- Winner: Ganga Sonam ; cash prize Rs 2.5 million.
- Runners-up: Babita Thapamagar (first) and Darshana Gandhari (second); consolation spots to Abhinaya Khati and Mrinal/Milan Manandhar.
- Finale held in Patan, Lalitpur, after a months-long season of national auditions and viewer voting.
The Big Picture
Sonam’s win caps a season that leaned into regional sounds and storytelling. State outlets and show organizers confirmed the result following the Sunday (Aug. 31, local time) grand finale in Patan, Lalitpur. The Rising Nepal reported the champion’s purse at Rs 2.5 million, underscoring the show’s stature as one of Nepal’s biggest music stages.
What’s New
Babita Thapamagar finished first runner-up, while Darshana Gandhari placed second runner-up. Abhinaya Khati and Mrinal/Milan Manandhar rounded out the Top-5. Cash rewards of Rs 1 million and Rs 500,000 awarded for the first and second runners-up, respectively.
What They’re Saying
Who Is Ganga Sonam?
Hailing from Sindhupalchok, Sonam drew nationwide attention with a Deuda-style audition that went viral on social platforms — a nod to how regional folk can travel far when the performance is honest and unadorned. Clips of her Deuda rendition, “डोली चढाई लैजान्या हो सुवा…,” circulated widely across Instagram during the early rounds.
Beyond the TV stage, Sonam has already stepped into the studio. She features on “Bellbatam (बेलवटम),” a folk release credited to Ram Kumar Nepali and Amrit Bharati, with listings and posts showing her name among the vocalists. The track has been promoted on music services and YouTube community posts in recent weeks.
What’s Next
As with past Nepal Idol winners, the immediate runway is packed: media rounds, festival bookings, and potential label or film offers. With a fan base built on folk phrasing and clean delivery, Sonam’s next challenge will be balancing studio polish with the unfiltered charm that won her votes. Organizers and state media framed this season as a boost for Nepal’s home-grown music economy — momentum the new champion now carries.
The Bottom Line
Ganga Sonam’s victory is more than a trophy; it’s a signal of how Nepal’s mainstream continues to make room for regional voices — and how a folk song from the hills can end up owning a national stage.
A global media for the latest news, entertainment, music fashion, and more.
