Silu Festival in Durbar

Project Baja Nepal hosted the 'Silu Festival In Durbar' cultural event on a Saturday at Patan Durbar Square in Patan to celebrate Gunla, the tenth month of the Newari calendar and the Gunla festival.


The annual cultural event, held in Lalitpur during the Gunla month, marked its beginning with a fascinating performance of the 'Baudha Lila,' a traditional dance that has been practiced for 380 years. This dance form is a variant of the Kartik dance, and it serves as a significant cultural and artistic expression during the event.

The performance was led by Dinesh Maharjan, with dancers Aaju Kancha Maharjan, Geet Sanu Kaji Maharjan, and Ratna Maharjan joining him on stage. Additionally, Bijay Maharjan provided the vocals, while Abij Maharaj, Angel Maharjan, and Avash Maharjan played the traditional musical instrument known as the Khee during this wonderful performance.

During the event, the audience had the pleasure of watching a performance by Project Baja Nepal. They presented 'Shilu Dhu,' a traditional Newari folk music piece. This music performance told the story of a married couple who attended the Shilu (Gosaikunda) fair during the Janai Purnima festival.

In addition to the 'Shilu Dhu' performance, the event featured various other traditional performances, including the Lakhey dance and more. According to Firoj Bajracharya, the president of Project Baja Nepal, the festival's primary goal is to preserve and promote the rich traditional music of Nepal.

The Chief Guest at the event was Mr. Chiribabu Maharjan, the Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City.