About the Nepal Pahari Development Association
Founded with a vision to safeguard Pahari identity, the Association has worked since the 1990s to preserve the language, customs, and traditional crafts of Nepal’s Pahari indigenous community.
What began as a small community gathering in Badikhel with a bold dream has grown into a living cultural movement where elders and youth come together to learn, preserve, and lead.
Founded In The 1990s In Badikhel With A Bold Vision To Preserve Pahari Heritage
What began as a small initiative with a handful of members has grown into a leading voice for the Pahari community, known for language documentation, bamboo craft revival, and a vibrant network of cultural custodians across Nepal’s mid-hills.
Mission Statement
To safeguard the language, songs, customs, and living knowledge of the Pahari indigenous community — recording what is passed down and ensuring it is passed on to the next generation.
Vision Statement
To keep every Pahari settlement's cultural memory alive — from Badikhel to Sindhupalchok — so children inherit their ancestors' heritage with pride.
Core Values
Respect for elders, accuracy in documentation, community ownership of archives, and the belief that indigenous heritage belongs to everyone.
Community Leadership.
Mukunda Pahari
Chairperson, NPDA
Kamala Pahari
Vice-Chairperson, NPDA
Kanchakaji Pahari
Former Chairperson, Cultural Advisor
Bina Pahari
Chairperson, Pahari Women Development Society
Gauri Shankar Pahari
Former Vice-President, NPDA
Ram Bahadur Pahari
Shamanism Practitioner & Cultural Custodian
Pahari voices, from elders to leaders
Preserving Our Roots for Future Generations.
“Now one can see the preservation of the Pahari language, culture, and customs only in Godawari municipality. We must work to extend this to every Pahari settlement across Nepal.”
Kanchakaji Pahari
Former Chairperson, NPDA
Join the Nepal Pahari Development Association
Be part of the community keeping the Pahari language, culture and crafts alive.