The Gandarbha caste ( Nepali: गन्धर्व जाति) or Gaine ( Nepali: गाईने) are a Dalit community which belongs to the Indo-Aryan ethnic group from the central, hilly region of Nepal. They have also been called a "caste of professional musicians" and "itinerant bards." [1] [2] By tradition they make their living by singing [1] Gandarbha Geet or Gaine Geet, a type of folk song. The Gandarbhas traditionally work as travelling musicians and play traditional folk and historical songs. [2] They improvise songs too, incorporating news into them as a service, in return for which they receive donations of food or other things. [2] They use the Nepali sarangi, a type of violin, as their main musical instrument. [1] The sarangi has been an iconic musical instrument identified with the Gandarbha people. [2] The instrument has replaced another instrument they played, the aarbajo, which was larger and "more cumbersome." [1]
Due to many caste-based discriminations in Nepal, the government of Nepal legally abolished the caste-system and criminalized any caste-based discrimination, including " untouchability" (the ostracism of a specific caste) - in the year 1963 A.D.
Geographic distribution
The Central Bureau of Statistics of Nepal classifies the Gaine/Gandarbha within the broader social group of Hill Dalit. [3] At the time of the 2011 Nepal census, 6,791 people (0.0% of the population of Nepal) were Gaine/Gandarbha. [4] The frequency of Gaine/Gandarbha by province was as follows:
- Gandaki Province (0.1%)
- Karnali Province (0.1%)
- Lumbini Province (0.1%)
- Bagmati Province (0.0%)
- Koshi Province (0.0%)
- Madhesh Province (0.0%)
- Sudurpashchim Province (0.0%)
The frequency of Gaine/Gandarbha was higher than national average (0.0%) in the following districts:
- Surkhet (0.2%)
- Arghakhanchi (0.1%)
- Baglung (0.1%)
- Banke (0.1%)
- Bardiya (0.1%)
- Chitwan (0.1%)
- Dang (0.1%)
- Gorkha (0.1%)
- Gulmi (0.1%)
- Jajarkot (0.1%)
- Kaski (0.1%)
- Lamjung (0.1%)
- Palpa (0.1%)
- Pyuthan (0.1%)
- Salyan (0.1%)
- Tanahun (0.1%)
Status in society
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Popular Gandarbhas
See also
References
- ^ a b c d James McConnachie; Rough Guides (Firm) (2000). World music: the rough guide. Rough Guides. pp. 198–. ISBN 978-1-85828-636-5. Retrieved 24 March 2012.
- ^ a b c d Kadel, Ram Prasad (2007). Musical Instruments of Nepal. Katmandu, Nepal: Nepali Folk Instrument Museum. p. 246. ISBN 978-9994688302.
- ^ Population Monograph [1]
- ^ 2011 Nepal Census, District Level Detail Report
External links
- News article about Gandarbhas and their future.
- Modern Gandarbha plays incorporates public safety message in music on buses.
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