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Nepalese Indigenous Cultural Festival in Palpa Tansen, Palpa, November 6, 2008- ‘New Nepal’ for indigenous nationalities is to get to establish their own autonomous state and be able to decide for their fate and future themselves, said Defense Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa Magar ‘Baadal’ on Wednesday. Inaugurating the “Indigenous Nationalities Cultural Gala – 2065” here in Palpa, Minister Thapa said, “We want that kind of new Nepal in which indigenous nationalities will have their rights and will be the decider of their own fate and future with policies and regulations made and implemented by themselves. That is the indigenous nationalities ‘Dream of Loktantra’.” In a program, Minister Thapa expressed the message from Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ for the success of the indigenous cultural festival. Earlier Prime Minister Dahal was scheduled to attend the program. Conveying the message from PM, Thapa assured the establishment of that long-term peace in the country very soon which is longed by all Nepalese people for years. ‘Opportunists are attacking our national integrity by raising communal and regional conflict.’ Thapa said,’Tthey will crush every attempts that threaten the national sovereignty and integrity. Together we can overcome any obstacles so it is must for us to be united while respecting each others cultural differences and rejoicing it.” Addressing to the thousands of participants, Thapa expressed his wishes for the success of the indigenous cultural gala, “I hope the cultural gala will play the important role in taking indigenous nationalities movement in its height creating more understanding and unity among indigenous nationalities.” Minister Thapa also added that all political parties and government have to accept the indigenous nationalities rights and guarantee them in the new Constitution of new Nepal. Pradeep Gyawali, central member of CPN (UML) said increasing cold-relationship between political parties have delayed the Constitution making process and have disrupted establishment of long term peace process. Gyawali requested Nepali Congress (NC) to play creative roles for the sake of country and people while he also urged CPN (Maoist) to be very flexible in its role to keep the unity of the country and people. He said, “It is a must for the major political parties to co-ordinate with each other and form a high level of consensus in order to establish the achievements of Jana-Andolan 2062/63.” Commenting on the much-hyped army integration issue, also a CA member Gyawali said the integration is a must but should happen according to the Comprehensive Peace Agreement. He urged indigenous nationalities to continue their movement in order to ensure their rights in upcoming Constitution. “Until and unless the achievements of indigenous movement is written down in Constitution there is no guarantee of rights so, indigenous nationalities have to play very crucial role for the speedy constitution making process and establishment of long term peace process by giving continuous pressure to political parties and government,” he said. Central member of Nepali Congress (NC) Indra Bahadur Gurung urged indigenous people to keep their voice united in their movement untill indigenous nationalities are guaranteed in the new constitution. Similarly, M.S. Thapa Magar, President of National Janamukti Party and Constitution Assembly (CA) member complained that indigenous people have no qualified leaders to fully trust and follow. Thapa expressed his concern over the lack of budget from government for indigenous nationalities to study their mother-tongue language. “If government fails to separate budget for promotion and study of indigenous nationalities his party will not let Constituent Assembly run,” Thapa warned the present government. Director of the National Indigenous Nationalities Women Federation, Sangini Rana Magar said it was the need of time for indigenous nationalities to stick together for ensuring their rights in the new constitution. General Secretary of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) and CA member Ram Bahadur Thapa Magar, Ramesh Tamrakar of Newa: Dewa Debu, Hemant Prakash Oli, In-charge of Maoists Magarant State Committee, CA members Dal Bahadur Rana Magar, Lila Somai Magar, Kul Prasad Nepal, Rupa BK and Narayeni Sharma expressed that to ensure the political, cultural, social, and economic rights of the indigenous nationalities in the new constitution was an utmost necessity for all the political leaders to be united. On the same occasion, Minister Thapa accepted ‘Karuwa’as a token of love from organizers. Earlier in the day thousands of indigenous people rallied round the city with cultural jhaki before ending it at the Tundikhel of Tansen Bazaar, Palpa, the venue of the inauguration program. The energy of different cultural dances such as Sarange, Kauda, Kumal Kyali dance, Marooni and Dhanukaand dance, Topi and Cholo made of dhaka and powerful speeches from leaders had mesmerized the audiences for whole day. After attending the cultural program, Defense Minister Thapa had addressed government officials in Palpa Municipality office and met the press before he flew back to Kathmandu. The 12 day-long gala is organized by the Nepal Government’s District Development Committee and Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) District Co-ordination Committee, Palpa. The festival will conclude on November 13 informed the Gam Bahadur Thapa Magar, President of NEFIN, Palpa. -Smita Magar in Tansen, Palpa. Published: UsNepalOnline.Com --------------------------------
