.png)
Sacred Himalayas
2026
Festival Brochure
A Journey of Healing Through Music, Ritual & Resonance
Book Now | Festival & Ticket Packages Available
Location: Dusit Princess Kathmandu, Nepal
Date: 9~10 May 2026
Experience for Yourself
Universe of Sound – Sacred Himalayas is a rare immersive festival bringing together Himalayan sacred sound, movement rituals, contemporary music, and orchestral collaboration in the spiritual heart of Nepal. Across two days, participants are invited to listen deeply, move consciously, and experience sound as ritual and medicine, bridging tradition and innovation, earth and sky, body and spirit. This is not just an event.
It is a lived experience of resonance.
Get to Experience
-
Sacred Himalayan sound & chanting
-
Embodied movement & ritualistic dance
-
Sound, science & consciousness dialogues
-
Symphonic finale with Kathmandu Youth Orchestra
-
Sound and movement mini workshops
-
Thangka art exhibition
Festival Highlights
🌿 Sacred Sound & Ritual
-
Himalayan singing bowls & gongs (Opening ceremony & Blessing)
-
Sutra chanting & vocal resonance
-
Sarangi, Bansuri, voice & breath healing journeys
💃 Embodied Movement & Sacred Dance
-
Kumari Dance (Nepal)
-
Bindu: A Rite of Passage
-
Somatic movement & Flower of Life ritual
🧠 Sound, Science & Consciousness Panel:
dialogues on sound, healing & the human experience
🎼 Festival Finale Spring Concert:
Waves of Love, featuring the Kathmandu Youth Orchestra and guest artists
Festival Directors
Dr John Sharpley
Composer I Pianist I Educator (Singapore / USA)
Dr John Sharpley is an internationally recognised composer, pianist, and educator whose career spans Asia, Europe, and the United States. Trained in France and the United States, he holds advanced degrees in music and composition, including a Doctorate from Boston University. His works have been commissioned and performed by major institutions such as the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and leading ensembles across Europe and Asia.A long-time educator at institutions including SOTA, LASALLE College of the Arts, and the University of Hong Kong, Dr Sharpley is widely respected for his ability to bridge Western classical traditions with Asian musical forms. His relationship with Nepal began in 2018 through collaborations with the Kathmandu Youth Orchestra, returning in 2024 and 2025 to conduct KYO’s Spring Concerts Tunes of Nepal.
As Festival Co-Director of Universe of Sound – Sacred Himalayas 2026, Dr Sharpley brings artistic rigour, intercultural depth, and pedagogical excellence, strengthening Singapore–Nepal artistic exchange and supporting meaningful international arts engagement.
Amelia Kang
Creative Producer | Sound Healer | Metaphysician
Amelia Kang is a Singaporean festival director, holistic practitioner, and arts professional whose work bridges cultural heritage, healing arts, and contemporary creative collaboration. She began her career in her early 20s at Singapore’s National Arts Council, working on the Singapore International Arts Festival, where she gained grounding in large-scale festival production, international artist management, and cross-cultural programming.
As founder of Ame de Lumiere Holistic Consultancy, Amelia has built an international reputation over the past decade in sound healing, metaphysics, and spiritual education. Her work has been featured in CNA Lifestyle, The Business Times, Women’s Weekly, and AsiaOne, reflecting her influence within the wellness and healing arts sector. Amelia has curated retreats, workshops, and collaborative arts programmes across Asia, bringing together musicians, dancers, healers, and cultural custodians.
As Festival Director of Universe of Sound – Sacred Himalayas 2026, she co-leads artistic vision, programme curation, and intercultural collaboration alongside Dr John Sharpley and the Kathmandu Youth Orchestra, shaping a festival that is both culturally sensitive and globally resonant.
Festival Artists
Mangal Man Maharjan
Himalayan Singing Bowl Master | Lineage Practitioner
Mangal Dai is a revered Himalayan sound healing practitioner and master of traditional singing bowls and gongs, born into a lineage connected to Nepal’s sacred sound traditions. With decades of experience, his work is rooted in the spiritual and meditative use of sound as a tool for grounding, balance, and inner stillness.
Mangal Dai has shared Himalayan sound practices internationally, guiding participants into deep listening states through bowls, gongs, and intentional resonance. His offerings are known for their simplicity, depth, and devotional quality—honouring sound not as performance, but as living transmission.
