‘Dotyali Museum’ established in Dadeldhura to preserve far-western heritage

Dadeldhura: The Dadeldhura Public Library has established the ‘Dotyali Museum’ with the aim of preserving the traditional lifestyle, customs and cultural identity of the Far West.

The library, established in 2061 BS, began collecting and preserving old materials through the museum from 2073 BS, as traditional items used in rural society have been gradually disappearing in recent times.

According to Pushkar Bahadur Deuba, head of the library office, the expansion of markets, the influence of modern lifestyles and changing interests of the younger generation have contributed to the disappearance of old household items. In response, the museum was established to preserve such materials in one place.

He stated that the primary objective of the museum is to help future generations understand their original identity by preserving items used by their ancestors. As traditional clothes, jewelry, daily-use items and weapons continue to vanish, efforts have been intensified to collect and store them in the museum.

The museum currently houses a wide range of traditional materials, including agricultural tools such as plows, yokes, namlo and damlo, as well as grain storage items like baskets made of reeds and bamboo, suppo and bhakari. These items reflect the agricultural practices and rural lifestyle of the past.

It also includes ornaments such as gunyucholo, paisako mala and athani-chauanni, which represent the social and cultural conditions of earlier times. Additionally, items like doli, janto, dhikki and gadipala, associated with marriage rituals and time measurement, have been preserved, offering insight into the lifestyle of previous generations.

Library chairman Gajendra Sahi said that the concept of establishing the museum was introduced in 2073 BS, with initial support from the Division Forest Office. Financial assistance was later provided by Amargadhi Municipality, and more recently, materials were received from the Taragaun Development Committee under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, further enriching the museum.

The collection of materials is ongoing. Sahi explained that teams visit villages to locate old items, purchase them if necessary, and also accept donations, which are recorded in the name of the donor.

However, challenges have emerged in the collection process. Deuba noted that the increasing trend of traders exchanging old glass and copper utensils for steel and plastic items has accelerated the disappearance of traditional materials, making collection more difficult. He added that there are plans to expand the museum by gathering more items in the future.