Mantra featured on postcards, felicitated by Philatelic Society

REZA PRADHAN

DARJEELING, : Mantra, the popular Darjeeling-based Nepali band, has been featured on a new series of postcards released as part of a felicitation by a local philatelic society.

The local favourites were honoured during a programme organized by the Alpine Philatelic and Numismatic Society (APNS) on Tuesday at their annual exhibition ALPINE 2025, held at Vidya Vikash Academy. The event, organized in association with North Point Academy and VVA, aimed to promote hobbies such as philately and numismatics among students.

“The band Mantra is a pride of our community. Their role in enriching our culture and bringing people together through their music has been commendable. They have inspired countless aspiring musicians and brought immense pride to Darjeeling,” said Vivek Yonzone, founder of APNS.

“As they celebrate their silver jubilee, we decided to release these postcards to honour their passion, relentless energy, and commitment to music. We want postcards of Mantra to be available just as we have postcards featuring Darjeeling’s landmarks,” he added.

The postcard artwork, featuring the six-member band, was created by Hendry Lama. The release took place in the presence of band members Praggya and Pravash. Students, parents, and guests eagerly purchased the postcards at the event, many of them posting their cards through a post box set up by the society. According to APNS, the postcards will soon be available at major stores across Darjeeling.

Formed in 1999, Mantra released its first original track Timi Bina in a 2002 compilation album, marking the beginning of their rise to popularity. Their debut album Mantra followed in 2003, featuring eight original songs including Timi Bina, Ekantama, and Bir Gorkhali, the latter two becoming enduring favourites among fans.

The band’s second album Rock Yatra was released in 2004, featuring hits like Sanskriti, followed by Himali Nepali in 2006 and Mantra Mugdha in 2011. Most recently, in October this year, they released their latest single Ho Ma Nepali. Over the years, Mantra has received numerous accolades and performed live across India and abroad.

In addition to Mantra’s felicitation, ALPINE 2025 also featured an inter-school sit-and-draw competition, a letter-writing contest, and an exhibition showcasing students’ artwork, stamp collections, and coins from the Philatelic and Numismatic Clubs of North Point Academy.