Indra Jatra Celebrated by Maha Raja to President Kathmandu, September 15, 2008- Indra Jatra festival began in the capital valley Kathmandu, Lalitpur Bhaktapur, Dhulikhel and Dolakha among other locations on Sunday, worshipping Lord Indra; the Hindu God the of rain and adequacy. The festival will continue for eight days with much rejoicing, singing, dancing and feasting. On the third day of the festival, the Living Goddess or "Kumari" is taken out in a procession in a chariot. Three chariots of Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairav are taken around the city for three days. On the last evening of the festival, the long wooden pole erected on the first day is lowered amid religious ceremonies and animal sacrifices. For the first time in Nepal, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav as the head of the state observed the traditional festival of Indra Jatra. In Basantapur, the president offered puja to Kumari and observed the chariot procession of the living goddess Kumari, Ganesh and Bhairab on Sunday afternoon. Last year, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala attended the festival in his capacity as acting head of the state. The festival is important in our religiously diversified country as it is celebrated with great enthusiasm by both the Hindus and Buddhists of the Newar indigenous community. The festival's other interesting dances, including the Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, and Dasha Avatara masked dances, are staged on the plinth of Narayan temple, just opposite the Kumari temple. Nepali historians believe that Shah Kings followed the tradition of Malla Kings in this festival to ward off any revolution from Newar community after Prithvi Narayan Shah; the first Shah King of modern Nepal who captured the Kathmandu valley in 1825. Published:UsNepalonline.Com -------------------------------
Memories That Last forever: Nepalese Indigenous Dances and Sports Kathmandu, August 15, 2008- I felt fortunate to be part of this year’s World Indigenous Day, August 9 celebration in Kathmandu. It was a most colourful event featuring many indigenous cultural dances, traditional ethnic sports and foods. Among the 59 indigenous/nationalities communities enlisted by government, 29 Nepalese indigenous communities participated in the cultural rally and event while other indigenous peoples joined with them shaking their legs. “It was a huge success as every indigenous community was so enthusiastic about showing off their unique cultural dances. That made this years celebration more colourful with different flavours from Himal, Hills and Terai indigenous people,” said Kabita Ale Magar, the coordinator of Cultural programs in the event. In the week long celebration many indigenous communities from Himal, Tarai and Hills showed their unique dances such as Gurung’s Ghatu dance, Magar’s Kauda and Sarangya dance, Thami’s Maruni dance, Sakela dance of Rai, Sunuwar’s Dhol dance, Barha Gau dance, Yolmo/Helmo dance, Majhi, Urau and Gangai dance from Terai and many others. The dancing was performed at the Dashrath Rangashala Stadium and once again proved that the the Nepalese indigenous peoples are the beautiful flowers in the garden of Nepal. While the unique indigenous dances from Himal, Terai and Hills were making people shake their legs in one corner, in another corner, a sporty atmosphere was making sports lovers go crazy, cheering and hooting for their respective communities’ volleyball players, Taara hanne and Thelo/Chhelo khelne. Magar community took gold medals for winning in both volleyball and Thelo/Chhelo (men and women). Thakali (A) took the gold medal and Chhantyal took silver medal in Taara Hanne (archery). For 6 Magar boys to hold on to a gold medal in volleyball was like chewing iron during their game with Tharu boys in the semifinal. But in their final game with Chhantyal (both girls and boys) did not have to sweat so much. Chantyal players (men and women) took the silver medal in volleyball. “Taara Hanne and Chhelo khelne were there to represent our indigenous/traditional games while volleyball was included in celebration as it is much favoured and loved by today’s youth in a way that represents today’s modern world. It showed indigenous people are not only following their traditional games and values but are equally up to date with modern values and games,” said Krishna Sherchan, the coordinator of Sports in the World Indigenous Day celebration. In this year’s Taara Hanne (archery) game Thakali, Chhantyal, Magar and Gurung participated. Bom Kumari Budha Magar, a culture expert says Magars celebrating Maghe Sakranti with Taara Hanne is an inauguration for hunting. “Magh month is a time of seasonal change which is better for hunting so for people who have hunting tradition, Maghe Sakranti is a day in which they not only open the hunt but also train the new generation in hunting