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Mohani(Nepal Bhasa:𑐩𑑀𑐴𑑂𑐣𑐷 or𑐩𑑀𑐴𑐣𑐷; fromClassical Newar:𑐩𑐴𑐣𑐷,mahani),[1]also known asMoniorMohniis annual religious festival celebrated by theNewar peopleofNepal.[2]It is analogous toDashain,a Hindu festival celebrated inSouth Asia,although Mohani celebrated by bothHindusandBuddhists.The festival is based on thelunar calendarand starts on the first day of the bright fortnight ofKaula,around late September and lasts for fifteen days till thefull moon.[3]
| Mohani | |
|---|---|
 The Goddess Taleju, an aspect ofDevi,is worshipped during the festival. | |
| Observed by | Newar people |
| Type | Religious, cultural |
| Observances | Worship ofTutelary deity,Veneration of tools of the trade, Sword processions, Sacred masked dances |
| Begins | first day of the bright fortnight ofKaula |
| Ends | full moon dayofKaula |
| Date | the month ofKaula(October – November) |
| Related to | Dasain |
The festival involves a packed itinerary of religious services, pilgrimages, family gatherings and outdoor celebrations lasting several days. Special dinners known as Nakhtya (𑐣𑐏𑑂𑐟𑑂𑐫𑐵), to which all the relatives are invited, continue for weeks later. The festival is also dedicated to Taleju, thetutelary goddessof theMalla kings.
The festival has been variously described as a celebration ofHinduGoddessDurgaslaying the demonMahisasur,GoddessChamundadestroying the demon Chunda and Indian emperorAshokarenouncing arms in disgust after a particularly bloody battle and becoming aBuddhist.Mohani is celebrated according to thelunar calendar,so the dates are changeable.[4][5]The main celebrations last for four days from the 8th to the 11th days of the bright half ofKaulā(कौला), the twelfth month in the lunarNepal Eracalendar.
Etymology
editThe modern name of the festival, Mohani, is derived from theClassical Newarword,mahani.[1]According toGautama Vajracharya,the wordmahaniderives from theSanskritwordMahanavami,literally the ninth great day, which is the name for the ninth day and the most important day of the festival.[3]
Family events
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Mohani starts with Nalāswane (नःलास्वने), the planting of barley seeds, on the first day of the fortnight. The seeds are planted in sand in earthen basins and small bowls. This is done in the shrine room at one's home and at the Agam Chhen (आगं छेँ) the house where the family'stutelary deityis installed.
A week later, a family feast known as Kuchhi Bhoy (𑐎𑐹𑐕𑐶 𑐨𑑂𑐰𑐫𑑂) is held on the day ofAshtami,the eighth day of the fortnight as per thelunar calendar.Family members sit in a row for the feast with the eldest taking the place of honor at the top and the youngest at the bottom.
The next day, known as Syākwa Tyākwa (स्याक्व त्याक्व), isNavami,the ninth day of the fortnight in the lunar calendar. Sacred rituals are performed at the shrine room of the tutelary deity. People also make sacred offerings to their tools of the trade, weighing scales, looms, machinery and vehicles. The Taleju Temple located atKathmandu Durbar Square,Patan Durbar SquareandBhaktapur Durbar Squareare opened to the public on this day only, and devotees visit the temple to offer worship to the goddess, who is also the tutelary deity of Nepal'sMallakings of old. The day ends with another grand family feast.[6]
The next day is Chālan (चालं), which occurs onDashami,the tenth day of the fortnight. Family members go to the shrine room of their tutelary deity for a service. They receive bunches of barley shoots planted on the first day as sacred gifts. Dabs of red paste are put on their foreheads as a blessing.
Other ceremonies consist of chopping up an ash gourd painted with the face of the devil at the shrine house of the tutelary deity. In some localities, participants parade through the streets holding ceremonial swords aloft prior to the event. The procession is known as Pāyā (पाया). The festivities end with another family feast in the evening.[7]
Community events
editThe Pachali Bhairav Jātrā is a procession held inKathmanduto honor the deity PachaliBhairavwhose shrine is located at the southern part of the historic section of the city. The parade takes place on the fifth day of the fortnight.[8]
The Sikāli Jātrā is a sacred masked dance festival which is held as part of the celebrations of Mohani. It takes place inKhokana,a village to the south of Kathmandu, on the seventh day of the fortnight. The festival consists of dance performances and religious rituals, and continues for five days.[9]
InBhaktapur,the masked dance of Nava Durgā is held.[10]Nava Durga means group of nine goddesses who are believed to protect the city from external harm. Nine shrines dedicated to the deities mark the city's perimeter.[11]
At a courtyard inside the old royal palace atPatan,masked dancers representingAsta Matrikā(eight mother goddesses) reenact the victory of Goddess Durga over the demon Mahisasur. The performances were begun in the 17th century.[12]TheAsta Matrika Danceis also performed to remove obstacles in the city caused by bad spirits. Worshipping the eight goddesses is believed to bring good to the country and the people.[13][14]
InBunga,9 km south of Kathmandu, a festive parade of GoddessManakamanais held on the ninth day of the fortnight. A dance featuring a masked man riding ahobby horseis also shown, among other performances.
