Top Five Nominees Announced for the 9th National Lok Dohori Awards

Kathmandu: The National Lok and Dohori Song Academy Nepal, Kathmandu Valley Coordination Committee has officially unveiled the Top Five nominees across 24 categories for the 9th National Lok Dohori Awards, recognizing outstanding contributions to Nepal's folk music industry.

The nominations were announced during a special ceremony held at the National Theatre (Rastriya Nachghar), Jamal, in the presence of Academy President Rita Thapa Magar and prominent personalities from Nepal's folk music fraternity.

Among those attending the event were former Academy President and award visionary Durga Rayamajhi, Senior Vice President Pashupati Sharma, Vice President Raju Dhakal, Women's Vice President Radhika Hamal, General Secretary Shiva Hamal, Songwriters' Association Nepal President Basant Bityasi Thapa, Presenter Society Nepal President Narahari Premi, Music Nepal Managing Director Uttam Thapa, and National Folk Journalists Nepal President Chandramani Gautam, among others.

Held under the slogan "Honoring Seniors, Encouraging Juniors," the awards feature 24 competitive categories, including Best Male and Female Lok Dohori Singer, Song, Lyrics, Composition, Arrangement, Mixing and Mastering, Recording, Cinematography, Editing, Acting, Dance, Direction, Traditional Folk Song, and Dohori Venue Performance.

According to the organizers, nominees were selected based on songs and contributions released between 2080 and 2082 B.S., with both established and emerging artists making the final shortlist.

The grand award ceremony will take place on Bhadra 6 at the Nepal Police Club, Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu, said Coordination Committee President Prasad Lamichhane.

In addition to the competitive awards, eight special honors will be presented to individuals who have made remarkable contributions to Nepali folk music.

The Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to veteran singer and former Academy President Prajapati Parajuli. Popular singer Devi Gharti will receive the Creator of the Decade Award, while former Academy President Chandra Sharma will be honored with the Institutional Dohori Award. PN Sapkota will also be recognized on behalf of the Coordination Committee.

Garima Bikas Bank is the main sponsor of the event, with Lord Party Palace serving as the official sponsor. The program is being organized in collaboration with all ten committees under the Kathmandu Valley Coordination Committee.

Organizers believe this year's nominations have generated renewed excitement in the Nepali folk music community, with winners to be selected through a transparent evaluation process before being announced during the award ceremony on Bhadra 6.

Top Five Nominees – 9th National Lok Dohori Awards

1. Best Male Lok Dohori Singer

• Khem Century – Tallo Bato 
• Sagar Ale – UK Basne Dai 
• Prakash Dutraj – Chaina Ra Maya
• Arjun Sapkota – Jhaliko 
• Kushal Belbase – Kancho Supari

2. Best Female Lok Dohori Singer

• Shanti Shree Pariyar – Juneli Ratai Rataima 
• Shanta Rani Pariyar – Syauli Bajarma 
• Dipika Byambo Magar – Kasmire Pachheuri 
• Kalika Roka – Deurali Lai Phulpati Dhaja 
• Nisha Gurung – UK Londonko 

3. Best Emerging Male Lok Dohori Singer

• Sital Gurung – Bhagaula Trishuli Tarera 
• Kiran BC – Gorkhali 
• Ryan Basyal – Ghampani Chhata
• Suresh Anjan – Himali Phool
• Anil Pun Magar – Gunyo Choli

4. Best Emerging Female Lok Dohori Singer

• Nirmala Devi Basnet – Timilai Pachheyauri Kindiula 
• Simran Pariyar – Bainiko Kaha Paryo Ghar 
• Shanti Shirish Magar – UK Basne Dai 
• Sima Nepali – Jaya Jaya Hos
• Garima Karki – Anta Nabhane

5. Best Lyrics

• Netra Aryal – Tallo Bato 
• Santosh Sapkota – Jhaliko 
• Bikram Babu Bishwakarma – Gandaki
• Suresh Rana Magar – UK Basne Dai 
• Dipak Adhikari – Ma Ta Timro Hoina Mayalu 

6. Best Composition

• Arjun Sapkota – Jhaliko 
• Gobinda Pangeni – Bhagaula Trishuli Tarera 
• HBN Kismat – Kholi Salala 
• Nandu Pariyar – Syauli Bajarma
• Ashim Chand Bishwakarma – Gandaki

7. Best Lok Dohori Song

• Binod Bajurali – Hiyarai 
• Sudip Adhikari – Ghumaune Ghar Pokharama 
• Surya Khadka – Pachas Tirkko
• Komal Nepali – Syauli Bajarma
• Khushi Gurung – Hong Kong Ko Chino 

