Deuda Dance – Special Culture of Far Western Nepal

Deuda Nach is special popular cultural dance of western Nepali communities. This is celebrated by Mid and Far Western Pahadi communities in Nepal. Number of male and female pahadi people are gathered together, make a circular chain of people and start singing deuda song. This song is mostly popular in western and far western districts of Nepal like Achham, Darchula, Dailekh, Jumla, Kalikot, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Bajura etc.

In fact, Deuda dance is performed in a special festival of Hindu people and that is Gaura festival which is specially celebrated by western people. Regarding the many tales and texts, Gaura festival is celebrated worshiping the great goddess Gauri who is also known as Parvati and Hindu People say that she is the wife of the mighty hindu god Shiva. In this festival, specially women worship Gauri wishing for their husband long life and good health.

In this dance, people also express their feelings, sorrow and happiness to each other which helps them to be released from their grief. This dance do not have any kind of special step like Salsa and Samba. Only there is circular chain of people and they take their one or two foot steps. Men and women both get joined in this dance and they started singing simultaneously, that is also called “Juhari” in their word.

There are different varieties of Deuda songs in Nepali Communities regarding its melodies and some are Raheri Deuda, Thadi Bhakha Deuda etc.