SARANGI and GANDHARBA

"Sarangi" is a Nepalese musical instrument and the people who sing and play such music is known as "Gaine" and the whole community or their group is known as "Gandharba". It is usually sung remembering the sad moments and the pain related to anyones life, but not only limited to the sadness and is also used in different other songs and occasions. It is made out of wood and has four strings attached and works similar to a violin.
The songs are very heart touching and brings goosebumps and sometimes also tears to my eyes!!!! you can watch one of such songs by going to the link below. ENJOY!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXUKticmIto

DOKO and NAMLO

"Doko" is something I believe most people are aware of. It is still extensively used to physically transport  woods, water (obviously by keeping a vessel filled with water in the DOKO), kids to school and even patients in remote parts of Nepal where transport system is not readily available. It is made up of bamboo cut into long straps and joined together. It is also used in Kathmandu and other cities especially to carry materials for building house like sand, bricks etc. The above picture is the actual "Doko" and the rope like thing on the ground is the "Namlo" which is a head strap which goes around the head and helps people carry weight on their back. It is usually made up of rope. Since it is hard and rough on the forehead a soft cloth is used to decrease the pressure.

GUNDRI (गुन्द्री)

How many of you remember unrolling a "Gundri" (गुन्द्री) to sit on the floor????? When I used to go to my village we used to have a lot of extra "Gundries"(गुन्द्री) rolled up and stacked in place for use. It used to be the basic and the most necessary tool in any home of my village. It is used to sit and gossip with friends and family, can be used to make an extra matress to sleep and also to dry pulses and grains in the sun!!!! It has various uses and is handy in every homes!!!

"Gundri"(गुन्द्री) is a biodegradable Nepali carpet made out of hay. It is used in villages and are locally made by the women who runs the household. It is massively used all around Nepalese villages but now runs a doubt of continuity with the increasing lifestyles of people and coming of cheap carpets in the markets. Also time and skills required to make "Gundri"(गुन्द्री) is diminishing with every generation and years.

Above pictures shows women making "Gundri"(गुन्द्री) for their household in our very own traditional manner. The equipments required are a rectangular framework of wood known as "TAAN", rope to stack hay into, top and bottom wood structure with holes for rope to run between them and most importantly a woman with skills to put it all into place.

PIRKA

I bet a lot of us have grown up sitting on this. This is our very own sofa and is still extensively used in our villages."PIRKA" a typically Nepali name for a plank of wood designed to sit on either for talking, eating, praying or simply sitting on. It is designed to be a little high from the floor to save oneself from the cold and dirt. It is used mostly in the village areas where luxury living is not possible with the help of sofa or cushions.

The picture above is of a child having his meal sitting on a "PIRKA". As it is made from wood it is not that easy to sit on especially when we have a habit of sitting on soft materials and cushions (believe me!!!). But never the less it is important and essential tool in villages where floors are made up of mud and saving your cloths from getting dirty is one of the goal. Along with "PIRKA" people also use "GUNDRI","SUKUL" and "KAMBAL" to sit on.