Multi-cultural museum to be constructed at Tarakhola

Kathmandu - Tarakhola Rural Municipality has a dense population of Magar community. The community, migrated from Tarabhot of Dolpa and Argali of Palpa districts, has a dense population and is making ethnic culture alive. The Magar community populates the mid-hilly region of the country including Baglung. They are rich in traditions and cultures. Their lifestyle and language have enriched the culture.

They are divided in three groups in terms of language use. Magar from the Eastern Kali Gandaki River is called Bahiya, the western are known as 'Athara and the Dolpali Magara are called Kaike. The major festival is Bhume (worshiping the nature). But the worry of the Magar communities is that the traditional way of celebrating Bhume dance is gradually disappearing.

The historians believe that the community had migrated there some 300 years back and are still in majority there. They celebrate Bhuspolne, Sisnokhosne, Asare festivals among other national festival - Dasahain and Tihar. The community is rich in their cultural traditions and still preserving with high priority. With the threat of disappearing festivals, the locals are worried to preserve them and are also allocating budgets to preserve and promote them.

With this in the background, the local Tarakhola Rural Municipality is forwarding a master plan to construct multi-cultural museum to preserve all kinds of cultural festivals. The local authority has allocated Rs 2.5 million for the purpose and land is managed at Argala. Chairperson Prakash Gharti said, “Goods having archeological importance and traditional goods will be kept in the first floor in two-storied building.

Pictures depicting the contribution made by Tarakhola in the movement for political change as well documentary will be put on display in the second floor.” The museum represents the history, art, culture of the entire rural municipality, it is said. The rural municipality has set a target to develop the museum as cultural study and research centre later. A teacher and leader Birbalal Ghartimagar said that the multi-cultural museum will give a new identity of Tarakhola.

The museum would help the young generation know more about culture and history as well as strengthen cultural sentiments and unity, said Magar. Also the secretary of Magar Language and Culture Protection Committee, Magar shared that the local level should take initiative for the protection of the culture of indigenous and marginalised communities.

Activities for the construction of museum at different places including Resh of Baglung Municipality-7 and Hatiya of Galkot Municipality-3 have also been forwarded. A museum has already been constructed at Bhakunde, the tourism village in the district.