Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Jeevan Ram Shrestha today participated in Gunla cultural ritual and circumambulated Swoyambhu Mahachaitya temple.
As part of this month-long ritual, devotees go round the Mahachaitya playing traditional music. Minister Shrestha paid obeisance to the god Swoyambhu and circumambulated the temple in this connection.
On the occasion, Minister Shrestha said that this festival not only belongs to Newar community but is a historic festival of all Nepalis. He said that this festival has a special significance in the Buddhist tradition in Kathmandu.
Musical instruments as Dhaa Dhime Nagara, Naykhin, Damakhin, Dabdab, Bhridanga, Pau Picha and Kwocha (Khin) are played and special worships performed during the month of ‘Gunla’. The devotees follow people playing musical instruments and singing hymns during the ‘Gunla’ procession that circumambulates the Mahachaitya.
The Culture Minister opined that this festival has helped preserve various traditional musical instruments and native culture. He called for cooperation from all sides to keep this tradition alive.
