Khyali: The First-Ever CD of Pahari Songs

In 2005, the Nepal Pahari Development Association released Khyali, the first CD of Pahari songs, at a ceremony in Kathmandu. The executive chairman of the National Foundation for the Development of Indigenous Nationalities (NFDIN), Prof. Santa Bahadur Gurung, released the album.

The release highlighted the scale of the Pahari community and its cultural wealth:

• Former NPDA vice-president Gauri Shankar Pahari noted there are over 100,000 Paharis across 42 districts.
• The government census counted only 11,505 — a fraction of the actual population.
• Songs were recorded from elder singers in Badikhel and surrounding settlements.

The Khyali CD remains a reference collection for Pahari folk music and is used in cultural festivals and language revitalisation workshops across the community.