Everything about sankhu- SHANKHARAPUR

Basanta Sangeet Mahotsav

2012-01-27T21:14:00.000-08:00

Basanta Sangeet Mahotsav (Spring Music Festival)

This morning Basanta Sangeet Mahotsav (Spring Music Festival) is began with huge participation with all the people around sankhu. Its is a great celebration and showtime of our local culture. In this early march pass we enjoyed seeing almost tradition of local place sankhu. Its shows sankhu is traditionally very rich place. We have our own culture and tradition. We have our own early development and settlement of society which need to continue..

Ropai Jatra in Sankhu

2011-08-21T05:10:00.001-07:00

Wa;pi jya pyakhan (Ropai Jatra ) is one of the best part of one week long cow festival. In sankhu we have one week long festival which starts from cow festival. There are so many types of festivals after cow festival. They all are good and give full enjoyiment to everyone of sankhu and people who comes to this festival. In Wa;pi jya pyakhan (Ropai Jatra ) nearly everyone takes part in another age-old tradition in which the participants dress up and wear masks or without masks also they dress up so differently. There is not age bar for this festival. The occassion is filled with songs,jokes, mockery and humour of every kind become the order of the day until late evening. Hence, Gai Jatra is a healthy festival which enables the people to accept the reality of death and to prepare oneself for the life after death. According to Hinduism,"whatever a man does in his life is a preparation to lead a good life, after death".

Ropai jatra at Inlla Tole

Shankharapur New Municipality in Sankhu area

2011-07-27T09:12:00.000-07:00

The government has declared 41 new municipalities across the country through the budget speech presented in the legislature parliament Friday.

The government restructured 161 Village Development Committees (VDC)s into 41 municipalities as per a recommendation from a panel led by Professor Surya Lal Amatya. The recommendation was made a decade earlier.

Three municipalities – Shankharapur in Sankhu area, Karyabinayak in Bhainsepati area and Champapur in Chapagaon area – have been added in Kathmandu valley.

The proposed Shankharapur municipality includes 4 different VDC's of sankhu area. 1. Pukhulacchi 2. Bajrayogini 3. Suntole 4. Indrayani.

The panel has made the recommendations on the basis of interaction with various institutions and persons and taking into consideration factors such as non-agricultural occupation, population density, electricity and water, roads, education, health, communications, industries, business, mobilization of economic resources, district headquarters, and governmental and non-governmental programmes.
To be declared as municipality, at least Rs 1 million annual revenue should be raised from internal resources in that area and there has to be population of at least 20,000 in municipalities of the hilly and Terai region and 10,000 in municipalities of the Himalayan region

Census 2068 in Sankhu

2011-06-27T10:10:00.001-07:00

In Nepal, like in many other countries, population censuses have been taken every ten years or so. Since the first population count of 1911, nine more censuses have been conducted so far. The earlier censuses of Nepal are considered less precise as compared to the modern ones. Four censuses taken before the 1952/54 census, for example, are considered “head counts” only. The 1952/54 census was taken in two parts of the country in two different years. Then a synchronized census was taken in 1961. After 1961, a census has been taken in every ten years. The last census in this series is the 2001 census.

Compared to the early censuses, the modern censuses of Nepal are becoming more popular. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 2047 (1990) has increased the importance of the Nepali Population Census. According to the Constitution, the number of seats in the “House of Representatives” from each of the 75 administrative districts is determined on the basis of the population census. The provision in the Constitution reads as follows:

"…the ratio of the number of seats allocated to any district shall be, so far as practicable, equal to the ratio of the population of that district to the national population, as determined by the last census preceding the concerned election…"

(Sub-article (2) of Article 45, Part 8 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 2047)

Although, for the purpose of the Constitution it might seem that head count is sufficient, the modern population censuses of Nepal are more than the head counts. They provide a wealth of information on the state of the population in the country. This paper presents a general perspective on the upcoming 2011 census of Nepal primarily based on the experiences of the last census of 2001.

Maha Sivaratri

2011-02-23T18:58:00.000-08:00

Maha Sivaratri or Shivaratri (Great Night of Shiva or Night of Shiva) is a festival celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha (as per Shalivahana or Gujarati Vikrama) or Phalguna (as per Vikrama) in the Hindu Calendar (that is, the night before and day of the new moon). The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiva, all day fasting and an all night long vigil. Cannabis is traditionally used as an offering for Lord Shiva and his followers. Per scriptural and discipleship traditions, the penances are performed in order to gain boons in the practice of Yoga and meditation, in order to reach the goal more swiftly and avoid rebirth.

