Pokhara celebrated the Gai Jatra festival yesterday with a vibrant display of the traditional Tayamcha dance. The event, organized by the Neva Khala Kaski, saw performances from 33 different locations across the city.
Ashok Palikhe, the president of Neva Khala Kaski, reported that branches of Neva Khala from various localities, including Hemja, Lamachaur, Bagal, Bhimsen Tole, Simlachaur, Prithvi Chowk, and Nayabazar, participated in the event. Despite continuous rainfall throughout the day, the festival’s spirit remained undampened.
In addition to the Tayamcha dance, Neva Khala Nayabazar is set to host a Tayamcha dance competition on August 24. This event, co-organized by Neva Misa Puchha Nayabazar, Neva Lyamha Puchha Nayabazar, and Neva Welfare Guthi, will feature 29 teams competing for the top prize.
Shambhu Lal Shrestha, the chief coordinator of the competition, announced that the winner will receive a cash prize of NPR 301,000, while the first and second runners-up will receive NPR 201,000 and NPR 101,000, respectively. A consolation prize of NPR 10,000 will also be awarded.
The Tayamcha dance believed to have been introduced to Pokhara by the Newar community of Bhaktapur during the reign of King Siddhinarsingh Shah of Kaski, is now over 250 years old. The competition has been held annually since 1999, with both men and women participating, a recent development in the dance’s history. Traditionally, four dancers in fairy costumes and one clown dance in a rotating fashion.
