Panche baja
{{Short description|Set of Nepali musical instruments}}
The {{Lang|ne-latn|panche baja}} ({{Langx|ne|पञ्चे बाजा|lit= five musical instruments}}) is a set of five traditional Nepali musical instruments that are played during holy ceremonies, especially marriages. {{Lang|ne-latn|Panche bajas}} are usually played by the Damai and the Gaine castes in the Hindu tradition.{{cite book|author=Hao Huang|title=Music in the 20th century|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2CkKAQAAMAAJ|accessdate=24 March 2012|year=1999|publisher=M.E. Sharp|isbn=978-0-7656-8012-9|page=598}}. In Nepal, musicians belong to two untouchable castes (groups of the lowest class in India, whom members of the four main castes were once forbidden to touch), the Damai and the Gaine. The ensembles are known as panche baja They are played using the rhythm of folk Nepali songs.
It is referred to as panchje baja because in Nepali, panch means five (referring to the five different types), and baja means musical instruments.
The first part of the term is also transliterated {{Lang|ne-latn|panche}}, {{Lang|ne-latn|panchai}}, or {{Lang|ne-latn|pancai}}; the latter also as {{Lang|ne-latn|baaja}}.
Components
The {{Lang|ne-latn|panche baja}} includes the jhyali (cymbals), or dholak (drums), damaha (large kettledrum), narsinga (a long, C-shaped trumpet), shehnai (a folk oboe),{{cite web |url=http://yeahnepal.com/instruments-used-in-panche-baja/#sthash.dV6PWvuN.dpbs |title= Instruments used in Panche baja |website= yeahnepal.com |date=9 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208070608if_/http://yeahnepal.com/instruments-used-in-panche-baja/#sthash.dV6PWvuN.dpbs |archive-date=8 December 2015 |url-status=dead}} and karnal (a wide-mouthed, straight trumpet with a bell that resembles the datura flower).
Other renderings give the ensemble as: {{Lang|ne-latn|shehnai}}, {{Lang|ne-latn|jhyali}}, {{Lang|ne-latn|dholki}}, {{Lang|ne-latn|tyamko}}, and {{Lang|ne-latn|damaha}}.{{cite book |last= Tanka |first= Khadka C. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pW0wAQAAIAAJ&q=Panche+baja |title= The Culture, Tourism & Nature of Nepal |publisher= Folk Music Art Academy |place= Nepal |date=2004|isbn= 9789993388142 |quote=Panche baja comprises Sanahai, Jhyali, Tyamko, Damaha and Dholaki. Damais (a particular caste) traditionally from ancient time have used Panche baja in marriage, festivals and local fairs joyfully}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
Category:Nepalese musical instruments
Category:Types of musical groups
{{Nepal-music-stub}}