Newari Culture - Sithan

As soon as a person dies, all the Guthi (social organisation) members are informed. Four lamps are set around the four direction of the corpse. Mha gele, adoration of the corpse is marked. Funeral procession is accompanied with Nayahkhin drum followed by a lot of people wailing and crying. Cremation is different in different castes.

Newari Culture - Jyah janko

Jyah janko is old age ceremony to mark one’s longevity. It is celebrated for five times.

First – Bhimratharohan – At the attainment of 77 years, 7 months, 7 days

Second – Chadraratharohan – At the attainment of 83 years, 4 months, 4 days

Third – Devaratharohan – At the attainment of 88 years, 8 months, 8 days

Forth – Divyaratharohan – At the attainment of 99 years, 9 months, 9 days

Fifth – Mahadivyaratharohan – At the attainment of 105 years, 8 months, 8 days

Newari Culture - Ihipa(Marriage)

Marriage in Newar culture is social union of two families. The parents arrange marriage for their sons and daughters. After the groom’s and bride’s families decision, the marriage is confirmed by giving 10 betel nuts along with fruits, sweets etc (known as lakha) from groom’s family to the bride.

Marriage ceremony is performed at the time scheduled by the astrologer. Swayamber, Honkegu, Chipa Theeke (symbol of sharing everything) is performed. Bride presents 10 betel nuts to all her family members. Brother of her mother, paju, takes on his back and carries her out of the house. He then presents her to the groom’s family.

The bride’s family visit the groom’s house on the 4th day , to see how the bride is being treated , which is known as Khwah soye (seeing the bride’s face).

Newari Culture - Barha (Girls)

After the ihi or the bael byah, next come the Bahra, a traditional rituals confinement of a girl before the onset of menstruation. This ritual is done when a girl enters her youth. A girl after having undergone ihi is kept separated from all makes and from sunlight for 12 days. She has to stay in a dark room. On the 12th day the girl is purified and the function ends with a Bhoj (traditional newari meal where all family members are present).

These rituals are of two types, Bahra tyagu and Bahra chauneygu. The first ritual is performed before the start of menses. This is done between the age of five and 13. More then one girl can follow the ritual but in case of Bahra Chauneygu, only one girl has to undergo.

In both occasion a cave of cloths, Bahra Khayak is made and worshiped. It is believed that the girl is under the evil possession. A separate meal for the khayak is taken out from the meal of the caved girl. Salt is not used in any of the meal and the girl is entertained with folk songs and dance performed by her friends. For all the 12 days thakali naki, worships the Khyak and will do all the girl work. She is the medium between the girl and her family.

Till the 11 days the family members are considered impure but the married sisters cannot be counted. On the 6th day, particular kerosene oil is provided by the paju (Mama) that is put on the face by the women in the family and finally putting it on the hair of the girl just ending the consumption of salts.

It is only after the 11 days the girl is considered as pure and holy. It is known as Nishi Yayagu. Then the girl pays homage to the sun god. She will be bathed and will be blind folded. She is then taken to the open space to have a Surya Darshan. During these rituals, thakali naki performs the major role. She first worships the Ganesha and sun god. Fistful wheat seed and rice is given to the girl that she throws backward. This is done for three times. Sindoor is put on the forehead of the girl and new dress is presented. The girl now can wear a sari, she is considered as women. In respect to the seniority everyone bless the girl with a tika, made of pitho and oil. The girl is then given Sagun (newari prasad), first to the ancestral deity, then to other family members.

Each family member now considers that the girl is not mere child but has now become an adolescent. Her introduction to menstruation is expected and after the bhoj the rituals end.

Newari Culture - Ihi (Bel Bibaha)(Girls)

The most peculiar ritual followed among newar girl is ihi (also ehee). Also known as bael byah, it is a symbolic marriage with a bael (Aegle mermalous) fruit. This ritual is done among the girl between the ages of four to eleven before reaching the period of puberty, where they are married to lord Shiva that the fruit is kept in his place. Newar community has invaded outside Nepal where the traditions are somewhat lost but still it is found in every newar house that the Bael byah have been made. This customary marriage is thought to be the most holy rituals in this noble clan. With this marriage to the immortal lord the newar girl will not follow widowhood when their husband passes away. It is believed that even remarriage can be done.

