KATHMANDU: Nepali folk-rock band Nepathya performed before more than 8,000 spectators at the Lab School grounds in Kirtipur on Saturday, with all tickets sold out in advance, leaving many young fans disappointed as they could not secure entry.
During the concert, lead singer Amrit Gurung urged audiences to preserve Nepal’s language and culture, recalling his university days in Kirtipur, a place closely connected to the band’s early journey. More than three decades ago, Nepathya performed an acoustic concert at an auditorium at Tribhuvan University, using two guitars at the invitation of students from its English Department.
Before performing Karnalika Chhaila, a song from the Karnali region, Gurung spoke about Sinja Valley, regarded as the origin of the Nepali language, and urged everyone to help preserve it. He also called on people to support communities affected by natural disasters according to their means.
The concert attracted people of all ages. Former Tribhuvan University professor Prem Khanal said Nepathya’s music was connecting people around the world.
Gurung was accompanied by Dhruva Lama on drums, Subin Shakya on bass guitar, Niraj Gurung on guitar, Dineshraj Regmi on keyboards and Sundar Maharjan on the madal, a traditional Nepali percussion instrument. The band concluded the concert with Rato Ra Chandra Surya, a song celebrating the national flag.
Nepathya will perform at Paljor Stadium in Sikkim, India, on October 31, followed by concerts in Itahari on November 4 and Charali, Jhapa, on November 7. After performing in four small and medium-sized cities in Nepal following Tihar, the band will tour Australia, beginning in Adelaide on December 7 and concluding in Perth on December 27. Online tickets are available through Nepalaya’s official website.
