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By Krishna Verma
Vaikunthpuri gives the impression that religion, culture, tradition and society are still alive. Vaikunthpuri has become a tourist spot along with a museum of ancient and traditional materials which were used by our ancestors. Vaikunthpuri, where can be reached from Sandhikharka, the headquarter of Arghakhanchi, is about 17 kilometers by Pitched and Graveled roads . Not only from Arghakhanchi, but also from the neighboring districts of Gulmi, Palpa, Pyuthan etc., there is a horde of visitors every day. Nim Bahadur Rizal, who has been a journalist for 30 years in Hilly district Arghakhanchi, is a person who came up with the idea of saving the culture and traditions by collecting the old but essential materials that were used in the village society but are replaced by modern materials.
Although it started as a temple, Vaikunthapuri has now become a tourist spot. It has become a museum to tell and teach the new generation by collecting domestic and commercial items used in our daily life in ancient times. Now our life has become sophisticated. These Old items are the mother of all the household items that are used now. Which our forefathers used to build using the tools and resources found in their own homes including clay, wood, bamboo, etc. Those materials were not only attractive to look at but also important from religious and Ayurvedic point of view.
Mano , Pathi , Oil Mill (Kol), Janto , Dhiki , Juwa, Halo (Plough), Jotara , Theki , Madani , Odan , Bhote Talcha , Chauthi , Seu , Ektare , Damfu , Madal , Chautho , Soli , Dala , Bhakari , Dhadiya , Ban , Guleli , Ghagetro , Phungo , Hunka, Chilim , Sulfa , Herpe , Madus (Wooden Box), Cassette , Tunki , Dhebri , Pani , Old Cameras , Dharamshala kept on the roads and intersections, there are about 200 types of traditional and old materials used in household work. Vaikunthpuri is not only captivating but also a means of telling history to the new generation who are totally depended on electronic and digital materials.
Nim Bahadur Rizal's daily life is to create an internal tourist spot by using these innovative ideas. Telling the tourists and researchers who come there about observe the collected materials. Vaikunthpuri, which was made using materials earlier, has now become attractive. There are Jhula, Ping (Swing), Tree House , Swimming Pool , Umbrella Road, Selfie Area, Temple, Idol, Fish and Lotus Pond, etc., have become a center of attraction. He said that 3 external employees and himself and his wife should work for 5 people without even a single moment of free time. He said that by making it more organized, he will build a meditation center, a home stay and a traditional 8-door house and some cottages which are build in decades ago.
Culture and nature are our mothers and protectors. Nim Bahadur Rizal, who said that he came up with the idea of building a museum by searching for rare materials with the belief that it is the duty of all of us to protect the cultures, was previously called Kawadi by his neighbors, but now they are the ones who come to visit after buying a ticket. However, now the household materials used by our ancestors in the ancient times have been replaced by plastic and other metal & plastic materials. What these replaced materials were, how they were used, how easy they were, how appropriate they were in terms of Vedic, religious and health etc. can be known after observation.
Collection and combination of various materials such as traditional and ethnic costumes, materials used in religious and Vedic activities, idols, tools, etc. has become very attractive.
Nim Bahadur Rizal and his family, who provided 4 Ropani land to establish a museum in the name of the Jeshta (senior) Citizen Association, Arghakhanchi and his family said that no any government agency, association, or organization has helped/assisted in its promotion and protection so far. The land, property and materials are collected in the free of cost or in a very small amount of money, and only those who live in the market and the city now come to visit. If you are thoughtful and attached, you can go there and learn a lot from the things we use and throw away. Vaikunthapuri, which can be reached in about 20 minutes from Sandhikhark main market through a paved and slightly unpaved road, has become a must-visited place. The enthusiasm of the Rizal family to hand over their private property to the organization to save history while building culture and tradition requires cooperation, harmony and coordination from all concerned. Traditional materials are not only things to look at and enjoy, but can also be a means of exploration and discovery. Student and Teachers must be reached there for the transformation culture through these materials to the new up growing students. And these items should be included in local curriculum via local government.
