March 23, 2017, Lalitpur – A 349-year old phalcā has been handed over to the community in Patan following its reconstruction. Dr. Christiane Brosius, representative of Nepal Earthquake Relief Fund Heidelberg (SAI Help Nepal), formally handed over the phalcā to Shyam Gopal Maharjan, chief of the Chabahal Community Association. The phalcā in Lunchhen Nani, Chabahal was badly damaged by the earthquake of spring 2015. The reconstruction was carried out with the financial assistance from the Barbara and Wilfried Mohr Foundation, Hamburg via SAI Help Nepal of Heidelberg University in Germany. Speaking at the handover celebration, Dr. Brosius laid emphasis on the importance of preserving the culture of singing bhajans by also preserving the phalcās. Dr. Axel Michaels of the Heidelberg University stressed on the need to preserve the open nature of the phalcā that welcomes the old and the young, men and women, Nepalis and foreigners. Also speaking at the function, Chabahal community chief Maharjan pledged that the community will do its best to ensure preservation and timely renovation of the phalcā, while also continuing the culture of bhajans. Architect Padma Maharjan explained about the complexities of reconstructing an old phalcā in traditional form. Researcher Rajendra Shakya outlined the history of the phalcā, saying that it was first built in 1668 AD and was later enlarged in 1712 AD. The bhajan team of Chabahal performed religious songs dedicated to various deities ahead of the handover. Donor Wilfried Mohr, who passed away few days ago, was also remembered at the program for his contributions. The dismantling of the phalcā began in August 2016 and the reconstruction was completed in March 2017. Mostly used by the elderly people for performing bhajans and also for sitting, knitting, or watching the life on the street or in the courtyard, the public rest house with arcaded platform was a key part of the social life until the earthquake incurred major damages to the phalcā. The South Asia Institute (SAI) of the Heidelberg University, Germany had launched a donation campaign entitled ‘SAI Help Nepal’ immediately after the massive earthquake of April 25, 2015. Besides the phalcā in Chabahal, SAI Help Nepal is also funding the reconstruction of Char Narayan Temple and Mani Mandap phalcās of the Patan Durbar Square that collapsed during the earthquake. SAI is active in Nepal with several academic projects and runs a branch office in Patan since 1987.
