Pratik Baraili carries forward family tradition of sculpting

URLABARI, MORANG, AUGUST 16 – Pratik Manjul Baraili, 24, is continuing his family’s long tradition of sculpting in Urlabari–6, Morang.

Growing up with parents who are both sculptors, Pratik learned the basics early. “I started using a pen at four and learned chisels and hammers before I was ten,” he said. Traveling and working alongside his parents, he developed a deep interest in turning blocks of stone into detailed statues.

Pratik’s dedication paid off last year when his Ganesh statue won the Koshi Provincial National Fine Arts Award. Since then, he has focused entirely on sculpting, working around nine hours a day at the Manjul Sculpture Center. He has already created over 100 statues, calling sculpting a demanding but fulfilling profession.

His father, Manjul Baraili, dreams of gifting a thousand sculptures to the nation, and the whole family is involved in this mission. Though Pratik had a chance to work in Japan, he chose to return to Nepal to continue his craft at home. His father still works in Japan on a large Buddha statue, while his mother Kaushila manages the sculpture center locally.

Pratik says sculpting is more than just a profession—it is the family’s soul. “This art is in our blood, and I want to keep it alive in Nepal,” he added. With each new piece, Pratik is making a name for himself while honoring the legacy of his parents.