Galkot (Baglung), 4 Magh(18 January): The present Baglung Bazaar is more than 284 years old. The artistic houses built more than a hundred years ago are still the same in the old bazaar. Narayan Chowk here is rich in cultural diversity. Now a campaign has been started to develop the same Narayan Chowk area as an original city and introduce it to tourists.
The houses around Narayan Chowk in Baglung Municipality-3 are built in the traditional style. The old city, which is still considered important as a tourist city, has been developed as an original city by the local and ward offices in collaboration with them to attract tourism.
Along with Narayan Chowk, Deurali Chowk, Kirana Tole, Naubise Tole and Kampu Tole are located in the old city of Baglung Bazaar. The hundred-year-old Bhaktilal Chowpari located in Narayan Chowk of Baglung Bazaar is now in ruins. The Chowpari is covered with bamboo and thatch and is covered with bhakthi.
With the initiative of the Baglung Municipality-3 Ward Office and locals, the old city of Baglung, which has been becoming anonymous, has begun to be decorated to reflect its originality, preserving it. As the old city began to fade under the pressure of increasing urbanization, locals have started promoting the city by constructing entrances, reconstructing Bhaktilal Chowpari, decorating it, organizing cultural programs, and offering local cuisine to tourists.
Bhaktilal Chowpari has been decorated to develop it into an original city, and bamboo and thatch-roofed entrances have been constructed at the entrances of five toles. Ward Chairman of Baglung Municipality-3, Sunny KC, said that they are engaged in propaganda to keep the original city alive, which is being destroyed due to increasing urbanization.
KC said that the Newari settlement has started to be developed as an original city with the active participation of the locals. “Now the old market has been decorated like a bride, our plan is to make the city the same forever, various places in the city have been decorated to show it in its original form, regular cultural programs are held at Bhaktilal Chowpari,” KC said, “Locals have collected support, and the ward office has allocated a budget of Rs 250,000, our plan is to make the deserted old city vibrant by developing it as a tourist city, now regular cultural programs are held on Fridays and Saturdays, while large vehicles have been banned from entering the old market.”
The work of paving stones on the roads and planting flowers to give a glimpse of Bandipur has been started mainly in Narayan Chowk and Deurali Chowk to attract tourists. The local Newar community and other communities have started supporting the ward’s campaign. Now, cultural programs have been started on Friday and Saturday evenings. Newari and Magar culture has also started to be shown.
Mukesh Chandra Rajbhandari, a local of Kisanara Tol, informed that BP and others stood and gave speeches at Bhaktilal Chowpari in 2011 BS, that the Newari cultural Hanuman dance and Bhadaure dance are performed from this Chowpari, and that the Chowpari used to sing Malashree during Dashain has now been renovated.
Rajbhandari said that Bhaktilal Chowpari is the birthplace of culture and politics. “The original house is our property. Narayan Chowk can attract tourists like Bandipur. The new and old communities here have started providing food and hospitality according to their identity,” Rajbhandari said. “Especially, the Newari and Magar cultural performances and dishes will attract local tourists, and the Narayan Chowk and Deurali Chowk here will be promoted.”
Local Ranjit Prasad Malepati said that he expects the decorated old town to increase business. Malepati, who still sells items like fishing rods, fishing nets, and other items in a house that is over 100 years old, said that it is necessary to introduce the old market to tourism. He said that along with modernity, the importance of originality has also increased.
He said that the new market has expanded from the old market and that the locals are working to develop the old market as an original city. A 52-window house built by Om Prasad Gauchan in 1995 BS to give a glimpse of the palace has also been preserved and preserved in Narayan Chowk. The old settlement here is considered important for study and observation. Dances such as the 300-year-old Hanuman dance, Lakhe dance, Ropai dance and others are performed here from time to time.
