Learning about the Newar Culture: Bungamati Cultural Museum

Rajana Maharjan, a full time student from Bungamati has been working as a museum curator in Bungamati Cultural Museum for four years. She has witnessed how the museum has evolved from being unorganized and unmanaged to being one of the most significant places now to showcase the Newar culture and lifestyle. Established in the year 2006, the museum was first initiated by Mr. Daya Ram Maharjan and Mr.Paniet Maharjan, members of Maharjan Samaj (Guthi), a traditional social institution. Their main motive behind starting a museum was to put forward the culture of indigenous Newar community and showcase their lifestyles in order to promote it to the upcoming generations. Rajana Maharjan says that the museum first consisted of only a few objects which were donated by locals as well as members of Maharjan Samaj (Guthi) and further adds, “When I first came here, the objects were showcased in an unorganized manner with no detail description and labeling, and felt that the museum was in dire need of renovation”.

Unfortunately, the earthquake in 2015 destroyed the museum building, weakening its outer structure and rising concerns on how to function it further. The only support Bungamati Museum received was for the structural strengthening of a building with steel structure by Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) which was only for temporary purposes. However, the interiors of the museum were untouched and needed assistance for interior finishing. This is where CIUD (Center for Integrated Urban Development) stepped in with a proposal for rebuilding the museum with regard to Parya Sampada project in collaboration with BARDeC, Ward 22, Maharjan Samaj (Guthi), the project team, and Pauline Kunze. The design put forward by Pauline Kunze was made possible and construction began with the placement of steel beams and column, which were then covered with wood, the floor of the museum was covered with mars carpet with doormat required furniture for display, coloring, and electrification of the museum for decoration was also done. “With the help of CIUD, the historical items now have a well-structured platform to be known among tourists as well”.

From displaying the items in an organized way and giving them an identity to rebuilding the museum's infrastructure, CIUD with partner organizations has managed to bring back the essence of the museum. “Now Bungamati Cultural Museum is like a live museum that you can only get to experience here in Bungamati,” says Rajana Maharjan, Museum Curator, Bungamati Cultural Museum

The Parya Sampada Project is working to conserve tangible heritage in the post-disaster recovery context and make them sustainable by creating tourism opportunities. The museum has now been handed over to Maharjan Samaj (Guthi) and is responsible for the operations of the museum.