the sheer number of folk musical instruments

Apparently, there are 1,325 different types of traditional instruments in Nepal. When we talk of the past, we often see it as a primitive picture, with people getting by without electricity, cars, and even proper housing. But the sheer number of folk musical instruments questions these assumptions. It is a testament to the fact that their lives must have been rich and vibrant with music, dance, and togetherness. Life must have been nothing but a grand celebration (and without the stress of modernity). Think of the ingenious minds and adroit hands that devised them! Think of the numerous musical virtuosos whose art we will never behold! Who knows, Nepal might have had someone more inventive than Beethoven and more prolific than Mozart? We will never know. That is the most troubling fact about this whole affair. We will never know! The world will never know! And programs like Jamarko are efforts to fight this ignorance of our own heritage in music.

Some of the instruments played in the show were dha baja, khein, flute, madal, jhyali, tah, muyali, and sarangi. Dha Baja traces its roots to Buddha, which is more than twenty-five hundred years ago. It is fabled to be the favorite instrument of Siddhartha Gautama. And, according to the myths, the Shakyas of Lumbini brought this instrument to Kathmandu when they migrated here. The allure of dha baja is quite evident. It delivers boisterous beats exuding vigorous energy and commanding absolute attention. Every strike of tah (smaller version of cymbals) contrasts dha, as it produces a shrill sound and breaks the monotony of performances, thus making them all the more dynamic. As the muyali (an instrument which resembles a trumpet) was played, it reminded me of wedding processions. The sound of jhali reverberated off the walls and added a unique dimension to the musical piece. But, even among all these, the sarangi (a Nepali instrument resembling violin) stood out. A deluge of emotions were pouring out of its strings. It neatly brought together the entire orchestra of traditional instruments.