Discussion and Feedback Program on the  Athpahariya Folklore and Folklife Field Study

Athpahariya Kirat Rai Society (AKIRAS) and Nepali Folklore Society (NFS) jointly organized a two-day discussion and feedback program on the achievement of the Field Study of the Athpahariya Rai folklore and folklife at the hall of AKIRAS, Dhankuta on 1-2 August 2006. The program that began after the breakfast at 8:30 morning was chaired over by Mr. Dhruba Kumar Chhara, AKIRAS Central Committee Chairman and emceed by Mr. Arjun Chhara, the Secretary of the AKIRAS District Committee. The Chief Guest of the program was Prof. Tulasi Diwasa, the President of the NFS, Kathmandu. Others guests invitees of the event were- Mr. Asta Bahadur Rai (Chhongden), Chairman of the AKIRAS District Committee, Mr. Gehendra Rai, Chairman of the City Executive Committee and the four members of the Field Study Group.
 
On the occasion, Mr. Sambhu Khatiwada, delivered a welcome speech on behalf of the Nepali Folklore Society, further highlighting the objectives of the folklore and folklife field study. Intending an effective feedback and meaningful discussion, the organizers arranged an introductory program among the participants. Following the introductory program, the Chief Guest of the program, Prof. Diwasa released an Athpahariya language bimonthly magazine Fungning, and a Nepali-Athpahariya dictionary prepared for the first time in the Athpahariya Rai history. At this juncture, Mr. Gehendra Rai and Mr. Indra Chhongden, the Editor of the Fungning shared their views. Likewise, Ms. Rajkumari Chhitlinge and Mr. Asta B. Rai also expressed their views on the efforts of preparing the Nepali-Athpahariya dictionary.
 
Addressing the program, Prof. Diwasa shed lights on the importance of promoting folklore adding that the Fungning, the magazine and Nepali-Athpahariya Dictionary will be catalysts to upgrade and promote the language and culture of Athpahariya in the entire region. Prof. Diwasa also appreciated praiseworthy efforts of the AKIRAS members while publishing the magazine and preparing the Nepali-Athpahriya Dictionary. He also thanked the community for their valuable supports to the members of the NFS field study group.
 
In the second session, the members comprising the field study group highlighted the achievements acquired during the period of study on folklore and folklife of the Athpahariya Rai. In this session, Mr. Amrit Yonjan, the Coordinator of the field study group presented a paper entitled "Athpahariya Folk Language and Folk Communication” while Mr. Luisang Waiba presented a paper on "Athpahariya Socio-cultural Folklife and Folkways." Similarly, Mr. Bulu Mukarung presented a paper on "Athpahariya Folk Literature and Folk Performing Arts" and Mr. Sambhu Khatiwada shared his views through his paper "Athpahariya Material Culture and Folk Heritages". On the occasion, various participants and key informants representing different walks of life and various villages shared their views on the outcome of the field study while the members of the field study group responded the queries raised by the informant participants. Having purposeful discussions and meaningful interactions over the information collected by the study team, the participants gave constructive and fruitful suggestions to the members of the field study group.
 
Mr. Dhurba Chhara who also chaired the second day session, said that the program, first of this kind, was fruitful and effective to promote the folklife and folklore of the Athpahariya. Mr. Gehendra Rai had greeted the guests and participants with his welcome speech. In order to make the session effective and interactive, the participants were divided into four groups. The participants of the programs had shared their knowledge, ideas and views among themselves. On the occasion, various folk dances, reflecting the vivid ways of folklife and tradition of Athpahariya were also performed.
 
Finally, AKIRAS arranged a concluding event wherein Prof Diwasa along with the 4 members of the field study group and cameraman Mr. Mohan Bikram Shah were felicitated with the Letter of Appreciation. On the occasion, the AKIRAS members also arranged a farewell program in honor of the NFS chairman and the field study group. Speaking in the program, Prof Diwasa, Mr. Dhruba Chhara, including others, had thanked the participants for their fruitful suggestions and praiseworthy supports.
 
