Nepal: Traditional tattoo meets modern aesthetic values in Lalitpur

Sep 17, 2024

Lalitpur (Nepal), Sep 17 (ANI): The sound of needles buzzed in every stall with artists busy inking the bodies of their clients drawing the fusion of Gods with elements of modernisation. The "Himalayan Tattoo Summit 0.1" is the place where traditional values meet with modern designs. The tattoo summit, supported by the National Academy of Fine Arts and Nepal Handicraft Association, features over four dozen artists who are busy inking images of gods with modern concepts. The designs include those of Ganesh, Living Goddess Kumari, Buddha, Hanuman and other comical as well as religious characters fusing them with modern concepts. Tattoo culture in Nepal is one of the oldest traditions practised widely by Newa, Tharu, Gurung and Magar, the aboriginals of the Himalayan nation. As per the younger generation, traditional tattoos lacked precise details, linking them more to the communities, and spiritual beliefs but modern tattoo designs focus more on aesthetics. Being driven by aesthetic values, younger generations are now making the fusion of traditional beliefs with modern designs to ink on various parts of their body. In the Kathmandu Valley, tattoos in the foregone days were mostly done during the Jatras (festivals) and Melas (carnivals) like Rato Machindra Jatra and Indra Jatra.