Nepali Folk Music

Despite the popularity of pop, rock, retro, reggae, rap, hip hop and all sorts of popular music, it is folk music that is the soul of the people. Even in the United States, where many different kinds of music have evolved, they have the soul music of the African Americans, which is a mixture of the folk with the spiritual tune. It is one of the most haunting music that you will hear, as it generates from the bottom of people’s hearts. One of my professor’s, made us listen to African folk songs. I could not figure out the meaning of the words, but I could definitely feel the rhythm of the songs, and was tapping my feet to them. He related that folk songs are the songs of the earth, of the land that people have inhabited for generations. Therefore, folk music, be it African or Nepali, is the sound of the earth itself.
Generally speaking, you will find lots of varieties in the folk tunes of Nepal. The diversity of the inhabitants of this small country is mind boggling, so are the numbers of folk music that can depict Nepal. You can hear several Newari folk tunes; if you are living in the valley or outside, where there is a majority Newari population. The combination of musical instruments that is popular among Newars is the Dhime baja. Similarly, there are the folk tunes of Eastern Nepal, mostly from the Rai population, including the Dhaan Nach,Ubhauli and Udhauli.You will also hear the Sale jyu and Maruni beats in the Eastern part of Nepal. There are the jhyaure beats of the hilly region, which are the tunes of the Chettris and other ethnic groups. You will find the beats of the rodhi gahr, among the Gurungs, and the Tamang selo in the dwelling place of the Tamangs.
There are many other examples, of what tune I can call a Nepali folk music. No matter, which particular group is playing the music or singing, and dancing to it; folk music belong to all Nepali population.