Prem Raja Mahat

Prem Raja Mahat
Prem Raja Mahat
प्रेम राजा महत
Born	September 22; Tanahun, Nepal
Nationality	Nepali
Occupation	Singer; songwriter;
Years active	1978-present
	Musical career
Genres	Folk
Instrument(s)	Vocals; sarangi; madal; harmonium;
Labels	Music Nepal; Radio Nepal;

Prem Raja Mahat (Nepali: प्रेम राजा महत) is a Nepalese folk singer. He has sung songs like Bajho Khet Ma, Paan Ko Paat, Balla Paryo Nirmaya, and Simsime Panima, which are considered timeless Nepali classics.^[1]^[2]^[3] He is also renowned for playing sarangi, a traditional instrument from Nepal used primarily in folk music.^[4] Along with another well-known artist in Nepali folk music, Bam Bahadur Karki, he sang Khola Pari Nirmaya, Music Nepal's first folk song which was released in 1986.^[5] Additionally, he has sung for Nepali feature films, such as Paat Bajaune Mayalai for the 2005 film Muglan. Due to his prominence in Nepali music, he is often compared to well-known artists like Elvis Presley in the western world.^[6]^[7]

Personal life

Prem Raja Mahat immigrated to the United States in 1996, when he was 33 years old. Later, in 2001, his family joined him in the States. He currently runs a Nepali restaurant in Baltimore.^[8]^[9] He continued to contribute new Nepali folk music after relocating to the States, such as the well-liked 2021 song Maya Bandipuraima.^[10]^[11]

Mahat is skilled in playing sarangi, madal, and harmonium, the first two of which are indigenous Nepalese instruments.^[1]^[4]

Musical career

Mahat first sang for the radio in 1978, and his first song was also recorded in the same year. His first song was Tara Khaseko, which was a hit of its time.^[1] His songs gained immense popularity in the late 1980s and the 1990s; since then he has been active in Nepali folk music.^[10]^[12] Because of his contribution towards Nepali folk music, he has earned recognition among the Nepali people.^[9]^[13]

Selected discography

Mahat has released over 59 albums, and many singles. Only a small number of his albums are represented in the list below.^[1]^[2]

Aakasaima Joon
Hiunchuli Ma Hiun
Mutu Ko Dhadkan
Gaaumai Ramailo
Phool Phulyo Sanhila
Mayale Taana Rasile
Bajho Khetma
Panko Paat, Vol. 1
Sannani
Simsime Panima
Salaiko Paataile
Phool Fulyo Sahila
Dautari
Chari Himalma
Trisulima Bhel

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d गिरी प्रेरणा, गोविन्द (March 7, 2020). "'संगीतको भाषा हुँदैन, अमेरिकीहरू पानको पातमा नाच्छन्'". Online Khabar (in Nepali). Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
^ ^a ^b "Paan ko Paat- The song that never gets old". Special Broadcasting Service. May 28, 2016. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2022.
^ पौड्याल, अजवी (August 19, 2021). "चन्द्र सूर्य झन्डा बोकी आयो नेपाली". Annapurna Post (in Nepali). Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
^ ^a ^b Lee & Nadeau 2011, p. 863.
^ Stirr 2017.
^ McLaughlin, Corey (May 30, 2017). "Elvis of the Himalayas". Baltimore. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
^ Gorelick, Richard (January 16, 2015). "The 'Bob Dylan of Katmandu' welcomes diners to Nepal House in Mount Vernon". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
^ Warren, Rachel Anne (January 27, 2015). "Prem Raja Mahat of Nepal House is an international music superstar in his spare time". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
^ ^a ^b सापकोटा, निरञ्जन (November 12, 2016). "प्रवासमा प्रेमराजा महत". Annapurna Post (in Nepali). Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
^ ^a ^b घिमिरे, राजन (December 4, 2021). "प्रेमराजाको माया बन्दीपुरैमा". Gorkhapatra. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
^ क्षत्री, डब्बु (November 28, 2021). "प्रेमराजाको गीतमा छमछमी नाचे मुख्यमन्त्री राजेन्द्र राई". Rajdhani (in Nepali). Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
^ "प्रेमराजा महतको 'पिपल डाँडे साइँली' गीत सार्वजनिक". Image Khabar (in Nepali). July 20, 2022. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
^ "लोकगायक प्रेमराजा महतलाई दमौलीमा सम्मान". RatoPati (in Nepali). October 29, 2017. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2022.

Bibliography

Lee, Jonathan H. X.; Nadeau, Kathleen M. (2011). Encyclopedia of Asian American folklore and folklife. Vol. 2. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-35067-2. OCLC 701335337. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.
Stirr, Anna Marie (2017). Singing Across Divides: Music and Intimate Politics in Nepal (1st ed.). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-190-63200-7. OCLC 983824640. Archived from the original on August 4, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2022.

External links

[:2-1] गिरी प्रेरणा, गोविन्द (March 7, 2020). "'संगीतको भाषा हुँदैन, अमेरिकीहरू पानको पातमा नाच्छन्'". Online Khabar (in Nepali). Archived from the original on December 2, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022.

[:1-2] "Paan ko Paat- The song that never gets old". Special Broadcasting Service. May 28, 2016. Archived from the original on December 9, 2021. Retrieved July 23, 2022.

[3] पौड्याल, अजवी (August 19, 2021). "चन्द्र सूर्य झन्डा बोकी आयो नेपाली". Annapurna Post (in Nepali). Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.

[FOOTNOTELeeNadeau2011863-4] Lee & Nadeau 2011, p. 863.

[FOOTNOTEStirr2017-5] Stirr 2017.

[6] McLaughlin, Corey (May 30, 2017). "Elvis of the Himalayas". Baltimore. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022.

[7] Gorelick, Richard (January 16, 2015). "The 'Bob Dylan of Katmandu' welcomes diners to Nepal House in Mount Vernon". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved August 12, 2022.

[8] Warren, Rachel Anne (January 27, 2015). "Prem Raja Mahat of Nepal House is an international music superstar in his spare time". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on July 1, 2021. Retrieved July 22, 2022.

[:001-9] सापकोटा, निरञ्जन (November 12, 2016). "प्रवासमा प्रेमराजा महत". Annapurna Post (in Nepali). Archived from the original on April 28, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2022.

[:0-10] घिमिरे, राजन (December 4, 2021). "प्रेमराजाको माया बन्दीपुरैमा". Gorkhapatra. Archived from the original on January 15, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.

[11] क्षत्री, डब्बु (November 28, 2021). "प्रेमराजाको गीतमा छमछमी नाचे मुख्यमन्त्री राजेन्द्र राई". Rajdhani (in Nepali). Archived from the original on July 30, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2022.

[12] "प्रेमराजा महतको 'पिपल डाँडे साइँली' गीत सार्वजनिक". Image Khabar (in Nepali). July 20, 2022. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2022.

[13] "लोकगायक प्रेमराजा महतलाई दमौलीमा सम्मान". RatoPati (in Nepali). October 29, 2017. Archived from the original on October 31, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2022.

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