‘Nepathya’ to Perform at Sikkim’s Paljor Stadium on October 31

KATHMANDU: Nepali folk-rock band ‘Nepathya’ is preparing for a concert at Paljor Stadium in Gangtok, the capital of India’s Sikkim state, on October 31.

The performance will mark the band’s fourth concert in Sikkim. Organizers expect the event to be a major occasion for Nepathya’s audience in the Himalayan state, particularly as it will take place at the capital’s main stadium.

Following the announcement of the concert, the event received support at the state level. Sikkim Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang, popularly known as P. S. Golay, unveiled the concert ticket and a Nepathya-branded T-shirt prepared for the event during a state-level celebration, according to the organizers.

Paljor Stadium has long hosted football tournaments. It was later developed into a multipurpose stadium and inaugurated by former Indian President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam.

Organizers Step Up Preparations

Bikesh Kayastha of Positive Vibes Entertainment Network, the event organizer, said preparations were progressing across multiple areas, including logistics and resources.

“Extensive preparations are already underway, from organizing the concert to arranging the necessary resources,” Kayastha said. “Stadium management and security are our particular priorities.”

He said the organizers were working to make the concert an event Sikkim residents would remember for years. He added that the programme was also intended to promote the beauty of the Himalayan state and encourage younger generations.

According to the schedule, the stadium gates will open at 5 p.m. on October 31, with the concert set to begin at 7 p.m.

Nepathya’s Music Connects With Sikkim Audiences

Music rooted in Nepali, Bhutia and Lepcha folk traditions is widely popular in Sikkim. Instruments such as the madal, sarangi, damphu, tungna and naumati are commonly used in the region’s musical traditions. Tamang Selo is particularly popular, while styles including jhyure, dohori, maruni, chutka and sorathi are also heard in Sikkim’s hills.

The region also has traditions of singing palam and performing chhabrung music and dance. As in Nepal, music accompanies agricultural work, communal activities and festivals.

Against this cultural backdrop, Nepathya’s songs, many of which were collected during journeys through rural Nepal, have found a receptive audience in Sikkim. The band’s music is regularly played on local radio stations, which have also broadcast interviews with lead singer Amrit Gurung during the band’s visits.

“I sometimes receive affectionate messages from listeners who have been moved by hearing Nepathya’s songs on Sikkim’s radio stations,” Gurung said. “The enthusiastic news we have been receiving about this stadium concert has further boosted our morale.”

Gurung added that audiences from the Sikkim-Darjeeling region were among the first to invite Nepathya to perform concerts after the band was formed.

Band Members and Upcoming Concerts

Kiran Krishna Shrestha of Nepalaya, the company that promotes and manages Nepathya, said the band had successfully performed for audiences at venues ranging from international stages to small villages.

“In the past month alone, we have received encouraging responses from audiences at events in South Korea, Dubai and Kathmandu,” Shrestha said. “We hope to receive a similarly enthusiastic response in Sikkim.”

Gurung will be joined on stage by Dhruva Lama on drums, Subin Shakya on bass guitar, Niraj Gurung on guitar, Shanti Rayamajhi on madal and Dineshraj Regmi on keyboards.

After the Sikkim concert, Nepathya will perform in two cities in eastern Nepal: Itahari on November 4 and Charali in Jhapa on November 7.

Following Tihar, the band plans to tour four more small and mid-sized cities in Nepal before travelling to Australia in December.

Nepalaya has arranged online ticket sales for the concerts. Fans can book their seats through the band’s official website, nepathya.com.np.