Mohani
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Mohni | |
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Dasain |
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cb/Nalaswan_barley_shoots.jpg/200px-Nalaswan_barley_shoots.jpg)
Mohani or Mohni (
The festival has been variously described as a celebration of
Family events
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's tutelary deity is installed.
A week later, a family feast known as Kuchhi Bhoy (𑐎𑐹𑐕𑐶 𑐨𑑂𑐰𑐫𑑂) is held on the day of Ashtami, the eighth day of the fortnight as per the lunar 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), is
The next day is Chālan (चालं), which occurs on Dashami, 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.[4]
Community events
The Pachali Bhairav Jātrā is a procession held in Kathmandu to honor the deity Pachali Bhairav whose 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.[5]
The Sikāli Jātrā is a sacred masked dance festival which is held as part of the celebrations of Mohani. It takes place in Khokana, 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.[6]
In Bhaktapur, the masked dance of Nava Durgā is held.[7] 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.[8]
At a courtyard inside the old royal palace at
In
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 of Asan, 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 sacred Kumha Pyakhan dance used 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
The
Kite flying
Flying 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 with
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.[12]
Celebrations outside Nepal
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b3/Paya_lhasa_1950s.jpg/200px-Paya_lhasa_1950s.jpg)
Newar expatriates in Tibet used to celebrate Mohani like in Kathmandu, and they held the Paya procession on the 10th day of the fortnight. In Lhasa, the participants holding swords paraded around the Barkhor accompanied 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 like
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
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Taleju Temple, Kathmandu
See also
- Dasain
- Vijayadashami
- Durga Puja
References
- ISBN 9788129106858.
- ^ 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. Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ^ 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.
- ISBN 9788129106858.
- ^ "Sikali Jatra lights up Khokana". The Kathmandu Post. 11 October 2013. Retrieved 11 October 2013.
- ^ Manandhar, Jnan Kaji. "Nava Durga Dance - Bhaktapur". Retrieved 23 October 2013.
- ^ Teilhet, Jehanne H. "The Tradition of the Nava Durga in Bhaktapur, Nepal" (PDF). Kailash. pp. 82–98. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ISBN 9788120605527. Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ Shakya, Min Bahadur. "The Astamatrika Dance". Retrieved 5 October 2013.
- ^ "The Himalayan Times". 8 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
- ^ Tuladhar, Nirmal Man. "Kite-Flying Heritage in Nepal". Retrieved 4 October 2013.
- ISBN 99933-0-187-6.
- ISBN 978-99946-58-91-6.