The 27th edition of the Tayah Macha Dance Competition is scheduled to take place this Saturday at Lamachaur Chowk in Pokhara. The event is organized by the Lamachaur Newa Khala Guthi under the initiative of the Newa Khala Kaski. The competition was originally scheduled for September 5 but was postponed due to the flooding disaster in the Bhote Koshi region.
Yogendra Shrestha, a member of the organizing committee, stated that Gandaki Province Finance Minister Jit Bahadur Sherchan is expected to inaugurate the event on Saturday morning. Following the opening ceremony, 34 teams, including several women’s groups, will compete in the dance contest.
While the competition is held annually in different locations across Pokhara, this marks the first time it is being hosted in Lamachaur. Ashok Palikhe, president of Newa Khala Kaski, described the Tayah Macha dance as a shared cultural event that transcends the Newar community. He noted that the tradition, which has a 250-year history, is celebrated with particular grandeur in Pokhara compared to other parts of the country.
The organizers stated that the event aims to promote the nation’s economy and tourism through culture, while also preserving traditions and passing them on to the younger generation. The competition is held under the slogan, Respect for Tradition, Identity of a Civilized Society.
The total cost to organize the event is estimated at 3.6 million rupees. A local family—Ramkaji, Rabindra, Shankar, and Kabindra Shrestha—has pledged 1 million rupees to provide prizes and incentives for the participating teams in memory of their late parents, Balkumari and Hemprasad Shrestha. The event is co-hosted by the Lamachaur Misa Pucha and Lamachaur Lhamha Pucha.
In addition to the cultural event, the Lamachaur Newa Khala Guthi announced a donation of 55,555 rupees to the Prime Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund to support those affected by the recent floods in Rasuwa. The funds were collected from 40 member households.
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