| Dapha | |
|---|---|
| Medium | Music |
| Ancestor arts | Newa devotional music |
| Descendant arts | Bhajan Khala |
| Originating culture | Newa |
| Originating era | 17th century |
Dapha music (Nepal Bhasa: दाफा) is a Newa artform in which singers and musicians perform devotional music, based on classical raga and taal system.[1][2] The music is performed by a group of musicians called Dapha khalah in places called dabu. Dapha is the oldest surviving devotional music of Nepal, with its origin in the 17th century.[3] The dapha music saw a growth in the early 18th century with royal patronage.[3] It expanded during that era to include sets of nine different drums that are standard today.[3]