Lights of Heritage: Celebrating the Ghaley Festival in Ghalegaun
In the heart of Ghalegaun, the rhythm of life changes completely when the festival begins. As a host from the Ghaley community, I don’t just witness the celebration—I live inside it, alongside every guest who arrives curious and leaves connected. The village wakes up differently on festival days. There is movement everywhere—women preparing traditional food, elders arranging decorations, and children running through stone-paved paths with laughter that echoes across the hills. The usual calm of the mountains is replaced with anticipation. This festival is not just an event for us. It is a reminder of who we are. Dressed in traditional attire, our Ghaley community gathers in the open courtyard. The air fills with the sound of drums, flutes, and chanting voices that carry stories older than memory itself. Guests stand quietly at first, watching, unsure where they fit in. But here, no one stays an outsider for long. As a host, I guide visitors through the meaning behind each ritual. The dances are not just performances—they are expressions of gratitude to the land, the ancestors, and the mountains that shape our lives. Every step has meaning, every movement carries history. The highlight of the celebration is when the entire village joins together in a circle dance. Hands connect without hesitation—locals and visitors alike moving to the same rhythm. In that moment, language no longer matters. Food is shared freely. Traditional dishes, warm and simple, are passed from hand to hand. Laughter grows louder as stories are exchanged between generations and cultures. The festival becomes less about watching and more about belonging. As evening falls, the hills around Ghalegaun glow under soft firelight. The music slows, but the energy remains alive in every corner of the village. Stars begin to appear above the Annapurna range, watching over the celebration like silent witnesses. For me, hosting during this festival is not about guiding—it is about opening space for connection. I see strangers arrive and leave as part of something bigger than themselves. And when the last drum fades into the night, the feeling remains. Not as a memory, but as a bond.
Sunita Ghaley