First National Folklore Congress-2006

Nepali Folklore Society (NFS), known for the promotion and preservation of wide areas of folklore covering the various disciplines of social science such as sociology, anthropology, geography, linguistics, literature and architecture, grandly organized its First National Folklore Congress from 15-16 December 2006 at the library hall of the Nepal Academy, Kathmandu, bringing together the hundreds of folklore experts and scholars across the country.
 
The Congress witnessed a historic participation of hundreds of participants along with above 100 registered participants including folklore experts, university professors, doctors and lecturers from various disciplines of the society. The Congress underlined the needs to be explored in the diverse streams of folklore and also stressed on the holistic approach to study the people and places across the country. Including the inaugural and valedictory sessions, the Congress was divided into nine sessions entitled- Nepali Folklore and Folk-life Field Study, Folklore Gender and Power, Folklore and Folk Performing Art, Theoretical and Methodological Issues in the Study of Folklore, Folklore, Identity and Ethnicity, Folklore, Literature and Language, Folklore, Cultural Studies and Folk Practices which brought together a total of seventy exclusive papers on various topics.
 
The inaugural session of the Congress, held at the library hall of Nepal Academy on December 15, 2006 from 9:45-10:45, was inaugurated by the Chief Guest:  Hon’ble Minister of  Culture, Civil Aviation and Tourism - Mr. Pradip Kumar Gyawali and chaired by the NFS President Prof. Tulasi Diwasa. Delivering the inaugural speech, Minister Gyawali said that promoting and preserving the folklore and folklife was a need of the country since they reflect the entire cultures of all the nationalities. Minister Gyawali also appreciated the NFS for its vital role in the protection, promotion and exploration of the cultures of the various nationalities and assured to framing out a policy on the promotion of folklore and folk culture.
 
On the occasion, President of Nepali Folklore Society and the Chairman of the inaugural session, Prof. Tulasi Diwasa shed lights on the objectives of the Society further adding that NFS is dedicated to explore, promote and protect the folklore and folklife. Stating Nepal as a land of diverse cultures, Prof. Diwasa stressed that Nepal play the leading role in the protection and promotion of world ethnic culture. He also thanked Minister Gyawali and the various organizations for their supports in holding the Congress. Prof. Dr. Abhi Subedi delivered his welcome speech shedding limelight on role of the NFS in cultural preservation. Addressing the inaugural session, Mr. Satya Mohan Joshi hailed the NFS for bringing in light the folk songs,folk tales, and folk material culture of the common folk.
 
Following the historic inaugural session, special second session entitled ‘‘Nepali Folklore and Folk Life Study’’ begun at the library hall of the Academy. Held in the chairmanship of NFS President Prof. Tulasi Diwasa, a total of 12 experts of the NFS field researchers presented their papers on the different aspects of Gandarvas, Gopalis, Athpahariya Rais and Danuwars through which they focused the folk language, folk culture, folklore, ethnic literature, ethnic identity and ethnic social practices of these ethnic groups. The third session of the Congress entitled “Folklore, Gender, and Power’’ was chaired by Dr. Gajab Kumari Timalsina. In this session, 6 experts from various disciplines of the society presented their exclusive papers addressing the folklore, gender and power.
 
The fourth session, chaired by Prof. Dr. Madhav Prasad Pokharel was entitled “Folklore and Folk Performing Arts,” wherein 13 experts representing different disciplines of the society presented their papers exploring history of the Nepali folk musical instrument, development of folk songs, commercial values of duet songs and role of music at the context of social change. The fifth session began on the 16th of December under the theme ‘‘Theoretical and Methodological Issues in the Studies of Folklore.” In the session chaired over by Prof. Dr. Abhi Subedi, a total of 9 experts floated in various papers depicting the methodological and theoretical importance of traditional architecture, mythical symbols, tradition and sources of folklore and languages, among others.
 