Of the four Ratris (night), Shivaratri – one of the major Hindu festivals- is a night of fasting and prayer in honour of Lord Shiva. According to Hindu Mythology; Brahma is the creator, Bishnu is the preserver and Lord Shiva is the God of Destruction and thus is sometimes described as God of all Gods. The devotees in their prayer ask Lord Shiva to wash away all the sins they have committed.
Mahashivaratri is the night when Lord Shiva himself was created by his own divine grace. Hindus all over the world celebrate the festival with zeal and enthusiasm. The devotees from all parts of the country as well as neighbouring countries throng to Pashupatinath. Literally ‘the lord of animals’ Pashupatinath is one of the many forms of Lord Shiva.

Legend say, most of the devotees go to worship literally to wrangle with the God for their wishes to be fulfilled. In the dawn devotees take a holy bath in Bagmati river and then they have to stand in a long queue to enter into the temple for worship. Since early hours, the vicinity of Pashupatinath is seen bustling with the crowd of devotees and spectators.

One of the highlights during Mahashivaratri is the number of sadhus who throng to Pasupatinath, not only from across the country but also from the neighbouring countries. Different type of sadhus could be seen around who are one of the rare sights for many. This year, Marwadi Sewa Samittee along with other special welfare organizations has managed the accommodation of these people.

Maghe Sankranti

2011-01-14T06:56:00.000-08:00

Maghe Sankranti is the beginning of the holy month of Magh, usually the mid of January. It brings an end to the ill-omened month of Poush (mid-december) when all religious ceremonies are forbidden. Even if it is considered the coldest day of the year, it marks the coming of warmer weather and better days of health and fortune.

Observant Hindus take ritual baths during this festival, notably at auspicious river locations. These include Sankhamul on the Bagmati near Patan; In the Gandaki/Narayani river basin at Triveni near the Indian border, Devghat near Chitwan Valley and Ridi on the Kaligandaki; and in the Koshi River basin at Dolalghat on the Sun Koshi. Festive foods like laddoo, ghee and sweet potatoes are distributed. The mother of each household wishes good health to all family members.

According to Mahabharata, king Bhisma, who had the power to control his own death, happened to choose to die on the day of Maghe Sakranti. Therefore it is believed that one to die on this day might achieve Moksha, a release from rebirth cycle.

Yanyā Punhi

2010-09-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

Yanyā Punhi is a festival celebrated in Kathmandu, Nepal. The main attraction of the festival is the procession of chariots and masked dancers representing deities and demons.

Yanyā Punhi (Indra Jatra) is a holiday related to Hindu god king of heaven, Indra. The festival begins with the carnival-like erection of Yosin, a ceremonial pole, accompanied by the rare display of the deity Aakash Bhairab, represented by a massive mask spouting beer and liquor. Households throughout Kathmandu display images and sculptures of Indra and Bhairab only at this time of year. Finally, the Kumari, or virgin goddess (living goddess), leaves the seclusion of her temple in a palanquin and leads a procession through the streets of Kathmandu to thank Indra the rain god. Yanya Punhi is dedicated to lord Indra, the king of heaven. This is a week long festival which begins after the erection of Yosin, a ceremonial pole. The main feature of this festival in Kathmandu is a week long display of gigantic mask of Aakash Bhairab and procession of Kumari, the living goddess along with other two living gods Ganesh and Kumar.

Gunhi Punhi (Janai Purnima)

2010-08-23T22:06:00.000-07:00

Most of the Newar festivals have special foods to offer. Looking back at the festivals they celebrate, it is not so hard to find out that they celebrate every festival according the foods they produce. All the friends and families gathered around together and offer servings of the foods provided in different season in and they have different festivals for different foods they have. Likewise, the special menu for Gunhi Punhi is Kwati. Hence the day is also called Kwati Punhi, where Kwati is a soup of different beans and Punhi means the full moon day. Lots of Newars do put the yellow sacred threads around the wrists which are to be taken off on the day of Laxmi Puja, another festival in Tihar, about two months after this festival.

Composition of Kwati ( Traditional Soup )

Today, thousands of devotees worship Lord Shiva at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu and at Kumbheswor in Lalitpur and take holy dips in ponds and lakes. Religious fairs are held at Gosaikunda, an Alpine area in Rasuwa district, and at Dansangu Triveni in Jumla district to observe the festival with offerings of worship to Lord Shiva.