Asanbhalu Dyah Jātrā, also known as Annapurna Jatra, is held on the 11th day of the fortnight. An image of the goddess Asanbhalu Ajimā, the patron deity ofAsan, Kathmandu,is placed on a palanquin and carried around town accompanied by musical bands. The Asan Pāyā sword procession is also held on this day, with the youngest member of the community leading the parade. The day is the last day of Mohani for the locals of Asan, and is known as Asan Chālan.
The sacredKumha Pyakhan danceused to be performed at Durbar Square and Asan as symbolic protection of the image of the goddess Taleju when it is brought out of her temple during Mohani.
Music of the season
editTheMalshree dhun(मालश्री धुन) is played and heard during this time. The joyous melody is one of the six seasonal tunes in traditionalNewar music.
Kite flying
editFlying kites is the most popular sport that people engage in on the sidelines of Mohani. This is the season for flying kites because of the pleasant weather and windy conditions. Rooftops and open fields are crowded with revelers, and dogfights in the sky in which kite fliers try to cut the opponent's line with one's line are keenly watched. The kites are highly maneuverable, and are flown using a spindle. The line is coated withmājā,a sticky paste mixed with powdered glass to help cut the opponent's line.
The most common social belief regarding the tradition of flying kites is that kites go up to the heavens carrying a message to the gods to stop sending rain for the year. Another belief says that it brings prosperity to the family. Flying kites is also believed to be a way of communicating with one's ancestors.[15]
Celebrations outside Nepal
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Newar expatriates inTibetused to celebrate Mohani like in Kathmandu, and they held the Paya procession on the 10th day of the fortnight. InLhasa,the participants holding swords paraded around theBarkhoraccompanied by musical bands playing nāykhin (नायखिं) drums. They went to the Nepalese Legation for the ceremony where they chopped up a radish. After the ceremony, they returned to their own places in a similar procession.
There was another pageant in which the merchants carried a huge demon mask. The parade was led by a few men dressed in women's clothes. The Paya ceremony was also celebrated in other towns in Tibet likeShigatseandGyantsewhere there wereLhasa Newarmerchants and artisans.[16][17]
In recent years, with Nepalese migrating to various parts of the world to work or settle, they have been celebrating their festivals wherever they reside with community feasts and cultural programs.
Gallery
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Devotees at temple of Pachali Bhairav -
Taleju Temple, Kathmandu
See also
editReferences
editBibliography
edit- Levy, Robert Issac (1990).Mesocosm: Hinduism and the Organization of a Traditional Newar City in Nepal.University of California Press.ISBN9780520069114.
- Vajrācārya, Gautamavajra (2013).Frog Hymns and Rain Babies: Monsoon Culture and the Art of Ancient South Asia.Marg Foundation.ISBN978-81-921106-4-6.
Citations
edit- ^abMalla, Kamal Prakash (2000).A Dictionary of Classical Newari (Kamal P. Malla).Cvasa Pasa. p. 358.
- ^Levy 1990,p. 524.
- ^abLevy 1990,p. 543.
- ^Anderson, Mary M. (2005).The Festivals of Nepal.Rupa & Company. pp.142–155.ISBN9788129106858.
- ^Mitra, Kalyan (11 October 2013). "Mohani Nakha".Sandhya Times.p. 3.
- ^Hoek, Bert van den; Shrestha, Balgopal (July 1992)."Guardians of the Royal Goddess: Daitya and Kumar as the Protectors of Taleju Bhavani of Kathmandu"(PDF).CNAS Journal.p. 191.Retrieved4 October2013.
- ^Pradhan, Ishwar Man (2001). "Mohani".Jheegu Tajilajii Nakhah Wa Jatra[Festivals and Processions in Our Culture] (in Newari) (1st ed.). Kathmandu: Nepal Bhasa Academy. pp.40–52.
- ^Anderson, Mary M. (2005).The Festivals of Nepal.Rupa & Company. pp.156–163.ISBN9788129106858.
- ^"Sikali Jatra lights up Khokana".The Kathmandu Post.11 October 2013.Retrieved11 October2013.
- ^Manandhar, Jnan Kaji."Nava Durga Dance - Bhaktapur".Retrieved23 October2013.
- ^Teilhet, Jehanne H."The Tradition of the Nava Durga in Bhaktapur, Nepal"(PDF).Kailash.pp.82–98.Retrieved5 October2013.
- ^Wright, Daniel (1877).History of Nepal.Asian Educational Services. p. 245.ISBN9788120605527.Retrieved5 October2013.
- ^Shakya, Min Bahadur."The Astamatrika Dance".Retrieved5 October2013.
- ^"The Himalayan Times".8 October 2013.Retrieved8 October2013.
- ^Tuladhar, Nirmal Man."Kite-Flying Heritage in Nepal".Retrieved4 October2013.
- ^Bajracharya, Nhuchhe Bahadur (2001). "A Tibetan Odyssey". In Lall, Kesar (ed.).The Newar Merchants in Lhasa.Ratna Pustak Bhandar.p. 98.ISBN99933-0-187-6.
- ^Tuladhar, Kamal Ratna (2011).Caravan to Lhasa.Kathmandu: Lijala & Tisa. p. 89.ISBN978-99946-58-91-6.