Ghatu (Gurung)
घाटु नाच
May 1, 2026 · Baishakh Purnima, 2083 BS
Approximate — confirm closer to your travel datesAnnapurna and Lamjung foothills (Gurung communities)
Plan a trip around Ghatu (Gurung)History & origin
The dance narrates the story of King Pashramu and Queen Yambawati (also told as Champawati), performed as much as an act of spirit invocation as of storytelling — dancers are trained by an older female ritual specialist and are believed to enter a genuine trance state during performance, a practice also found among the Magar, Dura, Balami and Kumal communities in related forms.
How it’s celebrated
Selected young women rehearse for weeks beforehand and perform the Ghatu over several days around the full moon, accompanied by musicians and a ritual specialist who guides the trance and 'wakes' the dancers at the ceremony's end.
Tips for visitors
A striking, little-seen ritual tradition — most accessible in Gurung villages of the Annapurna and Lamjung foothills, though performances are not staged on a fixed public schedule.
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