Gosaikunda

A big religious fair takes place at Gosaikund Lake. On the occasion, worshippers come from far places to take a ritual holy dip in the Gosaikund Lake and other nearby lakes.

According to time honoured tradition, people receive the "Rakshya Bandhan" thread tied around the wrist. The yellow thread is purified by the chanting of Mantras by Brahmins as a symbol of protection from fear and disease.

Raksha bandhan

On Janai Purnima, a full moon day, Bramhan ( High cast ) chant the powerful Gayatri Mantra and change their Sacred thread (janai), while a rakshya bandhan, a red or yellow protection cord, is tied around the wrists of other Hindus and Buddhists. Pilgrims journey to the mountains north of Kathmandu.

Gathe Mangal Chaturdashi

2010-08-07T19:56:00.000-07:00

Gathe Mangal (or Ghanta Karna Chaturdashi)

This fun filled festival of the Newar of Kathmandu Valley falls during the month of July/August. It is associated with the exorcism of the devil Ghanta Karna or Gathan-Muga demon. Effigies of the demon are erected at street crossroads. People place pots of cooked rice at such intersections for him. A man wearing black and blue paint all over his body goes about begging for money. At the end of the day, the effigy is dragged to the nearby river bank for disposal with the painted man sitting on it. To get rid of evil powers and the legendry demons people have been worshipping and offering sacrifices to demons, serpents and other supernatural and natural elements like wind, water and fire since ancient times. Ghanta Karna was a legendry demon who spread havoc among the people. This festival is held to commemorate the death of that demon.

On this day, people also wear metal rings called gathemangalko aunthi. The ring is believed to have the power to safeguard people from all ills and evil spirits. Before nightfall, the locals hammer three legged nails onto the door lintels to scare away the ghosts. There are various legends and myths attached to the Ghanta Karna devil that is revered as well as feared.

Gathe Mangal is one of those typical Newar festivals of the Kathmandu Valley. The valley is a kind of melting pot where people from different regions following various customs and traditions have come together and settled down since ancient days. Kathmandu was an urban town and commercial center even in the medieval days. This could be the reason why people are found observing one or the other kind of festivals throughout the year in the Valley.

On the day children erect effigies of the demon- Ghanta Karna- at cross roads. The effigy is called Gathe Mangal and it is made of bamboo, branches of plants and dry maze plant. When somebody passes by the side of the effigy the children collect fax, called, Jagaat, from him in the name of Ghanta Karna. If anybody hesitates to give the tax the children being to shout calling him the grandson of the demon -"see the grandson of Gathe Mangal coming!" People offer the effigy food and meat. Girls offer their thresholds to get rid of the evil powers.

Sithi Nakha

2010-06-12T09:20:00.000-07:00

As every country has its own festivals and way of observing them, these age-old festive-activities of course, form the culture of a country.

Thus, Nepal, being the land of heady mixture of unique culture, is also a nest of diversity where 70 ethnic groups with their own religious, cultures, languages and life-styles exist in harmony.

The peaceful coexistence of a multi-religious system and beliefs is one of the most fascinating aspects of Nepal.

Ethnic castes, festivals, social activities, traditional values are the lenses through which the culture of a country is brought into focus. Numerous festivals of Nepal show that she is rich in cultural heritage where festivals are dynamic, enthralling events for every foreign visitor.

Among those, Sithi Nakha (which is celebrated by the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley is to be celebrated on17th June- Thurs day this year)

Newar Community celebrated Sithi Nakha, traditional festival of the Newars by cleaning water sources just before the start of monsoon. Nakha by cleaning water sources like wells, ponds and stone-spouts and end it with a grand Newari feast of six different varieties of Newari food including Wo (fried lintel bread) and Chatamari (Nepali pizza). This festival is celebrated on the birthday of Kartikeya, son of Lord Shiva and Parvati, to welcome the rainy season. Houses, courtyards, streets and allies are also cleaned during this day. It is believed that cleaning such water sources will bring in rain for good cultivation of crops.

