Tanahun: Special attention has been paid to the preservation of traditional Ghatunach in the Gurung settlement in Tanahun. With the aim of transferring this original culture, which is becoming endangered, to the new generation and connecting it with tourism, they have started to show interest in Ghatunach in the villages.
Bhanu Municipality-13 Baspani, Arthumka of Bandipur, Bhoteshwara of Ambukhaireni Rural Municipality, Damauli, Pulimryang, Tutepani, Hillekhark and other homestay villages are starting Ghatunach from Baisakh Purnima. Local residents say that this has added cultural richness to the village and has also increased the arrival of domestic tourists. According to Gal Bahadur Gurung, a former member of District Coordination Committee Tanahun, Ghantunach gives a unique glimpse of the original culture, unity and tradition of the village.
“The gathering of guests has increased when Ghantu is running, it has given the tourists staying in the homestay an opportunity to experience the vibrant culture”, he said. Tourism expert Harisingh Gurung considers original culture like Ghanttu to be the backbone of rural tourism. “Tourists come to the village to see the local originality. If Ghatunach can be systematically preserved and exhibited, it will contribute greatly to the upliftment of the rural economy”, he said.
In Ghatunach, which is believed to have started around the fifteenth century, girls who do not menstruate are worshiped as a symbol of King Parashuram and Queen Yamphavati. In Tanahun, Chitwan and Gorkha regions, there is a tradition of making an odd number of girls ‘Ghantuni’ and not marrying them.
According to campaigner Ranjit Gurung, special training was also conducted to transfer skills to the new generation. Out of the two types of ‘Sati’ and ‘Bahrmase’, Satighantu Panchami is worshiped on the day of Panchami and celebrated at a holy place like Chandithan, which is concluded for this year.
(RSS)
