Asan Twa Nepali/Newari Song – “Naani myeju atti he baalaa, Bhatichaa haaku khwaa”

Asan Twa Nepali/Newari Song – “Naani myeju atti he baalaa, Bhatichaa haaku khwaa.”

This is a popular and iconic folk song called “Asan Twa,” which I listened to while growing up in Kathmandu, Nepal. As far as I know, the original song was performed by Bhriguram Shrestha and Durgalal Shrestha, although the exact year of its release remains unclear. To provide some historical context, I remember hearing this song during a time when very few people in Kathmandu had home telephones. We went from having no phones to home phones, then to fax machines, computers, the internet, mobile phones, and now AI. This song has continued to resonate over the years, surviving for more than half a century. Recently, I heard this song performed by the talented young artist Raaz Sayami on Nepali Idol 6, which gave it a new life. One particular lyric that struck me was: “Naani myeju atti he baalaa, Bhatichaa haaku khwaa.” Translating this line from Nepali/Newari to English presents challenges due to untranslatability, often resulting from lexical gaps and significant cultural or linguistic differences. A literal translation might be grammatically correct, but I wanted to convey the emotional weight and sentiment of this particular line. In my interpretation, it could mean: “She is beautiful, with a flawless complexion and a natural tan on her face.” If you want a more elaborate version, you might say: “She exudes stunning beauty, her radiant complexion enhanced by a flawlessly sun-kissed tan that graces her face.” Thank you for your attention and participation! 👍