Traditional tunes of Teej fade amid rise of modern music

Kailali: Once, the excitement of Teej began with the beat of the Madal and the echoes of soulful tunes in village courtyards. Women gathered to sing songs reflecting their sorrows, pains, and struggles, while dancing to lighten their hearts. These songs were not merely for celebration—they served as a medium to express unspoken anguish and collective experiences.

Parvati Devi Khatri, 61, of Ghodaghodi Municipality-8, recalls those times vividly. “As soon as planting was completed, the Madal would start playing in the village from Shrawan. Everyone would gather and sing and dance for a month. Now, all that has disappeared,” she said.

Similarly, 63-year-old Tola Devi Bista remembers how women once expressed their suffering through Teej songs. “The songs were our own voices. Today, songs have turned vulgar, and the place where women could unburden their hearts has vanished,” she shared.

With changing times, sound systems and modern music have replaced traditional rhythms. According to Kailali District Coordination Chief Tika Chaudhary Bhul, original Teej songs—rooted in themes of marital hardships, family struggles, and memories of mothers—have been overshadowed by commercialized and often indecent lyrics.

Local resident Maiti Budhathoki, 65, reminisced, “Even to attend funerals, we had to wait until Teej. If no one came to take us, we could not go. Songs sung with Madal and Mujura carried emotional depth and originality. Now, the sound of the Madal is rare.”

The shift has also deeply affected traditional instruments. Madal trader Tirtha Badi of Lamki Chuha Municipality-3 lamented, “Earlier, Madals sold well during Teej, Tihar, and weddings—people even traded goats for one. Now, it is difficult to sell a single Madal.”

Deputy Mayor of Ghodaghodi Municipality, Guliya Kumari Chaudhary, observed that the use of double-meaning and ambiguous words in Teej songs has grown, diminishing their cultural essence.

Amid these changes, efforts to preserve tradition continue. Ghodaghodi Municipality has been organizing original Teej song competitions to protect cultural identity and inspire younger generations. Mayor Khadak Rawat said such initiatives help revive traditional expressions and pass them on to the future.