After tika, swings in full swing: rote ping in Gorkha's Siranda, linge ping revived in Gulmi as village swings move to towns

After the Dashain tika, locals in Siranda, Ajirkot Rural Municipality, Gorkha, have been enjoying the traditional rote ping (swing). People from nearby villages also came to ride the Siranda swing. The presence of people who returned to the village for the Dashain holidays has added to the bustle.

The swing is tied to an old belief that one must leave the ground at least once on tika day. In villages, swings built by planting long bamboo poles traditionally draw crowds after tika.

In Dharampani, Chhatrakot Rural Municipality-3, Gulmi, a linge ping that had fallen into disuse has been put up again, an initiative of the Nabapragatishil Yuba Club. Urbanization, road expansion, migration and changing lifestyles have reduced the tradition of putting up swings in villages. The club said the swing was built to help the new generation understand the importance of native culture.

According to the club's founding chairman, Janak Panth, the swing's purpose is to add joy and festivity for locals. In the past, village youths used to collect thatch and wood from every household to put up a swing at a public site. As people moved to towns for work and study, the swing culture has also shifted toward urban areas.

Now, hotels and public spaces in towns have also begun setting up swings aimed at the festival season. In the Tarai too, a large number of people are seen putting on jamara and playing on linge ping swings.