KATHMANDU: From his ancestors and to Keshav Ba (Keshav Krishna Shrestha), the cultural craft of Nau Baja has been handed down from one generation to another. And the head of Nau Baja performance of Mangal Bazaar is sharing his knowledge to the younger generations.

“I like to teach children,” the 76-year-old shares who is happy doing it. He is teaching about 29 students aged 12-18 years for this jatra. “My father taught me this, and I am doing the same for them.” For he feels if he doesn’t, then who will teach them?

“I will have to share my knowledge with these children. And I will share everything that I know.”

Thirty-two-year-old Anil Shrestha is his student. Anil had witnessed the jatra and Nau Baja performance by his tole (1995) and other toles and “I wanted to be part of it”. He did so in 2005 under his teacher, Keshav Ba. He was a young boy of 22 then.

“The festival was lively and fun which is why I became of part of it in the first place,” he says. He is looking forward to his second performance this year. Moreover, Nau Baja performance is an “exciting” thing for him. “Other than the charm of playing, the instruments hold history. The elderly people who understand them come to watch the performances despite their inability to walk. They listen to the taals of the instruments and music with much interest and corrects musicians who make mistakes.”

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Experienced ones like Anil are helping their teacher in teaching. Some students are starting from scratch, while some have musical background.

Saurav Bajracharya, 16, who used to learn violin came for Nau Baja practice due to his “interest in playing different instruments” in his free time. “I am getting to save our art and culture,” he shares his experience.

New to Matya, Abhishek Joshi, 17, is learning “about my Newari culture”. He has not done music before but “I am enjoying this. I am learning many things and it is not even tough as I am giving my heart to it.” His grandfather sent him to learn to play the instruments.

The “special training” for Matya started from Magh but halted for two months due to the quake. With not many days left for the festival, the practice is going on in full swing at Mangal Bazaar.