Lalitpur Named UNESCO Creative City of Music
Lalitpur Metropolitan City has been declared a Creative City of Music by UNESCO. At a programme organized by the Metropolitan City in the capital on Thursday, Mayor Chiribabu Maharjan informed that UNESCO announced Lalitpur Metropolitan City as a Creative City of Music on October 31, on the occasion of World Cities Day. He stated that the Metropolitan City has advanced planned programmes to make this initiative successful.
He said that in the cultural city of Lalitpur, music related to various festivals and processions, devotional songs, dances, and hundreds of musical activities have been continuing in traditional form. To further systematize this cultural practice with plans and programmes, he expressed the commitment to establish a "Lalitpur Creative Arts Centre" while formulating the necessary policies. Mayor Maharjan stated that, under the provision requiring the submission of a proposal with a four-year plan to obtain this recognition from UNESCO, the Metropolitan City has committed to develop music as an industry, to conduct music-related research and educational programmes, to frame policies, and to make arrangements for a music research centre, archive, and training centre.
Similarly, the programmes include incorporating traditional, modern, and contemporary forms of music into the school-level curriculum, initiating efforts to declare Jestha Purnima as National Music Day, increasing the participation of women, children, and persons with disabilities in traditional musical instruments, protecting musical instruments, and collaborating with musicians on interactions, training, and other music-related activities.
Deputy Mayor Manjali Shakya Bajracharya expressed the belief that in Lalitpur Metropolitan City, which is a convergence of arts, music, and cultural festivals, employment opportunities will be created through musical skills and traditional music will be promoted.
She stated that after Lalitpur Metropolitan City obtained formal membership from UNESCO as a Creative City of Music, there is increased encouragement to work with greater enthusiasm.
UNESCO started the "UNESCO Creative Cities Network" programme in 2004. Under this programme, so far 408 cities from 100 countries around the world have obtained membership of this network in various fields.
