Saraswati Puja, also known as Basanta Panchami, is considered as a special day not only for students but also for musicians. On this day, along with the worship of Goddess Saraswati, the musical instruments are worshiped too.
While classical music is the Nation’s pride, it is one that is severely neglected.
Parashuram Bhandari, an expert in classical music, says neither has the government given priority to classical music nor has provided a platform. Bhandari, who took an interest in music from religious songs at home as a child, is an expert on Indian Sarangi in Nepal.
Born in Gokarna, Kathmandu and now living in Guheshwari, Bhandari went to Benaras, India in 1982. Then he learned how to play the instrument with the late Bachchalal Mishra. He got his diploma in Classical Music from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Allahabad, India.
Bhandari also plays the Nepali sarangi, which is traditionally played in Nepal. He says that in the past, only the Gandharva caste used to play the sarangi in such a way.
Bhandari, who has been living in the US since 2004 and returned to Nepal in 2018, says that he has presented more than 200 programs in the US alone. He has also given presentations in various programs in Nepal and is now teaching sarangi to American students online. He also teaches to play at home.
He has also written a textbook on Sarangi.
On the occasion of Basanta Panchami, Senior Sarangi player Parashuram Bhandari presented a sarangi performance in the NepalNews studio. He was accompanied on tabla by senior tabla player Achutram Bhandari.
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