8. Best Folk Song

• Bal Kumar Shrestha – Japdai Naam Aama 
• Ghanshyam Rijal – Sathi 
• Shambhu Kunwar – Timro Ta Yo Duniya Chha 
• Suresh Khatri – Ae Aama 
• Durga Maya Gurung – Uhinsanga Dil Basyo Hajur 

9. Best Male Dancer (Lok Dohori Music Video)

• Lomas Sharma – Gorkhe Khukuri
• Gobinda Pahadi – Najar Tetai Chha 
• Babin Singh Thakuri – Gunyo Cholima 
• Bijay Pun – UK Basne Dai 
• Anil Poudel – Maya Aaune Basma

10. Best Female Dancer (Lok Dohori Music Video)

• Narayani Khatri – Karimai 
• Chahana Rana Magar – UK Basne Dai 
• Sanjana Gurung – Chhuk Chhuke Relaima 
• Elina Rayamajhi – Ghumaune Ghar Pokharama 
• Priti Gurung – Nahera Tulutulu

11. Best Choreographer

• Mausam Himali – Syauli Bajarma
• Ekendra Sara Shankar – Gandaki
• Jerry Bhandari – Manung Kotaima
• Mukesh Nepali – Gaun Ghare Maya
• Prashant Magar – Dilmai Lagyo Nishana 

12. Best Actor (Lok Dohori Music Video)

• Bimal Adhikari – Samjhera Timilai 
• Bikram Budhathoki – Jati Timi Tadha Hunchhau 
• Binod Bhandari – Ujeli 
• OB Rayamajhi – Dui Kinara 
• Kamal Aryal – Batai Banda Bho

13. Best Actress (Lok Dohori Music Video)

• Juna Gurung – Ujeli 
• Juna Bishwakarma – Dhago Changa
• Renuka Khadka – Naroe Hai Dako Chhodi 
• Yesu Bhattarai – Batai Banda Bho 
• Manju Khatri – Din Lai Gham Raat Lai Junko 

14. Best Director (Lok Dohori Music Video)

• Mausam Himali – Tallo Bato 
• Binod Bhandari – Dhago Changa
• Deep Gurung – Meri Muna 
• Nishan Baniya – Kancho Supari
• Sirjan Baral (Rishi) – Badhai Chha Ae Badhai 

15. Best Arrangement

• Krishna KC – Chaina Ra Maya
• JDL Kismat – Jhaliko 
• Bishal Niroula – Chokho Mayama
• Akash Nepali – Shirma Sirbandi
• Khem Raj Gautam – Butwal Bazar

16. Best Mixing & Mastering

• HBN Kismat – Lalaji 
• Khadka Bajurali – Tallo Bato
• Akash Nepali – Bainiko Kaha Paryo Ghar 
• Binod Pariyar – Namaste DhogDiya 
• Krishna Bajurali – Makuriko Jaal 

17. Best Recording Engineer

• Suman Rana – Pani Pareko 
• Sagar Bajurali – Hiyarai 
• Damar BK – Rahar Le Hoina Mayalu 
• Raj Khadka – Jhaliko 
• Ramesh Khadka – Sannani 

18. Best Cinematography

• Buddha Thapa – UK Basne Dai
• Ajay Regmi – Namaste Dhog Diya
• Prakash Khadka – Chhuk Chhuke Relaima 
• Deepak Giri – Manung Kotaima
• Birendra Pariyar – Gamchha Banera 

19. Best Editor

• Milan BK – Syauli Bajarma 
• Rajkumar Magar – Kholi Salala
• Manoj Karki – Kanya Rashi 
• Amrit Chapagain – Kasmire Pachheuri 
• Nabin Gharti – Chaina Ra Maya

20. Best Traditional Folk Song

• Ishwar Singh – Sunimaya Panche Baja 
• Mausam Gurung – Kanchhi Kauda
• Chija Tamang – Gorkhali Thado Bhaka 
• Mina Lama & Sagar Gurung – Salaijo
• Sushil Bhattarai – Jhilimili Tihar 

21. Best Dohori Competition Male Singer

• Pritam Pokhrel 
• Nishant BK 
• Manav Rawat Chhetri 
• Sachin Bhattarai 
• Saroj Simkhada 

22. Best Dohori Competition Female Singer

• Sapana Roka 
• Sangina Thapa Magar 
• Jamuna BK 
• Khushbu Sunar 
• Jamuna Sunar 

23. Best Dohori Venue Male Singer

• Ramji Prasad Poudel 
• Sangam Gurung 
• Darpan Yatri 
• Tek Bahadur Chhetri 
• Bakhan Singh Gurung 

24. Best Dohori Venue Female Singer

• Belimaya Pulami 
• Pratibha Sapkota 
• Shanti Karki 
• Bimala Dura 
• Sanam Purja Pun