ABSTRACT
Catchy melodies, colourful dresses, traditional steps broken by classical mudras suddenly turning into clenched fists. Since the beginning of the People’s War in 1996, Maoist cultural troupes have been travelling the country offering villagers colourful politico-cultural programs. The first ‘Cultural Battalion’, Madhya Samana Battalion 6, was formed in October 2006. It includes the four ‘cultural companies’ of Central Nepal, Sen Chyang Cultural Company, Anekot Cultural Company, Shiva Sharada Cultural Company and Chunu Shilpa Cultural Company. The battalion is subsumed under the cultural section of the party, Akhil Nepal Jan Sanskitik Mahasangh (All Nepal People’s Cultural Federation). Maoist cultural groups are active in each of the 75 districts of Nepal. Furthermore, 13 cultural groups are linked to each of the Maoist Federal States, and 11 are connected to their ethnic fronts (Sharma 2004: 41-42). Samana Parivar is the historical cultural group
associated to the party’s central committee. Cultural groups are also present within the PLA and other workers’ organizations although they perform as a leisure activity.