skills,” explained Magar. In Chhelo/Thelo game, Janak Kumar Batha Magar from Dang (originally from Rukum) the national player in Chhelo game, took first position. Among women, Tara Pun Magar from Myagdi held the first position. Batha Magar was awarded 25 feet ‘pheta’ and a certificate as the award while Pun Magar was awarded with a Pashmina shawl and a certificate. “It always feels good to win, however, our new generations have potential to do better so we need to bring them from the villages and expose their talents in games for them to be motivated and get started”, Batha Magar added. President of Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities (NEFIN) Pasang Sherpa joining in the celebration of indigenous-hood in the World Indigenous Day said, “These unique and colourful dances and traditional games demonstrate our cultural identity and our survival skills. Through these celebrations we are not only being aware of different cultural dances and livelihood, but also promoting and preserving them.” This year’s World Indigenous Day was celebrated in Nepal for a week with cultural programs, sports events, food festivals and discussion programs where Nepalese indigenous people held their head high and celebrated for being indigenous nationalities. They not only shook their legs in different indigenous dances and let their loudest voices ring out while hooting for the players in the games, but they also brought their brains together to decide on the direction to follow to ensure that indigenous issues are addressed in the new constitution of Federal Republic Democratic of Nepal. -Smita Magar in Kathmandu Published:UsNepalOnline.Com -----------------------------------
Magars Celebrating “Bhumya” Festival with Prachanda Kathmandu, June 17, 2008- Magars started their three day celebration of Bhumya festival in Khulamanch, Kathmandu on Sunday after first worshipping “Bhumi” (soil/land) in traditional rituals conducted by a Magar priest. This Bhumi or Bhumya Puja, also widely known as “Bal Puja” among Magars, is principally celebrated every year in the northern area of Rolpa and in the eastern area of Rukum at the start of monsoon, on 1st of Asar in the Nepali calendar. Celebrating this year’s Bhumya festival were Maoist leaders Puspa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, Ram Bahadur Thapa Magar (Badal), Barsaman Pun Magar (Ananta) and Nanda Kishor Pun 'Pasang' along with other Magar CA members and hundreds of Magars. Addressing the gathering, Maoist Chairperson Prachanda thanked the Magar community for playing the most vital role in ‘People’s War’ to ensure equality among different ethnic communities, classes, language and culture in the country. “Magars have played the most significant role from top to bottom in the decade of People’s War to create the New Nepal,” he said. Prachanda announced that the new government will be formed within three days. But, he warned, nothing work out if there are attempts to reverse the agreement made with the People’s Liberation Army between Maoists and the then Government. The senior Maoist leader, Badal expressed his happiness at the successful removal of the monarchy. “However, we are not yet free because there is continuing interference from international forces that are creating challenges and placing obstacles in the way of a New Nepal, but through our unity and strong determination we will overcome these challenges,” he said. “We vow that as a Constituent Assembly (CA) member, until and unless our Magar indigenous nationalities and oppressed classes get their rights, an autonomous state with the right to self determination, our campaign, our struggle and fight for freedom will not stop,” he promised. In spite of heavy rain, these top Maoist leaders did not miss shaking their legs in the Bal puja music from madal, murali (flute), narsinga, jhyali and drums (dama). As local people of Rukum informed us online, the celebration in villages such as Sima, Kanda, Kinsi, Taka-sera and many others where the majority of Magars live started Bal Puja on Saturday. In Rolpa, the celebration begun on Sunday will go on for 3 to 5 days. Bal Puja is celebrated in different ways from place to place. Some places sacrifice a pig, in other places sheep or rams are sacrificed. In Gamkhola village of Rolpa, people sacrifice deer. “Young lads from village go to the jungle, hunt down a deer and then sacrifice it in Bal Puja,” said Bom Kumari Budha Magar, President of Athara Magar Bhasa tatha Saskriti Pratisthan (18 Magarat Magar Language, Culture Development Academy). “In Taka-Sera on the first day of Bal Puja, we clean our houses and surroundings. After people wash the sheep, they worship it with flowers and colours. Next youths drag the sheep through the village, finally taking it to Bisauna (chautari, sacred place where people worship) where they sacrifice it in the name of “bhumi” (land),” said Maya Buddha Magar, a local of Taka. While worshipping, villagers offer little bits of every new grain, fruits, and flowers produced in their field to mother earth. Whole villages celebrate the festival by gathering in the big recreational area to dance, sing and have fun. The special dance known as jhimkari or balku shyne in local Magar language is only danced during this festival. Men dance