Jogi chakkar

2010-05-11T08:56:00.001-07:00

Water tanks for travellers

2010-04-18T07:39:00.001-07:00

Front view of water tank

Water Tanks for travellers

If we travel in sankhu we can find these kinds of stone tanks. As sankhu was the ancient trade route to tibet. At that time this place is the only route to easily get into tibet. So in some places of sankhu there must be water tanks and now a days also we can see the old sign of that. In above picture we can see the stone tank which is use to store water so that traveller can get water and fulfill your thrist during walking. In sankhu we can only find 3 water tanks in different part of sankhu. In above picture the stone tank is covered by cemented wall which is the modification. In the lower part of the stone tank we can see a hole which is use to get water from tank. From back side water is kept inside the tank. Every morning the person who get up early put water inside as it is beleive that his or her desire will get fulfull if anyone fill the tank. So people used to get up early in the morning to fulfull ur wants.

Bishworoop at Chalakhu sankhu

2010-04-15T11:12:00.000-07:00

This is the picture of god Bishowroop. This god is just next to the place where yoshin dyo is erected. This is the only face of the god. The whole statue is really beautiful and really well made. This is also one of the oldest statue in sankhu. The statue is in the small temple at Chalakhu tole sankhu.

Fall of Yoshin dyo

2010-04-15T11:03:00.001-07:00

Removing pataka(the symbol of snake couple)

History of Bisket Jatra in Sankhu

2010-04-13T11:05:00.000-07:00

The bisket jatra is celebrated in Bhaktapur and there is intimate relation with sankhu where some part of bisket jatra is celebrated on the same way celebrated in the bhaktapur. In sankhu also a symbol of serpants a big tree pole is stand in the memory of the dead snake.

Below picture shows the festival in sankhu is more than 400 years old. Some people of sankhu are trying to find the truth. So soon I will update about that.

( written about festival )

Biska Jatra (festival) Sankhu

2010-04-13T10:25:00.001-07:00

(Yoshin dhyo sankhu)

Bisket Jatra is Bhaktapur’s greatest festival and goes on for nine days. The festivity starts off with a raucous tug of war at the city centre between two neighbourhoods trying to drag the triple-roofed chariot of Bhairavnath to their own side. A ceremonial pole called yosin is erected on the city out skirts. The two strips of cloth unfurled from the top represent a pair of dead snakes in whose memory the festival has been installed. “Bi” in Newari means snake and “sika” stands for death, hence the Bisika or Biska or Bisket festival. It is a very colorful festival where three chariots dedicated to Lord Durga, Ganesha and Kumari circle Bhaktapur city. Masked dances are organized and many local feasts are held. People from Patan and Kathmandu also observe this festival at Bhaktapur.

According to the legends the snake who died was a tantric from sankhu who helped the king of Bhaktapur in his war against other neighbour countries in ancient time. In sankhu also we celebrate the part of festival which is similar to bhaktapur. This festival in celebrated by king on the memory of the tantric who helped him. The picture belows shows the pair of snake which is similar to bhaktapur.

Bajrayogini festival end for this year

2010-04-07T09:04:00.000-07:00

This year after spending 8 days in sankhu, goddess bajrayoni goes back to her place. All the people of sankhu participate with joy and full of respect for Bajrayogini.

Details of Bajrayogini festival

2010-04-05T09:47:00.000-07:00

The above picture contains about details of Bajrayogini festival. Its all about the 8 days festival details. Its in Nepali. Shortly it will be published in English also.

Today is the 7th day of the festival and known as Bau ya;. Today in the festival we give food for dead people, like ghost so on. Today we can come and night stay at sankhu. But we are not allowed to go out from sankhu for night stay to other places..

When the Bajrayogini festival Started??

2010-04-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

The Bajrayogini festival was started 3290 years ago. The festival is continusely celebrating every years for 8 days in Sankhu. The Bajrayogini Festival continues from Chaite Purnima, Full Moon day that lies in March or April of the Gregorian calendar.The Bajrayogini festival shows the importance of religious activities. According to the ancient manuscript Manishila Mahabdan , Sankhu city was founded by the order of The Goddess Bajrayogini (Vajrayogini ) 3300 years ago.

The fire which lite after main day of festival. To lite the fire should bring from Bajrayogini temple. Inside Bajrayogini temple there is the fire which beleived liting from the time of the establishment of the temple.

Main day of Bajrayogini festival

2010-04-02T08:23:00.000-07:00

Actually every day is important in Bajrayogini festival. But today we say mu; jatra. that means the main day of the festival. Today goddess bajrayogini is carried all around the sankhu on her chariot. Today is really the wonderful day. All the people of sankhu participate on carrying of goddess. Mainly youngsters participate on carrying of Chariot of Goddess Bajrayogini. They participate with full of energy.

