Introduction
Ancient cultures and traditions, costumes,
masks, dances never cease to intrigue people from the so-called “modern
civilisation”. However throughout the world, due to expansion of modern society
and to its effects, these diverse ancient treasures are rapidly disappearing
and being lost forever.
This booklet and the accompanying video try
to capture some of the rich and diverse cultural heritage of the district of
Humla (Far Western Nepal), expressed in its various traditional dances. It was
produced jointly by the Community Learning Centres (CLCs) of Humla, by The
Himalayan Innovative Society (THIS) and by UNESCO, in a bid to preserve some of
the disappearing traditions of this remote and vulnerable area of Nepal and of
the wisdom they embody.
