Kathmandu, Nov. 9 -- year-old Rajan Gurung of Pokhara, Tihar instantly evokes the familiar rhythm of Deusi-Bhailo-the traditional musical troupes that go door-to-door during the festival. Having taken part in annual performances through the Ratnachowk Youth Club for the past four years, Gurung observes that the celebrations feel different with each passing year. The festive energy that once saturated villages the moment Dashain concluded-with homes illuminated and communities humming with activity-is now compressed into the brief span of Tihar itself. The music, too, has transformed, with sound systems and electronic drums largely displacing traditional instruments.

Yet, Gurung views these shifts pragmatically. He considers it natural fo...