Some moments as pictures from Bajrayogini festival.
I will post pictures of small size. If any body wants big pictures then please let me know through comments. leave email add.

Prime minister at sankhu

2010-04-01T23:38:00.000-07:00

The most awaited sankhu mahotsav is started. Today the inagruation of Sankhu festival by prime minister Mdhav Kumar Nepal. More deatails will be available soon.

Bajrayogini Festival started

2010-03-31T08:44:00.000-07:00

The greatest festival of sankhu is started. Every year this festival is celebrated for 8 days. This year this festival started from yesterday 30th March. During these 8 days we can see different kind of possessin of festival. As we see crowd in the festivals in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan here in Sankhu also we can see crowd. Although the population of sankhu is lesser in comparison to those big cities we can see enough crowd. Besides Newar people of Kathmandu valley other people from different communites also celebrate this festival. The speciality of this festival is that the festival is not just celebrated by Newar people but also celebrated by Tamang community of villages near sankhu with joy and honor . They also support this festival as their own. In other festivals in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Patan we really can't see such full partipitation by the people of other community. Mostly the traditional festivals are celebrated by Newar peoples only but here we can see different community. That show unity of people of sankhu as well.

Sankhu Festival

2010-02-21T18:52:00.000-08:00

Introduction and Programme

Sankhu (Shankharapur) is an ancient city. This is ancient city is located at the altitude of 1328 meters from the sea level and on east direction of Kathmandu 17 Kilometer far from the heart of kathmandu. This is a typical Newar Town. Mostly peoples are newars. And they have their own culture. Sankhu is an ancient but small too. The people of sankhu are mostly well civilized, and educated. At past also this place as well developed and as a country which as its own autonomus.

According to the legend and historic manuscripts, Sankhu village was created and settled for the service of Goddess Ugra Tara Bajrayogini by inviting residents of 7-8 villages in surrounding areas. Goddess Bajrayogini is the centre of beleive of thousands of Hindus and Buddhists. The main aim of the sankhu festival is to give information about sankhu and its all social and economical status to Nepal and all over the world.

something new

2010-02-14T07:55:00.000-08:00

This year sankhu is going to celebrate SANKHU MAHOTSHAV ( Sankhu Festival). The mahotshav is going to be held on the time of BAJRAYOGINI FESTIVAL(Jatra). For the success of that mahotshav people from sankhu are participating meetings. The meetings are about how to conduct the sankhu festivals in better way. People of snakhu and from around the sankhu are really excited about the coming sankhu festivals. They all want to make better so that we all can put forward the identity of sankhu to our periphery. As this is first time in the history of Sankhu. So we all are looking forward to the festival.

Shri Swasthani Brata Katha- at Salinadi

2010-01-29T09:30:00.000-08:00

Shri Swasthani Brata Katha is a popular ritual observed in Nepal in the Poush month (January – February) during winter. The ritual is dedicated to Goddess Shree Swasthani, a Goddess known to grant wishes of her devotees. The month long telling of the tales are dedicated to the Goddess and the stories that are mainly narrated are those of Swasthani Devi, Lord Shiva other Gods.

Goddess Shree Swasthani is usually portrayed as a four-handed deity with charka, trishul, sword and lotus in each hand sitting at the center while Asta Matrika or eight deities of power – Mahakali, Baishanavi, Brahmi Maheswari, Kaumeshwari, Barahi, Indrayani and Chamunda painted around her.

It is believed that Goddess Swasthani helped Goddess Sati overcome her troubles after she burned herself at Daksha Yagam after hearing her husband, Lord Shiva, being insulted. As per this legend Goddess Swasthani helped Sati overcome the troubles and then to reincarnate and win over Lord Shiva as her husband again.

During Swasthani Katha, Hindu married women observe brata or fasting for the wellbeing of their husbands and unmarried women observe the Vrata in order to get a good husband. Women wear red colored clothes and bangles during the one-month period as it is believed that red is a sign of good luck. The Brata is observed for one month by some women.

The month long rituals associated with Swasthani Katha takes place on the bank of rivers. In Kathmandu the festival takes place at Salinadi, a river associated with the Swasthani brata katha, situated in Sankhu. The holy river is know as Salinadi river where men and women worship Goddess Madhav Narayan.

During the holy period, in the morning or evening the Goddess is worshipped by family members, amid chanting of holy hymns from the book Shree Swasthani Brata Katha which narrates the divine leelas of Swasthani Devi. After the chanting of mantras stories are read by an elderly male or female member.

