Janakavi Keshari Dharmaraj Thapa (जनकवि केशरी धर्मराज थापा) (1924 - 14 October 2014 ) was one of the most significant Nepali folk singers. He is most famous for his songs "Hariyo Danda Maathi (हरियो डाँडा माथि हह माले हह )", "Nepali le Maya Maaryo Barilai (नेपालीले माया मार्यो वरिलै)". Dharmaraj Thapa started singing hyms, folk songs including dancing acts from his early childhood. He was married to 13yrs old Shavitri at the age of 15 on 28th Baisakh, 1996 B.S. He is also honoured as lifetime member at the Nepal Academy.Lifetime members of Nepal Academy
Songs Some of the notable songs collected and sung by Dharmaraj Thapa are Songs of Dharmaraj Thapa Hariyo Danda Maathi (हरियो डाँडा माथि) Nepali Le Maya Maaryo Barilai (नेपालीले माया मार्यो वरिलै) Suna Mero Nirmaya (सुन मेरो निरमाया) Saahili Rimai (साँहिली रिमै चौरी गाई, झर्यो रिमै मधु बनैमा) Aaja Malai Sancho Chaina (आज मलाई सञ्चो छैन) Aaipugyau Relaima (आईपुग्यौ रेलैमा, नौबजे बेलैमा .. देहरादुनैमा साथी देहरादुनैमा)
Books Dharmaraj wrote the following books: Lamichane Thapa ko Vamshavali ("Genealogy of the Lamichhane Thapa") Nala Damayanti Loka Sanskriti ko Ghera ma Kam jung Mukti natha Darshana
Awards Including the title "Janakabi Keshari", Dharmaraj Thapa has been awarded with several prestigious awards.
Year Title Awarded By Description 2025 B.S. Indrarajyalaxmi Purashkar Nepal Rajakiya Pragya Pratisthan 2025 B.S. Madan Purashkar Madan Purashkar Guthi Awarded for his GitiKavya 'Mangali Kusum' (मंगली कुसुम) 2026 B.S. Nominated for Committee Member (सह सदस्य) Nepal Academy (former Royal Nepal Academy) 2042 B.S Lok Sahitya Purashkar Sajha Prakashan 2048 B.S. Chinnalata Geet Purashkar Chinnalata Geet Purashkar Guthi 2054 B.S. Life Time Achievement Award Hits FM Annual Hits FM 100 Music Awards 2054 - Life Time Achievement Award Kantipur FM - Life Time Achievement Award Image FM Annual Image Award - SAARC Poetry Symposium The Silver Jubilee of His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev's Accession Civic Main Committee 2057 B.S. Nepal Samman Nepal Sanskritik Parishad 2060 B.S. Harati Samman - 2061 B.S. Nepal Lok Sangeetbhushan Kalanidhi Indira Sangeet Mahavidhyalaya 2061/03/29 B.S. Aadikavi Bhanubhakta Purashkar Nepali Sikchya Parishad 2061/03/30 B.S. Nagarik Samman 2062 Nepal Yuwa Samaj (need to verify the title and date) 2062/06/13 B.S. Sangeet Sheela Samman 2062 संगीत शिला प्रतिष्ठान नृत्य तथा संगीत विद्यालय 2063 B.S. Raajdhani Bisista Samman Raajdhani Kala Kendra
References