. It is played by blowing air through mouth. It is popular among the Rai community.

Dakkrai: This is used in Mithila area and is made of wood joining six wires.

Irlung Pipari: It is used in the Kusunda community and played by blowing air.

Shringinad: It is made up of the horn of Krishnasar (black antelope) and used by sages

while going for Pheri at night during the months of Kartik or Mangsir.

Kahal Baja: This musical instrument is made of a copper sheet and is about one meter

long. It is played by blowing air into it with mouth. It is played in the Gorakhkali temple

of Gorkha and Bhairabi temple of Nuwakot.

Sankha: It is made up of large shell of the conch found in the sea and ocean. It is played by blowing air through mouth. It is played during Puja and other religious ceremonies of the Hindus. It is also blown when dead body is taken to the Ghat for cremation.

Naumati Baja: Naumati Baja specifically contains nine instruments: those that comprise the Panchai Baja with an added Damaha and Sahanai, as well as two Narsingha, or Karnal. In general, the term Panchai Baja is often used for both the five-instrument group

and the larger Naumati Baja. Our folk musical instruments are being displaced by the imported musical instruments in urban areas and are slowly being displaced in rural areas too. They are our typical musical instruments. They are our identity and add to the glory of the nation. It is our duty to preserve such folk musical instruments. In order to preserve our folk musical instruments, the following measures may be useful:

☞Publicity of our folk musical instruments

☞Organizing folk musical competitions time to time

☞Giving priority for the manufacturing of such musical instruments

☞Making the provision of incentives to those who know about it and are preserving it

☞Including it in curriculum and teaching in schools and colleges practically, and

☞Using in modern music and encouraging different communities to preserve their

tradition.