Kathmandu: Storycycle organized a walking tour along the traditional water route in Patan, taking in several stone water spouts, or taps, and com­munity water systems. Participants on the walk learned of the history of the water route and the significance of the spouts, many built over 2,000 years ago. The water spouts range from those used for healing purposes, those used by menstruating women, and those used for religious pujas, to the more mundane for everyday household use.

 

Traditionally using rainwater and gravity, the vast majority of these spouts throughout the whole Kath­mandu Valley are dry today. They are, however, still used by the com­munity as meeting places and water collection areas, as can be seen by the vast plastic water tanks now installed alongside the tradition­al, beautifully carved spouts and associated statues of deities. Interest­ingly, some of the spouts are being restored, while others are in a state of very poor disrepair.

 

Storycycle has been running for the past few years, with the mission of collecting grassroots and contem­porary stories and turning them into a digital museum showcase for future generations. They also run training programs focussing on innovation, collection and presentation of mul­timedia stories targeted at the next generation of storytellers.

For further information http:// www.storycycle.com