Mothers' groups, called aama samuha, play a big role in Gurung villages. In Ghandruk they organise clean-up days, collect funds for community projects and keep traditional songs alive. Lodges can arrange a performance in the dining hall or courtyard, usually after dinner. A group of 8–15 women arrives in matching dress, with madal drums, and sings Gurung and Nepali folk songs while dancing in slow, swaying lines, one hand raised and turning.
Songs cover farming, love, soldiers leaving for foreign service and the return home. Some are the rodhi songs once sung in the communal youth houses where Gurung boys and girls met in the evenings. Your guide can translate the gist. Halfway through, guests are usually invited to join, and children in particular end up in the middle of the circle. Photos are welcome during the performance, but ask before close-up portraits.
There is no fixed price. Groups typically collect a donation of NPR 1,000–3,000 from the lodge or the guests together, and every rupee goes to the mothers' group fund. Performances are most common from October to April and around festivals such as Tamu Lhosar and Dashain. Tell us in advance and we will ask your lodge to arrange it; in quiet weeks, or when the women are busy with the harvest, the group may not be available.
Good for
- Families
- Groups
- Couples
- First-timers
Questions travellers ask
What is an aama samuha?
An aama samuha is a village mothers' group. In Gurung villages like Ghandruk these groups raise funds, manage clean-ups, support schools and run cultural programmes. Their song and dance evenings for trekkers are one of their main sources of income, and donations go straight into the group's community fund.
How much should we donate for the dance?
A donation of NPR 1,000–3,000 for the whole group of guests is normal, more for large parties. Many lodges collect it on your behalf. Add a little extra if your group joins in for a long time or takes many photos; the money funds village projects.
Is the cultural show arranged every night?
No. Performances depend on demand and on the women's farm work, so they are most likely from October to April, on weekends and around festivals. Give your guide a day's notice. In June to August, during rice planting, shows are rare.
