Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu:

In an initiation function of Kathmandu 2020, a youth organisation, a one-day workshop and

exhibition ‘Sarangee, Sarangee and Sarangee’ was organised to promote Nepali folk music and the musical instrument at the Nepal Tourism Board hall. Khim Bahadur Gandharb, sarangee trainer and the first person to go on a global tour playing sarangee, released the first sarangee guidebook ever in the programme. The book has been written by Sushil Gautam.

Sarangee player Magar Kanchha Nepali Kanchha, who has been playing the instrument for 70 years now, and Birbal Shrestha, the first person to start commercial production of sarangee here, were honoured on the occasion. The programme was followed by renditions by various artistes including Khim Bahadur Gandarb, Bhiv Saran Gandharb, Shyam Saran Garndharb, Kiran Gandharb. Sukarma also performed in the programme.

“The sarangee is not a folk instrument, it is can be played to any form of music,” said Dhrubesh Chandra Regmi, sitarist of Sukarma. The performance by Shyam Saran Nepali enthralled the audience. A 12-string sarangee, invented by Hari Saran Nepali, was also displayed. This programme was coorganised by Nepal Lokbaja Sangrahalaya and Gandharb Art and Culture Association Nepal. Nepal Tourism Board was promoter.