Mhendomaya is a play that tells the story of a mythical character called Gole Bombo, a shaman in the local Tamang village. He and his wife Mhendomaya are shown to be in pursuit of a snake in the Bhairavkunda lake—located on the way to the high-altitude lake Gosaikunda—to kill a snake that they hold is responsible for the troubles of human beings. The interesting thing is that all the dialogues are in the Tamang language, which means the audience is allowed the full use of their imaginations as they watch the story unfold in front of them.

Bharavkunda jumps into the lake, armed with holy mantras to vanquish the evil, but he fails in the conquest. His widow Mhendomaya returns to the village, remarries and takes on the shamanic responsibilities of her former husband. The play then goes on to explore the psychological turmoil Mhendomaya goes through in the process of trying to get her life back to normal. The play’s production team says they are trying to represent the turmoil of the numerous Tamang girls from Nepal’s villages who face abuse in Mumbai’s brothels and faraway gulf nations in Mhendomaya’s confusion. Although it is not possible to decipher all that the makers have tried to reflect with this symbolism, the play, in itself, makes for a wonderful study of the Tamang culture.

It takes its audience to a little village in Nepal’s hills and tells them a story that is perhaps as old as the community that inhabits it. Simultaneously, though, the play paints a picture of a Nepali village that is overtly reliant on remittances sent by family members toiling away in foreign cities. It is a play of contradictions in many ways, much like Nepal itself is.

The play is being staged at the Gothako Natakghar, Shilpee Theate, and stars actors from the Selo Theatre group. The show begins at 5:30 pm everyday (except on Tuesdays) till May 28