In a groundbreaking partnership with Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Project Sarangi joined forces with the visionary initiative from Mayor Balen Shah to launch Book Free Friday in 2024, an innovative program aimed at enriching the education system in Nepal. This initiative saw Project Sarangi offering free traditional folk music classes, including instruments such as the sarangi, basuri, and madal, to 50 government schools in Kathmandu. The program targeted over 2,500 students, providing them with a unique opportunity to learn and connect with Nepali cultural heritage through music.

The collaboration was built on a collective vision to move away from an overemphasis on rote learning, creating space for students to engage in more creative and cultural forms of education. This initiative was designed to offer a holistic approach to learning, where students could explore their cultural roots while also developing new skills. Project Sarangi played a pivotal role in developing a pilot project curriculum that integrated these traditional music lessons into the school environment, ensuring that the students could not only learn but also appreciate the significance of these instruments in Nepali culture.

A wide range of stakeholders were involved in the focus group discussions for this project, including the Ministry of Education, local schools, and other cultural institutions. These discussions were crucial in shaping the program’s approach and ensuring that it aligned with both educational goals and cultural preservation.

The success of this initiative marks a significant step toward revitalizing and integrating traditional Nepali music into modern education. By providing students with a platform to learn instruments like the sarangi, basuri, and madal, Project Sarangi is playing an essential role in preserving Nepal’s musical heritage while ensuring that younger generations understand the importance of their cultural legacy.

For more detailed information on the Book Free Friday initiative and how it’s reshaping education in Kathmandu, you can check out this article: Kathmandu’s Textbook Free Friday Addresses Over-Emphasis on Rote Learning.