Panche baja

The panche baja (Nepali: पञ्चे बाजा, lit. 'five musical instruments') is a set of five traditional Nepali musical instruments that are played during holy ceremonies, especially marriages. Panche bajas are usually played by the Damai and the Gaine castes in the Hindu tradition. They are played using the rhythm of folk Nepali songs.

It is referred to as panchje baja because in Nepali, panch means five (referring to the five different types), and baja means musical instruments.

The first part of the term is also transliterated panche, panchai, or pancai; the latter also as baaja.

The panche baja includes the jhyali (cymbals), or dholak (drums), damaha (large kettledrum), narsinga (a long, C-shaped trumpet), shehnai (a folk oboe), and karnal (a wide-mouthed, straight trumpet with a bell that resembles the datura flower).

Other renderings give the ensemble as: shehnai, jhyali, dholki, tyamko, and damaha.