Dhe Dhe Papa dance is performed on the occasion of saparu (gai jatra) jatra. This dhe dhe papa is believed to be performed after late king Prithivi Narayan Shah conquered over Kirtipur after his third attack.
The red mask wearing dance is performed along with other black and half mask dancer believed to be his family members followed to him in dance steps.
Story behind the dance according to local news paper published couple of years ago..
HYAMU KWA:PA ( RED MASK) represents the dhanwanta Silwal (DHAN:CHA) who used to dance along the street of Kirtipur hill drunked making his face red in joy after late king Prithivi Narayan Shah defeated kirtipur.
To affront him Dhan:Cha (Red Mask) Dhe dhe papa dance is performed where dhan:cha is Hyamu Khwa:Pa (RED MASK) made completely red smiling all over his tooths.
Haku Khwa:Pa (BLACK MASK) also knows as Mhuka Khwa:Pa is made dark black who is knows as his wife she used to be abit black in skin tone.
Nya:Twa Kwa:pa ( Fish mouth Mask) represents his sister who used to have abit pointed mouth in order to represent her pointed mouths fish mouth mask is worn and dance is performed along with
Baapa Khwa: Pa (HALF MASK) represents his children's dancing with him all along the streets of Kirtipur hill.
Baapa Khwa( HALF MASK) is also said to be affront Pradhan's who showed their two faces to artifice thier own king by making cross-deal between king Prithivi Narayan Shah to open the main entrance gate of big walls territory of kirtpur and to provide them sufficient amount of food to eat and to help rule over kirtpur as minister whereas rest of the people suffering from food scarcity due to food supply blockage over town.