Ashirbad is an album of situational songs (Broadway

Broadway theatre

Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...

) describing emotional expressions of a bride and her relatives during marriage ceremony in Nepalese villages. Ashirbad literally translates as blessing in the Nepali language

Nepali language

Nepali or Nepalese is a language in the Indo-Aryan branch of the Indo-European language family.It is the official language and de facto lingua franca of Nepal and is also spoken in Bhutan, parts of India and parts of Myanmar...

. After the wedding, the bride moves into her husband’s family, usually far away from her family and friends. Since marriage is arranged by the elders of the family, the bride is surrounded by unfamiliar people, in new relationship, and with new duties. It is a sad moment for the bride and her family. The parents, relatives and friends of the bride pray that God will bless her with all the fortune and the happiness of the world in her new home.

The album was produced in 1970, at the eve of wedding of the crown prince Dipendra of Nepal

Dipendra of Nepal

Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev was a member of the Nepalese Royal Family, who briefly reigned in coma as King of Nepal from the 1st of June to the 4th of June, 2001...

. The lyrics were written by Laxman Lohani and the music was written by Shiva Shankar

Shiva Shankar

Shiva Shankar Manandhar was a singer, music composer of Nepali songs and the chief actor in the first Nepali movie, Aama. For nearly a half century beginning from 1950 to late 1990, his name has probably been mentioned more often in books, journals, lectures and conversations about Nepalese music...

. The songs comprise contemporary modern styles blended with Nepalese folk tunes. The beautiful song 'Nausaya Khola' has an impression of Newari classic 'Malashri song' which is sung during the greatest festival "Dashain (Mohani)'.

Tracklist

1. Naudada naghdai – Shiva Shankar
   Shiva Shankar
   Shiva Shankar Manandhar was a singer, music composer of Nepali songs and the chief actor in the first Nepali movie, Aama. For nearly a half century beginning from 1950 to late 1990, his name has probably been mentioned more often in books, journals, lectures and conversations about Nepalese music...
   
   
2. Naughumti paridekhi – Tara Devi
   Tara Devi (singer)
   Tara Devi was a Nepali singer. She was known as the "nightingale of Nepal" having recorded over 4,000 songs during her lifetime.. Much of her music revolved around the themes of patriotism and love OhMyNews - 2006-01-23....
   
   
3. Mata aba thuli bhaye – Nirmala Shrestha
4. Nani aba – Fatte Man
5. Barai maina – Tara Devi
6. Mata lajle – Nirmala Shrestha
7. Kukhurako siure – Fatte Man
8. Kehi nahosh - Shiva Shankar
9. Janmiyeko aganma – Tara Devi
10. Meri chori meri baba – Tara Devi
11. Nausaya khola – (Lyric by Yadab Kharel) Tara Devi