Kailin Yong
Violinist | Composer | Cultural Bridge-Builder
Known as the “Fiddler for Peace,” Kailin Yong is a Singaporean multi-disciplinary musician whose work advocates for cultural, spiritual, and environmental harmony. A recipient of the Daniel Pearl Memorial Violin (2004), Kailin has spent decades building musical bridges across cultures.
After 20 years in Europe and the US, he returned to Singapore in 2013 and has since collaborated with leading theatre, dance, and orchestral companies, including the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. He is the founding member of several pan-cultural ensembles and is known for music that honours global folk traditions while calling for peace, planetary healing, and a more harmonious Kampung Earth.
Nhuchhe Munikar
Tabla | Percussion | Rhythm Educator
Nhuchhe Munikar is a renowned Nepali percussionist celebrated for his mastery of tabla and his ability to transform rhythm into a deeply emotional and somatic experience. He has performed internationally across France, Belgium, Bangladesh, India, China, and Saudi Arabia, bringing Nepali rhythm to global audiences.
Nhuchhe currently teaches at multiple institutions in Kathmandu and serves as Secretary of the Kathmandu Youth Orchestra. His teaching blends technical precision with intuitive, heart-centered rhythm, making him a beloved mentor to students and collaborators alike.
Durga Mani Maran
Choreographer | Dance Researcher | Educator
Goddess in Motion | Bindu: A Rite of Passage
Durga Mani Maran is a choreographer and researcher whose work bridges the deep traditions of Bharatanatyam with contemporary somatic and philosophical inquiry. Her practice centers on themes of ritual, transition, and embodied wisdom, creating performances that function as immersive rites of passage. She explores how classical forms can be a vessel for modern narratives of transformation and identity.
Her work, Goddess in Motion | Bindu: A Rite of Passage, draws upon ancient Tamil ritual frameworks and the sacred geometry of the Sri Yantra to structure a journey of consciousness. The piece utilizes a dynamic fusion of classical precision and fluid, contemporary movement to craft a meditative environment. This evolving performance is designed to guide both performer and audience through a potent, shared experience of metamorphosis, positioning dance as a vital medium for exploring inner and collective transformation.
Brabim Maharjan
Sound Healing Practitioner | Educator
Brabim Dai is a Himalayan sound healer and teacher dedicated to preserving and sharing traditional singing bowl practices. Working closely with master practitioners, his approach integrates bowls, listening, and breath to support nervous system regulation and inner awareness.
Brabim Dai is actively involved in teaching and facilitating sound healing sessions for both local and international students, emphasising respectful practice, cultural grounding, and embodied listening. His work supports the transmission of Himalayan sound traditions to future generations.
At the festival, Brabim Dai co-facilitates sound experiences and workshops, offering participants a grounded introduction to Himalayan singing bowl practices.
Kripa Bajracharya
Kumari Dance Performer | Choreographer | Educator
Kripa Bajracharya is a graduate in dance and a versatile performer, choreographer, director, and theatre artist. A National Dance Competition winner, she has performed extensively on national and international platforms, presenting a wide range of dance styles with strong artistic expression.
Alongside her performance career, Kripa is deeply engaged in arts education. She currently serves as ECA/CCA Coordinator at Aarambha Sanskar Vidyalaya and works as a Dance Director at multiple schools, nurturing young talents and promoting creative learning through dance and theatre.
Kathmandu Youth Orchestra
Founded in 2011, the Kathmandu Youth Orchestra (KYO) has grown to become Nepal’s leading non-profit youth music institution. Dedicated to musical excellence and cultural stewardship, KYO empowers a new generation of young musicians through rigorous orchestral education, high-caliber performance opportunities, and a profound commitment to preserving and innovating Nepal’s rich musical heritage.
Renowned for its distinctive artistic vision, the orchestra has pioneered a unique fusion sound, seamlessly blending the structures and textures of Western classical music with the melodic and rhythmic traditions of Nepali and Newari folk music. This innovative approach has not only earned KYO national acclaim and consistent full-house concerts but has also opened doors to significant international collaborations and tours. By honoring tradition while embracing creative evolution, KYO stands as a vital force in Nepal’s cultural landscape—fostering cross-cultural dialogue, nurturing confident young artists, and building resonant bridges that connect Nepal’s artistic past with its dynamic future.
Festival Schedule
Roots & Awakening:
A Journey into Ancient Sound and Embodied Movement
Saturday 9 May 2026
9:30AM - 5:30PM
Science, Soul & Symphony:
The Path of Resonance and Renewal
Sunday 10 May 2026
10:00AM - 8:30PM