Dhorpatan (Baglung), 4th Magh(17 January): Every year on Magh 3(16 January), Putali Nach is performed in Bhalkot, Nisikhola Rural Municipality-6. The locals here have been preserving the Putali Nach, which has been performed since the time of King Baise Chaubise(22, 24). This dance, in which people dance in the form of dolls, is also considered expensive. People from children to the elderly, dressed in colorful clothes, dance as dolls. The enthusiasm of the dance is increasing every year as the interest in preserving the Putali Nach has increased among the younger generation.
The Putali dance, which is only performed in Bhalkot, is considered an excellent original culture. Along with the Putali dance, Kapai dance, Tarbar dance, and Patta dance are also performed on this day. The youth in the village have emphasized on the preservation of the Putali dance, which is on the verge of extinction as the youth migrate abroad and the market starts to decline. Various organizations, including the local government, are also working to preserve the dance associated with the identity of the Magar community.
The Tilachan Youth Club has taken the initiative to preserve the dance. The club has been working to transfer culture from the older generation to the younger generation. Every year, new young people are dancing in the village. Although it is not certain when this dance, which is believed to be hundreds of years old, began, the elders say that it has been danced since the Baise Chaubise kingdom. Bajbir Gharti Magar, a 77-year-old local, said that he has been preserving the dance that his father and grandfather have been dancing until now.
“Putali dance has been performed since I was a child. I have been dancing for over seven decades now. When we were young, our grandparents used to dance. I learned by watching them,” said Gharti Magar. “Today’s youth are also learning and performing it. I don’t know when this culture started, but our grandparents used to say it is hundreds of years old.”
Why is the Putali dance performed?
Local Naina Singh Budhamagar said that after the death of the king and queen during the Baise Chaubise kingdom, the locals started dancing the Putali Naan in their memory. According to Budhamagar, on the evening of Magh 2, dolls are made in memory of the king.
Three idol-like dolls are made, one for the king, one for the queen, and one for the maid. On Magh 3, children, youth, and the elderly dress up as dolls and dance to the beat of a baja. On Magh 3, they dance from Bhalkot village to a certain height, where they fire guns, swing the doll on a swing, and dance. After dusk, they swim in the river.
From the evening of Magh 2nd, when the puppets are made, until they are taken to the river on the 3rd, local youths play drums, talk obscenely, and play kapai. From morning to evening on Magh 3rd, people dressed like puppets dance. They wear different types of clothes on their bodies. They dance all day long, dressed like puppets. This is called ‘Putali Naach’ by the locals.

पुतली नाच प्रदर्शन
बागलुङको निसीखोला गाउँपालिका–६ भल्कोटमा पुतली नाच प्रदर्शन गर्दै स्थानीयहरु । यो नाच हरेक वर्ष माघ ३ गते प्रदर्शन गर्ने गरिन्छ । तस्बिरः डम्मर बुढा
Dhorpatan(Baglung),16 January:
Putali dance
The strange practice of giving bear bile
Along with the puppet dance, bear bile is offered on Magh 3. Among the people who dance like puppets all day long is a group of 10-12 young men who play kapai. They play small instruments such as damfu, ghando, etc. They wear old thangka clothes and masks on their faces, while some show their faces.
One of them is disguised as an old ghum (a cloth made of sheep’s hair) and made unrecognizable. They call it a bear. The performers put ashes and dust on the bear’s genitals and sometimes even expose them by pulling them out. The locals call the person who exposes his genitals like this ‘bear’s bile’.
Although it may seem unnatural, this is a tradition that has been going on for years. Those who play kapai use words that are extremely uncomfortable to hear, such as “Hore kapai hore”, “Devi hanshun”, “Ubho da bhatti ayo bhel laer”, etc. Local 66-year-old Man Bahadur Gharti Magar said that it is believed that the gods and goddesses are pleased when they use obscene words like this.
“It may seem bad to outsiders to see such a culture, but bear bile has been shown in this place for many years. This does not happen at other times. On the day when the puppet dances, bear bile is shown,” said Gharti Magar. “Earlier, it was more common, but now it is gradually decreasing. The identity of the person who shows his genitals by making a bear should not be revealed.”

Army training ‘Patta Nach’
Along with the Putali dance, Patta dance is performed on Magh 3. People who dance Putali dance with spears and swords in their hands perform this Patta dance. The training conducted by the then king’s soldiers is now called Patta dance, informed Hem Bahadur Budhamagar, chairman of Nisikhola Rural Municipality-6.
According to him, during the Patta dance, a sword and a shield are placed on both sides and two people do not use them. When the sword is not used, both try to kill each other and save themselves. They do the puppet dance and do not use the sword themselves. He says that earlier, old shields and swords were used, but recently they have been dancing with wooden patta.
The village council’s interest in conservation
After the local government came, the Putali dance has started to come into the limelight. Due to publicity, this dance has become very popular in West Baglung. The number of spectators who come to watch the dance has also increased compared to five years ago. Thousands of spectators come from Nishi Khola, Dhorpatan, Gulmi, Pyuthan, Rolpa and Rukum to watch the dance.
Nisikhola Rural Municipality Chairman Surya Bahadur Gharti Magar said that since the puppet dance is a fundamental culture associated with the identity of the Magar community, the municipality has been managing the budget and organizing it every year. He said that the rural municipality is working on training and other activities to transfer art and culture from the older generation to the younger generation.
“This kind of dance probably does not exist in Nepal. We are rich in art and culture. There is a concern that it will disappear if new people do not learn it. However, we are inspiring the younger generation to learn it from time to time,” he said. “The rural municipality is also making local organizations active in preserving art and culture. We have also paid attention to budget allocation and other aspects.”