Collaboration with Britsh Council and Storycycle- Tour Leader

HERITAGE TOUR AT PYANGAUN

Explore the Pyang Gaun (centuries-old village in Chapagaun Lalitpur) with Aman Shahi, renowned for its bamboo artistry and traditional 'pyangs' (bamboo buckets).

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a visual story

I wish I was as fortunate as fortunate as me

A personal experience about a long-distance relationship of me and my mother. At present day we seek the attachment through social media where she feels happy whenever I post her photos online. Breaking the physical detachment through digital archive and using this work as a tool for my personal voice.

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Identity and reconnecting with traditional practices.

PAK TUM RUM

We are also known for playing the nayakhin baja, a traditional drum made with cow and goat
skins, paired with kay cymbals. However, this musical tradition is fading, weighed down by
stereotypes. As a child, I loved watching the baja group on their way to Pachali. I couldn’t resist
touching the baja – it always felt special to me. My uncle Uttam once bought me a madal, and I
played it freely, feeling a deep connection without fully understanding why. Although my parents
discouraged me from learning the nayakhin baja due to its association with a lower caste, my
love for playing it stayed strong. When I finally learned to play the nayakhin, I felt a profound
reconnection with my roots and culture. It wasn’t just about the joy of playing – it taught me
discipline and helped me embody the traditions of my community.

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Short Documentary Film - The gaurdian of Pyangaun's traditional music and dance

नन्द (Nanda)

In Pyangaun, an indigenous Newar community where old rhythms used to fill every street, a lone figure fights to keep tradition alive. The film follows the journey of Nanda Bahadur Maharjan, the last aspiring traditional musician of his community as he grapples with the erosion of heritage in the face of modern influences. Through intimate moments of struggle, hope and unwavering passion, Nanda captures one man's courageous fight to breathe life back into a fading legacy, offering a universal story of identity, resistance and love for one’s roots.

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a village identity in a little container

PYANGAUN

Pyangaun is a settlement that is a part of the Godawari Municipality area ward number 11. It is 14 km south of Kathmandu (9 km south from Lagankhel). Pyangaun gets its name from the pyang bamboo containers which is their signature handicraft. Until a hundred years ago, this craftsmanship of making bamboo containers in maana and pathi measures was very popular. But now the practice is at the point of extinction since measurements have been standardized to SI units.

The population of approximately 1,500 individuals belong to the Newar community of Maharjans, but their language, culture and tradition are distinct from that of the Newars in Kathmandu Valley. The community traces its ancestry to both the Newar Jya-poos and the Tamang communities on the periphery of the Valley.

While I was photographing Pema Maharjan in Pyangaun, she said, ‘You people always come and click photographs, but never bring back the prints to us. Get in the habit of not only taking photos, but also giving photos.’ This formed the inspiration for this photo book. I have since been distributing the prints of portraits I have made. I have become friends with the old, the young and the children. Most importantly, I am getting a chance to work further with different organizations for the promotion of the people of Pyangaun and their arts.

This work focuses on the disappearing bamboo-craft culture. I have also designed promotional materials for the handicrafts to bring wider recognition of the folk traditions and knowledge of the people of Pyang. This project aims to highlight, preserve, artistically document and suggest ways to keep alive the heritage of Pyangaun and its bamboo art

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Co-Founder | Director

PYANG

Pyang Bamboo Craft brings nature to life through timeless design and handmade tradition. Rooted in Nepal and crafted by local artisans, each piece blends sustainability, simplicity, and soul.

Where bamboo bends, beauty begins.


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