At the day of ihi the place is cleaned and swabbed with cow dung and red soil to make it pure. The ihi girl is bathed and does fasting for whole daylong. The daughter of Brahmin is chosen to represent the fruit, she is called locantee. The ceremony starts in the morning with the bali (killing) of goat or a duck to lord Ganesha. Followers of Boudh newar never do the killing and the poor one can do it with fried egg. Eight different flags representing eight Devi are worshiped and immersed to the river. A pindah for a bael fruit is made where bamboo root and grass is placed. (A pindah is made of khir mixed with black teel and roundly molded) This is done to please the ancestors of both his father and mother family.

The girl is brought to the puja site where yellow thread is measured from head to feet for 108 times and thereafter a mala is made and given to the girl. Water from the thakali, a water vase is taken by the pundit and sprinkled over the ihi girl to make her pure. 84 different varieties of vegetables are placed before the girl that she needs to taste the five and remaining she will touch it and will be immersed in a holy place. This ends the end of the first day.

The next morning cutting of nails is done followed by the polishing of the nails. A piece of raw meat, little custard oil and some money are given to the nauni, the person who cuts the nail. Nini of the girl collects the nails in a copper plate, she too will be given money. Then the ihi girl is dressed in red sari or chaubandha choli as a bride.

Sicha fhangu is a custom where the Brahmin girl, the locantee act as a lord Shiva and with the stem of the bael fruit put the sindoor on the forehead of the ihi girl. The girl is offered milk, dahi, fruits and others. Kanyadaan, a hand of ihi girl is given to the hand of locantee to dedicate the girl to the lord. In return the ihi girl touches the feet of locantee and washes her feet. New clothes are offered to the ihi girl and three-fist ful rice. In some ceremony both the ihi girl and the locantee are carried by the brothers and made to move along the fire for three times. The pundit puts tika on the forehead of the ihi girl and thereafter other too joins to bless the bride girl. There is also tradition that the other family member and the relatives wash the feet of the ihi girl and drink the water of the feet. Food is offered to all the guests and the ihi ceremony end after this.

The bael fruit after the ceremony is kept safely or immersed to the river. It is considered bad luck if the fruit get damage. Since the girl have already wedded to the lord Shiva, after her marriage to another husband in her later years she shall remain unchanged even she becomes a widow. She shall always remain the wife of Lord Shiva at first instant.

An interesting tale has been found regarding the origin of the bael byah that says, it was during the time of Ranas, the dignity of the newari girls were under deep trouble. The Rana and his men used to follow the girls and look with lusty eyes. It was this reason for the newar to save their future generations they made a plan and married their children with the bael fruit. Since this fruit is considered holy and found single that they made the choice. The Ranas used to respect the married women so their inhuman attitude towards the newari girls also changed. Since marrying with a fruit saved the newari community for its existence the practice is still prevalent.

Newari Culture - Kayatapuja (Boys)

Kayatapuja or fixing of loin cloth is done to mark the attainment of puberty. Bajracharya and Shakyas perform the tonsure ceremony, Chudakarma. During this, one has to visit shrines and pay homage to Kwahpahdyoh and make offerings. After kayatapuja, Jyapus and Sayamis undergo Ohla (which is less practiced these days.)

Newari Culture - Busankha (Boys)

Busankha means shaving of hair. it is done at the age of 5 or 6. Shaving of hair is done by the maternal uncle of the boy, sister of the boy’s father holds the shaved hair. These days, busankha is done at the time of ‘kayatapuja’.

Newari culture - Macha Janko (The rice feeding)

The rice feeding is done in 6th or 8th month (in case of a boy) and in 5th or 7th month (in case of a girl). After worshipping Ganesh, the child is offered rice pudding with verities of food. It is believed that the child gets similar food throughout his life as the food offered on that day

Newari Culture - Birth

After child birth, it is informed to maternal home of the mother. It is done by sending sugar candy, nutmeg, ginger etc. After the birth, concerned family becomes ritually impure. They become pure after ‘Machaboo byanke’ tradition which is done on forth, sixth or tenth day after the child birth.

