MUGU, June 5 -- Kesharkala Malla, 60, remembers singing Jhoda songs since her early teens. The traditional songs would generally be performed by two groups of women-with 15-20 members in each group-at various cultural and religious events. The women would sing the entire night and would be presented with either money or other gifts the next morning. But not anymore.

"The younger generation is forgetting our tradition," said Malla, a resident of Chhayanath Rara Municipality in Mugu district. Along with the dying Jhoda songs, locals say that other traditional tunes and dance forms of the Karnali region such as Deuda, Rateuli, Magal, Dharu, Chhaiti, Aarati, Hudke Nach, Balo Nach are slowing dying out too.

Traditional customs, which have al...