balpuja chala along with Paicharu/paisaru which has 22 different forms of dancing. Along with huge celebrations throughout this entire festival, villagers do not plough the field or touch the tools used for farming. Neither do they take grains to the grinding mill or water mill (pani ghatta or chakhi). Bhumi puja is celebrated to please mother earth by sacrificing animals in exchange for the human lives that are lost every year due to natural calamities, especially during rainy season. “From the ancient time when Gods and deities were not yet created, and when natural calamities occurred, our ancestors did not understand why tragedy took the lives of many human beings. The Magars, as indigenous community, responded by worshipping mother earth with sacrifice of animals to please her and not let her be angry with them. This is the story of how the Bhumi puja started,” said President of Magar National Liberation Front Nepal (MNLFN) Santosh Budha Magar. This festival is not only celebrated in Asar 1st but in many other different occasions such as in Baisakhe punni, Jeth Punni, Shrawon 1st, Bhadra 1st , Bhadra 12th and on Mangsire Punni according to times and situations favorable to the people. “Bhumi festival celebrated before monsoon is to pray to mother earth for good omen, and celebrated after Bhadra is like a ‘vote of thanks’ to her for protecting and looking after us,” said Bom Kumari Budha. In Syaulibang of Pyuthan district “Bhumi” festival is celebrated to thank mother earth for good crops and for protecting them and their livestock from natural calamities. “This festival demonstrates indigenous characteristics of the Magars while it also increases the significance of communal feelings and signifies the co-existence between humans and the natural environment.” Bom Kumari Budha said, emphasizing the need for its celebration. “During the People’s War our cultural identity suffered, so now we are initiating our practices to preserve and promote them,” said Santosh Budha. He told people that they will be deploying their cadres in different parts of the Magar region to revive the Bumya puja starting next year. The program was organized by Magar National Liberation Front Nepal (MNLFN). They organized the Bhumi Puja celebration last year at the same venue. -Smita Magar in Kathmandu Published: UsNepalOnline.Com -------------------------------- Two Must See Documentaries in Magar Culture -Smita Magar in Kathmandu Kathmandu, May 17, 2008-“Both documentaries have very good ethno-graphic presentations of Magar culture, focusing on Hurra and Maruni dance,” commented documentary expert Kanak Mani Dixit; Chairman of Film South Asia after watching two films on Magar culture organized by Nepal Magar Cultural Association, Kathmandu. Both were made by Magar women: “Hurra” by Kabita Ale Magar and “Hamro Riti Hamro Sanskriti” by Pratima Pun Magar. After the premiers Dixit said, “Through these documentaries we can say now Magars do not need other caste groups to help make films. There is enough skill right within the community.” “Documentaries on Nepali culture used to be made by foreigners for foreigners but these documentaries are made by Nepali for Nepali,” said Dixit. He added that these are must-show documentaries for Magar and other Nepalese communities as one avenue by which to appreciate the country’s cultural diversity. Media expert Narayan Shrestha commented on the technological presentation. “There are some technical problems to be corrected such as use of background music and camera angles, however, on editing work and conceptualization, these documentaries are very capturing,” said Shreshtha. In the same program, Sociologist Dr. Om Gurung said, “In this era when we are searching for our indigenous cultural identities these documentaries are both essential in reviving and protecting our cultural identities and also help in attracting our younger generation.” He also inaugurated the website of Nepal Magar Cultural Association: www.nmca.org.np. The documentary “Hurra”, 44 minutes long, is directed by Kabita Ale and is based on Hurra dance of Eastern Nepal’s Magars especially those who live in Mudhebas of Dhankuta District. “Hamro Riti Hamro Sanskriti” directed by Pratima Pun Magar focuses on the Mid- Western Magars life-style; Bhumya Puja and Marooni dance of Kotgau, Myagdi District. It runs for 38 minutes. The director of “Hurra”, who is also President of Nepal Magar Cultural Association, Kabita Ale Magar said, “Hurra dance is the most famous dance of Magars in Eastern Nepal and so we tried to explore the history and its way of celebration. However, due to some limitations we could not show as much as we would love to. Next time we will try to do better.” Pratima Pun Magar, director of “Hamro Riti Hamro Sanskriti” said she made the documentary on Bhumya Puja of Kotgau, Myagdi as she heard it is neglected by society and on the verge of extinction. “After filming it, I heard that village people have again started celebrating it,” she added with smile. Published:UsNepalOnline.Com --------------------------------