There is also a tradition of offering different kinds of foods from maternal home of the mother within a month of delivery, which is known as ‘Baji nakah wonegu’ or ‘ Machaboo swahwanegu’.

Newari Culture-Pre Natal

There are many pre natal rituals, however majority of those : pusawan kriya, simatopanayan, for example are no longer in existence. Nevertheless, Dhau baji nakegu (offering yogurt and flattened rice along with yomari, sweets etc) during pregnancy is still practiced by many castes.

Harisiddhi Jatra

Harisiddhi dance is believed to be Nepal’s first and finest mask dance. King Yog Narendra Malla provided 310 ropanies (15.527 hecters) of land for daily worshipping and 294 (14.725 hecters) ropanies of land for the festival of every 12 years so that, this beautiful dance could be continued. The 12 year tradition includes appointment of priests, coloring of masks, dress making, bringing of holy wood, regaining of divine power and the establishment of Kalash. It is well known that there is no any vocal and instrumental music and dramatic performance to that of Harisiddhi Naach (dance). The dance is fantastic still. In the past, the dance used to be performed for three months continuously. People were not interested or say, they had no time to watch a long period dance which resulted descend of its value. So, later on the dance was performed within a day accumulating the main events only. So, at present, there is difficulty in understanding the nature of the dance. Nowadays, the dance is performed just two times a year; first is on “Yomari Purnima” and the second on “Holi (Fagu Purnima)”. This day is the main festival of the local people when close friends and relatives are invited as guests.

Goddess Harsiddhi is established in the following places and she is worshipped as follows:

Ujjain India – Amba Maa
Dwarika India – Baishnavi
Gujarat India – Harsiddhi
Dolakha Nepal – Balkumari
Sita Paila Kathmandu – Harsiddhi Pith
Kwalkhu Patan – Tri-Devi
Dhulikhel Kavre – Tri-Shakti
Agnimath Patan – Maheswori
Thaiba Lalitpur – Jagdambba
Harisiddhi Lalitpur – Tri-Shakti
Nepalese first and finest mask dance is the dance of Harsiddhi. King Yog Narendra Malla provided 310 ropani lands for daily worshipping and 294 ropani of land for the festival of every 12 years. So that, this beautiful dance will be continued.

Animal Sacrifice

Five animals He-buffalo, goat, sheep, duck and a pair of fish is first managed to start this dance. He-buffalo confers by local government and the remaining is by the local people.

Animals are sacrificed in the middle of the dance by Bhairab and give drink the hot blood of those animals to main goddess first and then to Kumari and last Bhairab himself. At last their mouths are wiped by the bunch of flowers. Those flowers are believed very sacred and shared to the devotees. General people bring the animals to sacrifice in this time. They should leave 1/2 % of the animal to the temple and the next day the priests (2 or 3) should invite in own house. They bring the 1/2 portion of animal as Prasad.

Good food is served them and good by them with some money on 2 kilos of rice in a plate. Animal sacrifice is possible only in dance day by general people.

Harisiddhi Located in Various Places

The First Mask Dance of Nepal

According to the history of Nepal, the mask dance of goddess Harsiddhi is the "First Mask Dance" of Nepal. It is well known that there is no vocal and instrumental music and dramatic performance equal to that of Harsiddhi. The dance is very fantastic still. One can not satisfied with his first seen.

The combination of music with different instruments and the vocal which is believed the original voice of the god at that time is very charming.

In the old days, this dance is performed three months continuously. The people were not interested to watch such a long period dance and the value of it was going decreasing. So that the dance is completed within a day accumulating the main events of the dance. So, it is a little difficult to understand the nature of dance in a day, said the priest. No argument that the dance is very exciting. Now-a-days, the dance is performed two times in a year. First is at the time of "Yomari Purnima" and the 2nd is at "Holy Purnima". This time is the main festival of the local people and their closer friends and relatives are invited as guest.

Arrival of Harsiddhi from Phulchoki forest

During the mall dynasty, there lived a famous incantatory named Gayojuju (Yogendranand Rajopadhya), he could talk with god and goddess and able to get up the death body. He had started Gurukul School in his home. His pupils helped him in household as well as learning.

