Nepal and India share multiple cultural similarities, such as religion, cuisine, and some forms of clothing, but there is a boundary that ends all the likeness between the two. 

The Bollywood movie industry has dominated the film industry in South Asia; consequently, Indian culture, especially fashion, has seeped through multiple South Asian countries quite strongly. 

As a Nepali person growing up in America where I was often the only Nepali person in many of my classes, I enjoy seeing Nepali attire in music videos and movies. It makes me feel a sense of closeness to my culture. 

However, the connection that I have with my motherland tends to be shattered when I watch Nepali music videos that include people wearing lehengas (a three piece outfit with a blouse, skirt and a shawl), turbans, and any clothing that doesn’t have a history in Nepal. 

A recently released music video, “Hajur Musukkai”  by singers Krishna BK and Rachana Rimal,  made me realize how prominently Indian culture has bled through in Nepal. Although the video has many elements of ancient Nepali culture, it still contains characteristics of Indian culture. 

The clothes worn by Niruta Singh, the actress in the video, resemble the attire that women wore in Hindu mythology, which remains more popular in India. Her attire looks like something that an apsara – a celestial dancer – would wear rather than a garment for a Nepali woman. 

The other actress in the video, Priyana Acharya, wears a Marathi-style nose ring with jasmine flower gajra draped down her hair, which is typically seen in South Indian women. Her attire looks like a fusion of the clothing that Singh wears, with a modern twist. Each female background dancer dons a lehenga, which is typically seen in the background dancers of Indian movies. 

People who are not familiar with the differences among South Asian countries tend to view South Asians as a cultural monolith, even though we are not. 

Wearing Indian-style clothing in and jewelry in Nepali movies and music videos perpetuates an idea that hurts us. In fact, some Nepali people have started to adopt these fashions in their own lives.

Nepal has its own distinct culture that should be in the limelight. We have our own style of jewelry and clothing, so why do we feel the need to wear clothing from someone else’s culture?