KATHMANDU, APRIL 17
Drum Jatra 2022 – a seven-day percussion festival featuring national and international artistes – is underway from April 11. Mangal Man Maharjan, Navin Chettri, Bijay Shrestha, Eduardo Mendonca, Ashesh Rai, and Nimesh Kapali were the featured artistes on the festival’s fifth day on April 15.
First on were the tabala quartet -Rai, Kapali, Shrestha and Chettri – who played a beat on the tabalas that they had named ‘Kantipur Taal’.
Healing artiste Maharjan was on next who played a “sound bath” (a meditative experience where those in attendance were ‘bathed’ in the sound waves) with the help of a singing bowl, gong, ting sha, bell, and shadow bell.
Maharjan said, “This is my second performance at Drum Jatra.
I tried to play a different type of music. This performance of mine was focussed on sound meditation.
I produced the ‘Om tune’ with the help of different sound bath instrument. This ‘Om tune’ is very beneficial for the health of people. I observed the audience were very relaxed. The singing bowl and gong produce different waves which are taken by the blood vessels and it works as healer for the body and mind.”
After a break, Chettri and Shrestha – together known as the Himalayan Duo – were back on drums and sitar respectively. Then Mendonca joined them wih a guitar to perform a composition of Brazilian and Nepali music.
The sound was classical and melodious giving a soothing vibe, a fusion music that was relaxing.
Chettri said, “The performance was a fusion of different cultures.
There was pin-drop silence in the crowd.”
Rai felt “awesome. I liked the crowd. They were very quiet”.
The emotional bond among the artistes was palpable as they in synchronisation with each other down to the last tabala beat. The beauty, silence, and intimate setting of the Kantipur Temple House glorified the beauty of music played.
Sabrina Barbara, 45, from Canada claimed she felt a different kind of music. “It is my first experience in Drum Jatra, Kathmandu. I am attending a concert after long time. The music was pretty relaxing.
I feel quite lucky to be able to attend this programme as I had different plans initially.”
Anohter audience member Sneha Yonjan, 21, from Nakhipot shared, “I felt the audience were involved with the music. It was very interesting. I have attended guitar jatra, but now I am attending Drum Jatra, which is quite a unique experience.
It is a new thing in Nepal and I feel people are channelising this kind of festival.”
Ruby Shrestha from Hatigauda, permanently from the US, said, “This is a stress-free time as the music relaxed me. I’d witnessed such a festival in America, but this was one of a kind. I felt it