Traditional Nepali swing, kite flying on the verge of disappearance due to lack of space

The Linge Ping or the traditional Nepali swing which is an integral part of the Dashai festival celebrations in the Bhaktapur countryside is on the verge of disappearance, state-owned news agency RSS reports.

Until a few years back, people used to set up the Linge Pings at every settlement in rural areas during the Dashai festival. But the Linge Ping has become a rarity this Dashai festival.

The Linge Ping is a swing made of a long rope hanging in U-shape from two sets of long bamboo poles planted on the ground and tied at the top with a horizontal wooden bar.

Every year with the advent of the Dashai festival, people in the rural area of the district set up such swings. People enjoy playing on the swing during the festival.

The tradition of erecting the Linge Ping has declined over the years because of the lack of space due to the growing urbanisation and the shortage of the rope made of the Babiyo grass that is used for the swing.

A popular belief states that every mortal soul should become airborne once in a year to get salvation. And the Linge Pings is set up for this very purpose in Dashain festival.

Along with the tradition of playing the Linge Ping, the tradition of flying kites during Dashain festival is also on the verge of disappearance. In the view of the seniors, this is because the younger generation likes to indulge more in the modern forms of entertainment like video games or drinking and gambling than in the traditional forms of entertainment. nepalnews.com