The stories mainly revolve around the theme – how some devotees due to ignorance take the side of Adharma and are later rescued by the Goddess. Some stories narrate who the goddess rescues her devotees. A major highlight in the stories is the prominence of Swasthani Devi over other gods in the Hindu Pantheon.

In the first few chapters of the 31-chapter book, episodes related to Lord Shiva’s wife Satidevi’s sufferings and her bearing them with courage and, eventually, Shree Swasthani rescuing her from her troubles and agonies, are explained.

During the Vrata period, after early morning shower the pooja of Shree Swasthani begins. In the evening chanting of brata katha or stories is a must. The routine shouldn’t break. It should go on uninterrupted for one month from the date of commencement. At the completion of chanting hymns, flowers and fruits are to be distributed among all those listening to brata katha.

On the concluding day of puja on a copper plate the holy symbol of Om is painted and a Shivling using mud is erected on it. Later, pooja of the Shivling takes place and this concludes the Shree Swasthani Barta Katha.

Most of people of sankhu have Swasthani Book in newar language with hand writtnen. So the story narration is little different in some places than new nepali language book.

Fasting at Salinadi

2010-01-10T08:59:00.000-08:00

Salinadi Festival ( Before The Saptami)

2010-01-10T08:52:00.001-08:00

The Madav Narayan Bartra is the festival of fasting for one month long is celebrating at sankhu salinadi. this is very famous Salinadi Mela. The total number of pepole fasting are 263. There are 239 girls and 24 boys.

During One month long festival all the devotes need to go various historical and other important shrine in Various part of Kathmandu valley; such as Pashupati Nath, Pharping, Panauti and Changu Narayan.

Above pictures are the part of Madhav Naryayn Mela. Actually some boys from the fasting have to roll all over the sankhu with their bare body on the special day known as Sapatami. These pictures are not from the main day. But they are practicing for the main day.

Salinadi

2009-12-31T19:51:00.000-08:00

Fasting women devotees congregate on the banks of the Salinadi River on northwestern fringe of the capital to start the month-long worshipping of Swasthani on Sunday.

Most of the Nepalese Hindu households have a tradition of reading out the Hindu scripture called Swosthani beginning on the full moon day called Milla-punhi (mid- January) in the bright fortnight of the month called Poush (mid-January) and ending on the next full moon day called See-punhi (mid-February) in the month of Magha in the Vikram calendar. This year, it starts on January 22.

Nepalis believe that reading out and listening to the Hindu scripture called Swosthani help them in keeping away evil spirits and inauspicious things from their home. Some women take a Swosthani brata (a day fast) for the whole month. They believe that such undertakings please Goddess Swosthani, and she meets their wishes. Goddess Parvati, believed to be another form of Goddess Swosthani, had undertaken such religious worship to achieve her goal of receiving Lord Shiva as her spouse.

People dedicate this auspicious month of Magha to Lord Shiva and his consort Parvati. They spend the whole month on in service of and in praise of this divine couple. A month long religious fair is held at the river called Salinadi in Sankhu about 20km northeast of Kathmandu. People venerate Goddess Swosthani and demigoddess Chandrawoti who suffered the consequences of the insult she had inflicted on Goddess Swosthani. Later on, Chandrawoti undertook the Swosthani brata for a month to atone for the sin and she got relief from her suffering and became a demigoddess.

Yomari Punhi

2009-12-04T06:49:00.000-08:00

Yomari Punhi -meaning full moon of yomari-one of the popular Newar festivals is observed every year during the full moon of December.A yomari is a confection of rice-flour (from the new harvest)dough shaped like fig and filled with brown cane sugar and sesame seeds, which is then steamed. This delicacy is the chief item on the menu during the post-harvest celebration of Yomari Punhi. On this full moon day, people of the Kathmandu Valley offer worship to Annapurna, the goddess of grains, for the rice harvest. Groups of kids go neighborhood to beg yomari cakes from housewives in the evening. Sacred masked dances are performed in the villages of Hari Siddhi and Thecho at the southern end of the Valley to mark the festival.

The Newars, upon munching a mouthful of yomari, a sweet dish, await the end of their four days of devotion of god, following which they will be blessed with wealth, according to their belief. The people prepare yomaris, in the form of gods and goddesses such as Kumar, Ganesh, Laxmi and Kuber. In keeping with the culture, parents bless children from two to twelve years who are then offered yomaris. The children on the other hand perform the customary song and dance and ask for food and other gifts from the elders during the festival.

