Dadeldhura Public Library Establishes 'Dotyali Museum' to Preserve Cultural Heritage

Dadeldhura. The Dadeldhura Public Library has established the 'Dotyali Museum'.

Established in 2061 BS, the library began collecting and preserving historical artifacts through the museum in 2073 BS with the aim of protecting the traditional lifestyle, customs, and cultural identity of Sudurpashchim.

In recent times, traditional items used in rural society are gradually disappearing. Due to market expansion, the influence of modern lifestyles, and the changing interests of the new generation, old household items are vanishing. Considering this situation, office chief Pushkar Bahadur Deuba stated that the library established the museum to keep these items safely in one place.

According to him, the main objective of establishing the museum is to preserve the items used by ancestors and introduce the future generation to their original identity. He mentioned that since old clothes, jewelry, daily utility items, and traditional weapons are disappearing, the work of collecting and displaying them in the museum has been initiated.

The museum currently houses various types of traditional items. These include agricultural tools like plows, yokes, and ropes, as well as storage containers made of bamboo and cane like baskets and grain bins. These items reflect the old agricultural system and rural lifestyle.

Similarly, Kamdev Ojha of Amargadhi Municipality-5 stated that ornaments like traditional dresses, coin necklaces, and old currency reflect the past social and cultural conditions.

Items related to wedding rituals such as palanquins, grinding stones, and traditional husking pedals, as well as ancient time-measuring devices, are also kept in the museum. He noted that these items provide direct information about the lifestyle of the older generation.

Library President Gajendra Shahi mentioned that the concept of establishing the museum was proposed in 2073 BS, and work began in the initial phase with the support of the Division Forest Office. He informed that subsequently, financial support was received from Amargadhi Municipality, and recently, the museum has become more enriched with items received from the Taragaon Development Committee under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

The collection of items for the museum is still ongoing. According to Shahi, the practice involves visiting villages to search for old items, purchasing them if necessary, and displaying items received voluntarily along with the donor's name.

However, challenges have emerged during the collection process. According to Deuba, the trend of traders exchanging steel and plastic utensils for old bronze and copper vessels has increased, causing such items to disappear rapidly. He stated that this has made it more difficult to collect necessary items for the museum.

The library plans to expand the museum by collecting more items in the coming days.