Five Nepali photographers won different awards in Asia-Pacific Youth ICH Storytelling Contest organized in Korea last year. On March 12, amid a special ceremony photographers were presented with the awards at UNESCO office in Kathmandu.
According to a press statement released by Deepak Tolange, applicants from 19 countries submitted their photo essays and videos for the contest under two categories — Young Practitioners and General Youth.
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Under Young Practitioner— Alina Tamrakar won Excellence Prize for ‘Gunla Baajan’, traditional devotional music. Likewise, Maya Rai won Distinction Prize for ‘Woven Together: A story of empowerment through weaving’. Moreover, under the General Youth category; Deepak Tolange won Special Prize for his short film on ‘Kusunda’.
The film concisely summarizes Kusunda culture and portraits Gyani Maiya Sen’s devotion to teaching Kusunda language to the children. Sadly, Gyani Maiya Sen passed away in January this year. She was the known last speaker of Kusunda language who also lived in the jungle for nine years. Deepak’s film might be the last visual recording of Gyani Maiya Sen. The Other two youths won Participation Prizes in General Youth category; Rija Joshi for ‘Oral Tradition’, and Monalisa Maharjan for ‘Ancient Safeguarding Practices in Kathmandu Valley’.
The prizes were distributed by UNESCO representative to Nepal Christian Manhart.