The festival is said to have started from panchal nagar(present day Panauti). Myth has it that Suchandra and Krita, a married couple, first experimented with fresh yield of rice from their field. And what took shape turned out came to be known as yomari. The new delicacy was eventually distributed among the villagers. As the food was liked by all, the bread was named yomari, which literally means 'tasty bread'. The myth further states that on the same day the couple offered the god of wealth, Kuber, the new delicacy, who was passing by in a disguise. Following this Kuber disclosed , his real identity and blessed the couple with wealth. He also declared that whoever will prepare yomari in the form of gods and goddesses on the full moon of December and observe four days of devotion to god, will get rid of poverty. The festival is celebrated on the second day when prayers are offered during which the yomaris are stored and not eaten on that very day. On the fourth and the final day the people belonging to the Newar community consume the sweet bread as a gift from gods and this practise also marks the end of the festival.

Melamchi Kathmandu Fast-Track

2009-11-10T06:45:00.001-08:00

Melamchi is a village in Sindhupalchok District in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 3836 and had 710 houses in the village.

Melamchi is ony 32 Km far from sankhu. So if road are good then it only takes 1 hour. So that is also we can say fast tract to Kathmandu- melamchi. In past the way to Melamchi goes from Banepa. If we have to go to Melamchi then it will take whole day. But now new road although it is not good but we can reach to melamchi within 2 hours.

Chauki Bhanjyang- Pauwa

2009-11-10T06:36:00.000-08:00

Sankhu is beautiful. It is a truth. Sankhu is rich in culture and resources. This ancient City was a trade rute for tibet. It has its own rules and regulation. It was a country with autonomas. It was developed and life standard of sankhu was not backward than Kathmandu, Bhaktapur and Lalitpur in Lichhavi Rhyme. But after that period the sankhu remained same. Nothing really changed. From Sankhu NagarKot is only 12 Km far. Nagarkot is famous for sunrise view and Himalayas. Every year there are lots of people come to Nagarkot. ChaukiBhanjyang is only 8 Km far from Sankhu. From this place also we can see Himalayas.

Nepal Sambat 1130 begins

2009-10-19T08:48:00.000-07:00

Nepal Sambat (NS) 1130 has begun, Monday. Nepalis, particularly of the Newar community, are observing the beginning of the new year with various programmes.

A rally was organised from Basantapur at 7 am, this morning to mark the coming of the new year. Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal will address the the gathering to be organised after the rally.The participants of the rally also demanded NS be used for the national calendar. Last year, the erstwhile UCPN (Maoist) -led government had pledged it would announce the use of NS officially for national calendar.

However, no decision has been taken to this effect till date.

President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala, Rastriya Janashakti Party chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa and other leaders have issued New Year messages wishing all Nepalis a happy and prosperous year ahead.

NS was started by Shankhadhar Shakhwa 1130 years ago by freeing the poor peasants of Thimi from the credit they owed to landlords.

It was used for national calendar till NS 888 until the erstwhile government decided to use the Bikram era in 1960 BS.

People of Newar community worship their bodies on the first day of the new year, a rite known as 'Mha Puja

Nepal Sambat

2009-10-19T08:39:00.001-07:00

Nepal Sambat (Nepal Bhasa: नेपाल सम्बत) is the national lunar calendar of Nepal. It was used whole over Nepal in Medieval Nepal and early part of modern Nepal till Chandra Sumsher decided to remove it in BS 1960. It was started in 880 AD during the reign of King Raghav Dev to commemorate the pay back of all the debts of Nepalese people by a Nepalese called Sankhadhar Sakhwa. Local legend has it that he raised the funds through alchemy, turning the sand of the Bagmati river to gold dust. Gregorian calendar is also widely used due to it international acceptance and Nepal Sambat has its own special relevance for Newars living in Nepal. Nepal Sambat is one among few of the native calendars to Nepal.Most of others either passed over the time or only maintain existence in the religious calendars called Patro.

Structure

Nepal Samvat , a lunar calendar, is a variant of "saka sambat" a Hindu calendar with main difference being, Nepal sambat lags saka sambat by 802 years. It consists of 354 days per year due to the fact lunar month has 29 or 30 days based on the movement of the moon. So it necessitates a month adhik mas to be added every third year. This calendar came into being and into official use during the reign of king Raghabdev, immediately after the completion of the Saka Samvat 802 (on 20 October 879 AD). The year 804 was approaching within a year and according to legend, his decision was guided by his fear of number 804, that some people still believe, brings misfortune. People with traditional belief still try to escape with number 8 that comes together with 12 (in Nepali -ath barha). Doing math correctly,804 adds up to 12 and 804 means 8 along with 12.

