Buddha Lama

Ganga Thapa is a Nepali composer, producer, ethnomusicologist, and multi‑instrumentalist known for his research‑driven approach to music and his fusion of traditional Nepali sounds with contemporary arrangements. His work spans field documentation, studio production, and multi‑instrumental performance, making him a key figure in the preservation and modern reinterpretation of Nepali musical heritage.

Shila Bahadur Moktan is a veteran Nepali music director, arranger, composer, and multi‑instrumentalist, celebrated for more than five decades of contribution to Nepali music. He is regarded as one of the most respected figures in modern and folk‑influenced Nepali music, known for his refined arrangements, melodic sensibility, and mastery of multiple instruments.Born and raised in Darjeeling, he received formal classical training under J.C. Rai, which shaped his foundation as a composer and instrumentalist. His first recorded song, “Aakha Kahile Najudos,” was broadcast on All India Radio, Kurseong, in the 1980s .Shila Bahadur Moktan has contributed to over 1,200 songs, working as a composer, arranger, and instrumentalist across genres ranging from folk to adhunik Nepali music. His notable early works include folk songs such as “Hoina Maile Dhakeko Badulki Lageko” and “Topi Hataile Bunera,” and the modern classic “Kahile Kahi Malai Pani Herideuna Pharkera,” a song that introduced both Kunti Moktan (vocals) and Shila Bahadur (music) to the Nepali music scene .He is married to legendary singer Kunti Moktan, and together they are considered pillars of Nepali music. Their daughters Subani Moktan and Shital Moktan are also successful musicians, continuing the family’s artistic legacy .After retiring from Music Nepal, Shila Bahadur initially planned to step back from active work, but his passion for music kept him fully engaged in composing, arranging, and performing. He continues to appear in concerts, including the Paleti Series, where he performs his own compositions and vocals .With nearly 50 years in music, he remains an influential figure whose arrangements, compositions, and instrumental work have shaped generations of Nepali music lovers.

Parashuram Bhandari is a Nepali master of the sarangi. He hails from the former Kingdom of Nepal, a country of dramatic beauty with a rich and appealing culture. His music ranges from the wildly exuberant to the hauntingly delicate, presented with the rhythmic power that is his signature. The sarangi, whose name means "hundred colors," is an instrument with a cello-like timbre, bowed on three melody strings, with thirty-six sympathetic strings underneath, giving it a haunting cello-like resonance and bright reverberating echo. It is best known for its emotional intensity and its uncanny similarity to the timbre and inflections of the human voice. Parashuram is the only sarangi musician in Nepal to play in the North Indian Classical style. He plays Nepali traditional music on the country's traditional sarangi. The Nepali sarangi is a small hand-carved version of the classical sarangi, an instrument equivalent to the traditional American fiddle. Born in the Kathmandu Valley and educated in India, Parashuram studied with guru Pandit Bacchalal Misra of Varanasi and Senior Musician Gopal Nath Yogi. He received his Master's Degree in Music from Prayag Sangit Samiti. An independent artist, Parashuram Bhandari has published the only textbook on sarangi and is the recipient of National music awards in Nepal. He has performed in numerous countries and released two solo CD's among others with the acclaimed musical group Om Shringara Nepal. When home in the Kathmandu Valley, Parashuram performs in Nepal television, radio, and theatre productions.

Durga Prasad Khatiwada is a renowned Nepali bansuri (flute) maestro, educator, and cultural ambassador, originally from Ilam. A graduate of Banaras Hindu University with a Master’s in Flute (2003), he has performed in over 20 countries, representing Nepal at prestigious events—including during state visits by leaders like Xi Jinping and Narendra Modi. Khatiwada is a music officer at Rastriya Nachghar and has taught classical music at institutions like Lalit Kala Campus and Sirjana College of Fine Arts. He pioneered flute education in Nepal’s higher education system by developing formal curricula. His international teaching includes sessions in Norway, Sweden, Germany, and France. Inspired early on by Gopal Yonjan, Khatiwada has dedicated his life to promoting classical music as the foundation of all musical forms. His performances and teachings emphasize peace, discipline, and cultural identity, making him a vital figure in Nepal’s musical heritage.