35 youth complete training in Newari dance forms and music

NAMCHI, 14 Feb: A 30-day training on Newari dance and traditional musical instruments concluded yesterday at the CM Pradhan Memorial Auditorium at Melli in South Sikkim. Organized by the Sikkim Newar Guthi’s Melli-Dara branch, the training was taken by 35 Sikkim Newars and was imparted by Kul Ratna Manandhar and Bal Mukhand Prajapati from Kathmandu as resource persons and had Ganesh Ram Lachi, also from Kathmandu, as the special resource person.

The valedictory programme yesterday had the area MLA [Melli-Rateypani], Tulshi Devi Rai, as the chief guest accompanied by the HRDD Minister, NK Pradhan, as special guest.
Ms. Rai congratulated the organisers on their efforts towards keeping their culture and performing arts alive among the young with such specialised training, while the HRDD Minister highlighted how the present Government had created an environment which allowed all sections and communities of the Sikkimese society to nurture and celebrate their unique identities and cultures.
The special resource person for the training, Ganesh Ram Lachi, was felicitated by the Sikkim Newar Guthi, while resource persons Kul Ratna Manandhar and Bal Mukhand Prajapati were conferred letters of appreciation.
The trainees also offered guests a peek into their new skills with a much appreciated cultural programme.
The programme was also addressed by Sikkim Newar Guthi president, RK Pradhan, resource person Ganesh Ram Lachi and Sikkim Newar Guthi, Melli branch president NB Pradhan and was attended by the representatives of Newar Guthis from all over Sikkim, West Bengal and Nepal.

[PURAN TAMANG]