One day one of his pupils went to Godawari forest to collect some wood. He heard there a strange musical sound. He went ahead listening that sound. He reached the top of the Phulchoki forest and saw the strange scene. He was afraid and had gone to hide in a bush from there, he looked those strange scene that god and goddess came down from the heaven, performed dance with lovely music and departured. The events were continued for a day long. In the evening the dance was ended. He came from the bush and forgot that he was coming to collect the wood. He came back with empty hand. When guru asked him about the empty hand, he explained the description of events he had seen in the forest. The guru was also very surprised about that. The guru was curious to know about the events. Next morning the guru with his pupils went to the venue with full preparation. They looked all circumstances hiding in a bush. The guru banned the area by raw string with incantation.

God and goddess came down to dance from heaven. But they could not departure. All of them came down and dance but no one could departure. Then goddess Harsiddhi asked who did that? Soon, Guru came out from the bush and apologizes in front of the Harsiddhi and he did so because he was not satisfied yet to watch the dance. So, he prayed to get chance to watch the dance again. The goddess said that the management is difficult to perform that dance. When the guru promised to managed the required materials Devi agreed the promise.

The guru chantedly makes the gods to enter in drinking vessel, wraps the vessel with raw string and covered with grass. They came down from the hill carrying the vessel by a pupil. When they reached at the 9 taps (Nau Dhara – place name), bottom of the hill they liked to have a rest. When they reached at Thaiba (place name), they took rest and heard pig crying. Then Devi asked to departure from that place and taken near Harsiddhi village place called Sichako (place name) from that the travel continued to Harsiddhi village place called Niba (place name of Harsiddhi), ahead of 100 steps from that place Devi was established. Later the temple for Harsiddhi goddess is founded there.

Establishment

Harisiddhi village is named by the name of goddess Harsiddhi. In ancient, there were two giants named Prachanda. One day they went to the Kailash (the place of Lord Shiva). They hurt the gate-man Nandi. Lord Shiva knew it and remembered the Goddess Chandika. Goddess appeared immediately and killed those 2 giants in order of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was pleased and said," from this day you will be worshipped as Harsiddhi by the people".

Nearly 60 persons are needed to perform the dance of Harsiddhi from 60 families. Gathering those families Harisiddhi village was formed. They are almost from the Maharjan Newar Caste. This village is surrounded by 4 main gates. The villagers made 8 ponds, 10 wells, 7 taps, 4 small wells, 43 patis, 46 temples of various god and goddess and 12 big public grounds. The village was not allowed to enter with leather shoes as in Pashupati temple but the people felt difficult to obey this rule. So, the people did not follow this rule now.

Origin

The origin of Harisiddhi is in India. Indian emperor Bikramaditya is the founder of "Bikram Sambat" who came to Nepal and brought his beloved goddess Harisiddhi and establish in Baneshwor, Nepal. He started the dance of god and goddess. After some year, the dance is discontinued. At the Lichhabi dynasty 745 B.S., Goddess Harisiddhi is transferred to Harsiddhi village and started the dance. Again the dance is discontinued for some years. At the time of Amar Malla, the famous incantatory Gayojuju brought the disappeared dance and Yog Narendra Malla provided 310 ropanies land for the purpose of daily worship and 294 ropanies land to continue the dance.

In the middle of the village, the temple of goddess Harsiddhi is established. Instead of the recognition of "Bhairab, Harsiddhi and Kumari" three clay-pot with full of water are set in the temple towards west direction. This goddess is also known as Tri-Shakti, Tri-Devi, Maheswori, Amba Maa, Baishnavi and Jagdambba.

According to the main priest Tri-Bikram Jwalananda Rajopadhya, main goddess Harsiddhi is the creator of the world. She creates "Bhairab and Kumari" with her miracle power. So, she is also known as Tri-Shakti (three powered) goddess. According to Devi Puran (history) era 75 page no. 18, though goddess is imageless still with her miracle power, possess image and believed that she accept the public-pray if prayed with holy-mind and blesses the prayer according to their wish.