Gandarbha

The Gandarbha caste (Nepali: गन्धर्व जाति) or Gaine (Nepali: गाईने) are a Dalit community which belongs to the Indo-Aryan ethnic group from the central, hilly region of Nepal. They have also been called a "caste of professional musicians" and "itinerant bards."[1][2] By tradition they make their living by singing[1] Gandarbha Geet or Gaine Geet, a type of folk song. The Gandarbhas traditionally work as travelling musicians and play traditional folk and historical songs.[2] They improvise songs too, incorporating news into them as a service, in return for which they receive donations of food or other things.[2] They use the Nepali sarangi, a type of violin, as their main musical instrument.[1] The sarangi has been an iconic musical instrument identified with the Gandarbha people.[2] The instrument has replaced another instrument they played, the aarbajo, which was larger and "more cumbersome."[1]

Gandarbha singing and playing the Nepali sarangi.

Due to many caste-based discriminations in Nepal, the government of Nepal legally abolished the caste-system and criminalized any caste-based discrimination, including "untouchability" (the ostracism of a specific caste) - in the year 1963 A.D.[3] With Nepal's step towards freedom and equality, Nepal, previously ruled by a Hindu monarchy was a Hindu nation which has now become a secular state,[4] and on 28 May 2008, it was declared a republic,[5] ending it as the Hindu Kingdom with its caste-based discriminations and the untouchability roots.[6]