Folk Songs

Palam

Traditional Limbu call-and-response folk songs — dialogues of courtship, storytelling, and celebration passed down through generations. Each Palam is a living conversation between voices, preserving wit, wisdom, and the rhythms of Kirat life.

CourtshipPanchthar, Limbuwan

The Mountain and the River

He singsम पहाड हुँ जो कहिल्यै हल्लिँदैन, म हिउँ हुँ जो कहिल्यै पग्लिँदैन। को हौ तिमी, नदी, मेरो मन बदल्न सक्छौ भन्ने?
She singsम नदी हुँ जो कहिल्यै रोकिँदैन, म पानी हुँ जो ढुङ्गालाई नरम बनाउँछ। को हौ तिमी, पहाड, एक्लै बस्न सक्छौ भन्ने?

+3 more verses

A classic courtship Palam sung during Dhan Nach (paddy dance). The boy compares himself to a mountain and the girl to a river, each claiming their own strength while acknowledging they need the other.

CourtshipTaplejung, Limbuwan

Where Did You Come From?

He singsभन न नानी, ठूलो आँखी — सूर्यले रातमा कहाँ सुत्छ?
She singsसूर्य नदीमा सुत्छ, मूर्ख केटा — बिहान पानी चम्केको देखेको छैनौ? भन त — बतास कहाँबाट आउँछ?

+5 more verses

A playful riddle-style Palam where the boy and girl test each other's cleverness through questions about nature and origin — a form of intellectual courtship traditional to the Limbu Yalang gatherings.

SeasonalEastern Nepal

Harvest Thanksgiving Song

He singsधान झुक्यो, सुन जस्तो गह्रो — सुम्निमाले यो साल धेरै दिइन्।
She singsहँसिया तिख्खो छ, डोको ठूलो छ — धर्तीले दिएको जम्मा गरौं।

+6 more verses

Sung during the autumn harvest season when the rice paddies are cut and threshed. The dialogue expresses gratitude to the earth and anticipation of the feasting season.

CourtshipLimbuwan

Sambahamphe's Love Song

He singsचार माया जानेछु — पहाडको बिहानीको माया, खोलाको पानीको माया, आगोको जाडोको माया, र राती निदाउन नदिने माया।
She singsचार दुःख जानेछु — रूख ढल्दा चराको दुःख, जाडोमा फूलको दुःख, बादल पछि चन्द्रको दुःख, र तिमीलाई कुर्ने दुःख।

+4 more verses

Inspired by the famous Char Maya Palam tradition of the poet Sambahamphe, one of the most celebrated Limbu Palam composers. A melancholic dialogue about longing and separation.

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