Harihar Devkota known professionally as Shirish Devkota (Nepali: शिरीष देवकोटा; born 17 July 1985) is a Nepalese folk singer. [1] He has released 12 of his albums and provided vocals for at least 60 more including Karuwama pani, Ma Ta Aaune Thina, Durga Ho Ki Bhawani, Maya launa milchha ra. However, his roila song (a form of Nepali folk music) Ma Ta Aaune Thina Yahi Chal Hola Bhanya Bha, released in 2008, brought him to the limelight.[2][1]
He was born in Baganashakali–5, Darlamdanda, Palpa.[1] Devkota is the son of Surya Prashad Devkota and Tulka Devi Devkota.He has two elder brothers Shambhu Devkota and Bharat Mani Devkota[3] Born in a small village, Devkota moved to the capital, Kathmandu, to become a doctor, in 2000, where he later started singing. He released his first song Manko Kuro in 2003. In 2013, Devkota and Pashupati Sharma both became Secretary of the National Folk and Duet Song Academy, Nepal.[4] Later in 2019, he contested with Subash Kc (his opposition for the post) for the general secretary post[5] Most of his songs revolve around patriotism, love, and the social situation of his country.[6][7] His 2019, song Chhoro America chha was about the current situation of Nepal, where most people going abroad for higher studies do not return.[8][9][10][11][12]
Devkota has worked to connect Nepalese folk songs and the local film industry. For example, in 2015 during his stage performance on Palpa Mahotsav, he made Nepalese actor Rajesh Hamal dance in his song.[15] In his song, Chhoro America chha which was released in 2019 Neer Shah acted as a father of a son who does not return from abroad.[16]
In his song "Chaachara", which was released in 2018 he worked with actor Dilip Rayamajhi, who danced to the song.[17] In his song "Chautari", released in 2020 he worked with Bandana Nepal, who danced to his song.[18][19] She holds the Guinness World Record for dancing at 126 hours.[20][21][22])