The sound of music
China DailyFemale participants of a traditional Newari community music festival gather in Bhaktapur, Nepal, on April 8. "In the past, Newari instruments like the dhaa were associated with male musicians, creating an exclusionary tradition," said Bekh Narayan Shrestha, the head teacher of Lubhoo Dhaa Khala. While the Lubhoo Dhaa Khala began as a male-dominated group, its evolution into an inclusive space for women is lauded as an example of progress. "When we first started, there was evident discrimination," said Ashmita Pradhan, 23, who started learning the instrument in 2014 and has been teaching all-female batches since 2017. "Today, the number of girls has increased significantly, and it's great to see women and girls reclaim their space in preserving our culture, heritage and music," Samira said.