Locking horns in the hills By Smita Magar “Next year, I'm going to buy a bigger and stronger bull to win the award," said Rudra Bahadur Paudyal of Budhasing-6, Nuwakot. He was one of the participants of the unique "bull-fight" tradition celebrated on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti in Nuwakot. Despite losing the game on Tuesday afternoon Paudyal said, "This was my first participation at such an event. Therefore, I wasn't aware of all that was needed to win. But, next year I'm certainly going to be very careful and give my bull better nutrients, at least six months ahead of the tournament." Ironically, Paudyal got injured by his own bull, just when he arrived for the registration. "I couldn't miss this chance; I was very excited to participate and wanted to show that my bull was no less a competitor," he shared. Like Paudyal, every year when Maghe Sankranti arrives, the people at Nuwakot not only celebrate the day with traditional ghiu-chaku, but also make it a point to make the “bull-fight” a grand ceremony. This year was no exception either. Not only did the locals enjoy the event, some 2,000 neighboring villagers too witnessed the extravaganza. "As people from places like Dhading, Kathmandu, Syangja and Chitwan too popped in, we experienced many more spectators than what we had last year," highlighted Toran Kumar Shahi, President of Maghe Sankranti Fiesta Management Committee (MFMC). Along with those who seemed enthralled to witness the show, there were also a few who took it a malpractice in terms of animal rights. "It is a guilty pleasure," told Rajan Shrestha, a youth who had come to watch the bull fight from Batar, neighboring village of Taruka, Nuwakot. "Like anyone else I'm here to see how the event is conducted. However, though it has traditional values, I now realize that we human beings have become selfish to such large extent that we can go beyond limits for our pleasure and enjoyment," he added. Similarly, Purushottam Adhikari, an active member of Human Rights Organization of Nepal (HURON) had his own point of view: "I agree that it's one of the unique cultural practices. Nonetheless, it is also a heinous crime when it comes to animal rights. However, I don't mean that the tradition needs to be abolished; one can instead make sure that neither the bulls nor anyone else gets injured." According to the villagers the "bull-fight" was incepted in the district some 200 years ago. "Participating in a bull fight has always been an honor, a platform to portray class and status," said Jham Bahadur Pradhan, one of the elder members of the district. Till a few years ago the winners used to be felicitated with red tika and would be carried on shoulders and with a panche baja procession behind. However, this practice didn't last long as some people did not admire this act. Pradhan put in, "There's nothing wrong in organizing such events. After all, we need to preserve out culture." Along with a winning trophy, the winner of the competition also gets a hundred rupee. Published: The Kathmandu Post Posted on: 2008-01-17 01:55:27 ----------------------------------- Rakshya Bandhan
Today is Rakshya Bandhan (Protection-Bond) day. Whole day whichever channel I switched to there were programs on the importance of this day. Indian TV-serials were continuously broadcasting about the celebration of festival by showing the affection between brothers and sisters. The festival that celebrates the fond between brothers and sisters…Every year, sister ties a kind of decorated thread on her brother’s hand to make sure that her brother is safe from every evil thing. This also gives responsibility to a brother to look after his sister, protect her from any danger that might come on her way. A day that is celebrated to mark the protecting relationship of siblings, is not of my Magar community so is not celebrated by us. I had not even heard of it till I had come to the capital of my country. But, we too have other festivals that celebrate the bond of siblings! Therefore, this day which is celebrated in the same theme of my culture’s festival-“Maghe-Sankranti” brought back my memories with my brothers and I missed them! I have always considered myself as a lucky person because I am blessed with three big brothers and they are the greatest brothers of the world! They have named me with their favourite TV serials characters so I have more than five names. They baby-sat me and carried me on their back. Brushed my hair, even did my laundry. They were there to hold my hands when I was just learning to walk for the first time. They were there to teach me speak my first word then they were there to teach me how to write my first word. From the moment of my birth, they have been there for me…holding my hands and giving their tremendous strength, encouragement and support for me to walk in my life with dignity, dream and direction! Thank you brothers, for being there for me, always! (P.S. Thulo Da, Mahila da and Aju as you all are geographically far away from me right now, I miss you all. It would have been great if we were all in one place and had verities of greatly cooked food by our angel Bhauju with jokes and chit-chat that we used to have. Also on this day, I want to say how much I Love You and How lucky I feel to be born as your sister. I am proud of myself to be your sister. Thank you so much for being my brothers and loving me as you do!) Wednesday, August 29, 2007 Published: SINCERA |
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