Kathmandu, September 8:

Locals of Than Bahal, Kirtipur, today declared their village a ‘museum’ and named it the “Than Bahal Newa Lahana” (Newar Civilisation of Than Bahal) with an aim to preserving their ancient culture and customs as well as to generate income.

Any outsider entering the village between 12 noon to 5 pm, now on, will have to pay to observe the displayed culture, customs and other materials.

According to Rajman Maharjan, chairperson of the management committee, tourists from the non-SAARC countries will have to pay Rs 100 each, visitors from the SAARC countries will have to pay Rs 50 each, and Nepalis living outside Kirtipur will have to pay Rs 20 each, whereas locals of Kirtipur and students will have to pay Rs 10 each to visit the museum.

“However, anyone entering the village for any purpose other than visiting the museum will not have to pay,” Maharjan told this daily. Local Najarman Maharjan said that Dhikis (wooden mills), traditional waiving machines, traditional mills used for producing local liquor, things that show traditional Newari customs and their rituals would also be on display on the roads of the village. Maharjan said that such an initiative was taken to stop Newari tradition and civilisation from being sidelined.

“This will teach younger generation how their forefathers were,” he added.

Maharjan said that a total of 68 households are the shareholders of the museum. “Every household necessarily has to invest a minimum of Rs 5,000,” he said, adding: “The income generated from the museum would be divided between the shareholders besides paying salaries to the staffers of the museum.”

“We have formed a 13-member management committee which has employed 45 locals to run the museum,” he said. Speaking at the museum inauguration ceremony, cultural expert Satya Mohan Joshi said that it is a classic example of promoting culture.