A forgotten Newari love song from the 1950s [Audio]

Written by Aji’s Maker Pragya Shakya

स्वाँ निफो होला मनजिगु स्यन
छनाप जुया जुल जिगु जिन्दाजी बरबाद
थौं बितेजुइन बन्धने तैन
कोति बिनती तोती जिम्त
याँकेमाते सो बन्धने तेत
थथे जुईगु मसिया प्रेमरसे भुले जी जुया
थौं बितेजुइन बन्धने तैन
कोति बिनती तोती जिम्त
याँकेमाते सो बन्धने तेत
स्वाँ निफो होला मनजिगु स्यन
छनाप जुया जुल जिगु जिन्दाजी बरबाद
जुल जिगु जिन्दाजी बरबाद |

*Pragya Shakya in her workspace in her home in Shreebahal, Patan.*

71 year old Aji’s maker Pragya Shakya remembers the time when there was no television or radio. The main source of entertainment during her younger days was “kha pyakhan”- street plays and musicals that were staged in public spaces in various neighborhoods of Patan.

This particular one is a newari song from her childhood memories of kha pyakhan. She’s doesn’t remember the title of the song or the name of the songwriter but she remembers the lyrics. Here’s the song in Pragya’s own voice: