At 73, Ram Bahadur Gandharva keeps the sarangi and Malashree tradition alive

Ram Bahadur Gandharva, 73, of Tansen-6 in Palpa, kept his ancestors' tradition alive this Dashain too, playing the sarangi and singing Malashree.

From Ghatasthapana through the nine days of Navaratri, he walked the lanes, squares and doorsteps of Tansen every morning from around 3 am to 5 am.

Even past his seventh decade, his devotion to Malashree has not faded.

For him, the Malashree song is not just a tune but a cultural heritage passed down from his ancestors.

In the past, as soon as Dashain began, many in the Gandharva community would travel from village to village singing Malashree.

With the younger generation showing little interest and the number of older artists dwindling, this practice has been fading away.

Ram Bahadur says he is now the only one left in Palpa district who still sings Malashree.

He says he worries about who will carry on the tradition after him.