The sixth session, chaired by Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav, took place under the theme “Folklore, Identity and Ethnicity.” In this session, 7 scholars presented their papers focusing the folk languages, folk cultures, folktales, folk riddles and folk narratives of the various ethnic groups of the country. The seventh session entitled “Folklore, Literature and Language” was chaired over by Prof. Dr. Govinda Raj Bhattrai. In this session, 15 experts presented their papers on various topics shedding limelight on the folk language and literature. The eighth session, chaired by Dr. Beena Poudyal discussed over the main theme “Folklore, Cultural Studies and Folk Practices.” During this session 9 personalities presented their papers mainly focusing the folklore, cultural studies and folk practices among the Nepalese folk groups.
 
Finally, the First National Folklore Congress organized a valedictory session in the chairmanship of the NFS President Prof. Tulasi Diwasa. On the occasion, various personalities including Satyamohan Joshi, Elke Selter from Unesco Cultrual Unit, Dr. Govinda Raj Bhattarai, Dr. Aruna Uprety and Joint Secretary at the Ministry of  Culture, Civil Aviation and Tourism Jal Krishna Shrestha appreciated the contribution of the NFS  in studying, exploring and promoting the folklore, folklife, folk culture and folk language. Prof. Dr. Abhi Subedi thanked the participants while Prof. Diwasa, delivering the concluding speech, underlined on the need to promote the folklore and folklife further thanking the participants, paper presenters and the support-makers for their encouraging supports.
 
According to the participants, the Congress has been a unique opportunity to strengthen the ideas and understanding of ethno- language, literature, musicology, folklore, ethno-botany, ethnicity and identity, folk-art and crafts, ethnicity, gender and folklore, folk performing arts and dramatic performances, interpretation of folk rites and rituals and collection and transcribing of oral texts.
 

Workshop on Folklore and Folklife Fieldwork

After the completion First Nepali Folklore Congress held on 15-16 December 2006, Nepali Folklore Society (NFS) organized a weeklong workshop on Folklore and Folklife Field Work from 17-23 December 2006. The workshop was organized to discuss and expose the ways and methodologies of field work of folklore and folklife.  
 
The workshop was participated in by 19 experts and scholars ranging from doctors to university lecturers. Among the participants were the university lecturers from various disciplines such as sociology, anthropology, geography, linguistics, literature, folklore, population including NFS members and other personalities interested in folklore and folklife field studies.
 
In the workshop, about 20 experts and resource persons provided the participants with necessary exposure on different aspects of folklore and folklife studies through their exclusive lectures on various related topics. The lectures broadly covered the folklore theories and methodologies, folklore and ethnomusicology, collection and transcribing of oral texts, Finnish method of tale type and motif, folk medicines, folklore studies in literature and culture, applied folklore, process of documenting and recording in audio-visual technology, ethnography of material folk culture, folklore and human geography, folkmedicine and ethno-botany, indigenous economic institutions and livelihood, oral tradition and oral history, traditional folk knowledge and technology, language and folklore studies, folklife, ethnicity and identity, folklife, culture and development, folk-art and crafts, visual folklore: digital audio-video recording and photography, ethnicity gender and folklore, folk performing arts and dramatic performances, folklore, context and performances, collection and interpretation of folk rites and rituals and human geography and folklore.
 
In the workshop program, Prof. Tulasi Diwasa, Prof. Dr. Abhi Subedi, Prof. Dr. C. M. Bandhu, Dr. Moti Lal Parajuli, Prof. Dr. M. P. Pokharel, Prof. Dr. Y. Yadav, Dr. Beena Poudyal, Prof. Dr. Tri Ratna Manandhar, Dr. Dhrubesh Chandra Regmi, Prof. Upendra Man Malla, Dr. R. B. Chhetri, Prof. Dr. Govinda Raj Bhattarai and Prof. Dr. P. P. Timalsina, Likewise, architect D. N. Dongol, Dr. Aruna Uprety (medical) Prof. Dr. D. R. Dahal including Mr. Mohan Bikram Shah, a video cameraman, and Mr. Siddhartha Kumar Shakya, an ethno photographer and video cameraman. The discussions focused on the folklore and folklife studies including the sociological, anthropological, cultural, architectural, medical, literary and technological fields. The workshop provided ample opportunities to the participants to understand the concepts, methodology, recent theories, information and knowledge on the field research of folklore and folklife.