By Amar Raj Naharki, Tanahu, Dec. 3: Listening to the sentimental song with the Sarangi music of Sita Ram Gandarva, 65, a resident of Nayabasti, Bhanu Munvipality-1, that meant you cannot get what you see in other's but what is written in your luck, teary eyes could be seen in people around him.

Among the people listening to the songs who were touched were Madhu Khadka Panta and Suku Gurung, of Amarapuri, Byas Municipality-1.

Singing is the old tradition of Gandarva community, but, succeeding generations don’t seem to be interested in pursuing the traditional singing occupation, which has put this traditional occupation under risk of extinction.

In the past, people would gather around Gandarvas to listen their songs because social events were the subject of the songs with Sarangi music that the Gandarva made, and in a way they were means to spread the message and information about the social events.

However, nowadays, the Sarangi and Gandarva who used to share stories through melodies have stopped reverberating in society.

Nowadays, people prefer to take entertainment from mediums like television, radio, social networking sites and internet and as a result the Gandarva’s signing profession is increasingly getting displaced, said Buddha Gandarva, 52, of Gandarva Basti, Bhanu municipality-1.

Buddha, who has been singing since he was 10 years old, sings love stories rather than information songs because of his disinterest in news.

Saying that there are only few youths that can sing a beautiful melody, Madhu said that the older generation has continued the legacy.

Sita Ram said that youths do not want to continue the traditional occupation but go abroad or take up any other occupation because some people view the traditional occupation with distain and discontent.

Sita Ram said, “We, the aged, have spent our life in singing, but, I feel that the occupation might be disappeared as youths are not involved in traditional singing occupation.”

He said that he earns Rs. 500 daily by signing, and the family is supported by that income.

Sharmila Gandhari, 48, from Gandarva Basti, said that people are losing interest to follow the tradition and ring on melody because there is more income in other professions.

She said that all the Gandharvas are living in the slums and squatters because of poor economic condition and weak educational situation. So more and more Gandharva youths who have obtained citizenship and passports want to go to the Gulf countries for foreign employment to get money for good housing.

Ram Krishna Gandarva said that many have left singing and has been earning a living by selling the Sarangi to tourists of Thamel.

However, Geeta Gandarva is worried as traditional signing profession of  Gandarava, which is their identity, has been slowly disappearing from the society.

Sita said if the government shows concern and provides necessary grants and supports in conservation of Gandarva songs by providing grants for woods that are used to make the Sarangi and facilitate to publicize the Gandarva songs through social networking sites then only this tradition which carries identity of Gandarva groups can be saved, otherwise it will extinct in the near future.

Shankar Pariyar, a singer of folksongs from Bandipur Rural Municipalty -1, Dumre, said that a “Rodhighar” has been started in order to protect traditional Gandarva songs, a chapter of Nepali culture that is at the verge of extinction.