BIG BELL OF KATHMANDU DARBAR SQUARE

Big Bell of Hanuman Dokha Durbar Square or Kathmandu Darbar Square is played to signal the conclusion of Nirtya puja at Degu Taleju (above Akash Bhairav temple) and indicates further puja can be conducted at Taleju courtyard or Trisul Chok. Some informants also said that it is played during nirtya puja. However, by looking at the history and daily schedule of the nagarcῑ (nagarā player) we can say that it is played after the puja is complete.
For the nagarā performance and history of this periodic playing click the link below.    • MUSIC OF NEPAL: NAGARĀ BĀNĀ OF KATHMANDU D...  

As we all know goddess Taleju was the tutelary / titular deity of Malla kings, and by looking at its function without any doubts this big bell must have been made during the Malla reign. However, the plate at the entrance suggests Rana Bahadur Sāha built it in 1797. As we all know history is dominated by power and in this case, King Rana Bahadur Sahā must have reconstructed the place and the bell, hence written his name.

Both Kanchha Maharjan (bell player in this video) and Bala Maharjan performs the daily task by brooming, purifying the place by sprinkling water, lighting insane and oil lamps and playing this massive bell. They were appointed to play this bell from 2063 B.S. (2006 AD). The family members of the pujari (priest) or the pujari himself have stopped playing it because of some reason that we are trying to investigate.

These instruments are played every day at 9 am.

Video recorded from SJ 4000, audio from ZOOM H4 recorder.
Video halkafulka editing in Adobe Premiere Pro.

If you have come this far then please comment below, how many numbers of time Kanchha dai rang the bell?

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