Nepal Samvat is a unique calendar in the sense,all other calendars are named after some rulers or religious leaders. Nepal Samvat is the only calendar which is named after a country. This calendar is said to have been introduced by a common subject Shankhadhar Sakhwa by clearing on his own all debts owing to the state by the then subjects of Nepal. This calendar was in continuous official use Nepal (and not just in Kathmandu valley as is widely thought) and had significant influence to be mentioned in the documents of Tibet, China, and kingdoms of northern India. After the unification of Nepal, under the Shah rulers, the calendar was in use as is evident by Sugauli Treaty. In 1903 AD, Rana prime minister Chandra Shamsher replaced Nepal Samvat with the Bikram Samvat, a Lunisolar calendar, which is in use as the official calendar in Nepal till date. Since the founder of the Nepal Samvat, Sankhadhar Sakhwa has been recognized as a national hero of Nepal. Nepalese people especially, inside Kathmandu Valley,are also demanding to preserve as well as reintroduce the Nepal Samvat as Nepal's official calendar.

Year 2000 AD refers to year 1120 in Nepal Sambat, or 2057 in the official Bikram Sambat calendar.

This calendar was widely used in official use during the Malla period in Kathmandu valley. After the unification of Nepal, Saka sambat took ground and later on, during the premiership of Chandra SJBR Bikram Sambat were recognized for official use. This calendar, Nepal sambat, is being revived, especially in Kathmandu valley, over the last 3 decades. Moreover, the calendar was widely used by Newars for cultural and religious purpose inside the Kathmandu because of its relation with festivals Jatra that are celebrated in Valley

Lumbini- birth place of Bhddha

2009-10-19T08:36:00.000-07:00

Lord Buddha, the symbol of peace and the light of Asia was born here in Lumbini in 623 B.C.. The main attraction of Lumbini, the sacred garden is spread over 2.36 sq. km., which possesses all the treasures of historic areas. The Ashokan Pillar, carrying an inscription identifying the holy site as the birthplace, is situated in the sacred garden, next to Ashokan pillar is the Mayadevi temple, which houses a base relief depicting the nativity sculpture. In 1996 excavations have discovered a piece of a stone that indicated the exact spot of birth of lord Buddha, Puskarni - the Sacred pool, where queen Mayadevi, the lord Buddha's mother took a holy bath before the birth, lies to the south of the pillar. As a global initiative to promote Lumbini as center for world peace, many countries have constructed temples, monasteries and stupas in the International Monastic Zone.

Dashain's Tika and Jamara

2009-09-29T08:54:00.000-07:00

On the seventh day, Fulpaati, the town of Gorkha sends an offering of flowers to Kathmandu. A band associated with the army also plays its music and goes through the old core of Kathmandu.

The eighth day, Asthami, is the day of sacrifices. Goddess temples all over the Kathmandu Valley receive sacrifices, ranging from goats and buffaloes to ducks and chickens. Blood, symbolic for its fertility, is offered to the goddesses. This meat is taken home and cooked as "prasad", or food blest by divinity. This food is offered, in tiny leaf plates, to the household gods, then distributed amongst the family. Eating this food is thought to be auspicious.

Sacrifices continue on Navami, the ninth day. Families will visit various temples around the Kathmandu Valley. On the tenth day, "Dashami," a mixture of rice, yogurt and vermillion will be prepared by the women. This preparation is known as "tika". Elders put this on the forehead of younger relatives to bless them with fertility and abundance in the upcoming year. The red also symbolizes the blood that ties the family together. Elders will give "dakshina", or a small amount of money, to younger relatives at this time. The tika continues for five days, during which time people also gather to play cards around massive amounts of food and drink.

In several parts of Nepal, Dashain is the only time of the year when people receive a set of new clothing. Likewise, in poorer families, the animal sacrifice was eagerly anticipated since it might be the only animal protein the family would eat all year. This may be true in certain parts of Nepal where food is in low supply, but is less so in the cities. In general, the tradition of sacrifice is lessening with the easy availability of meat for daily consumption, and with the influences of Vaishnav Hindus (who are vegetarian).

In recent times, Dashain has become commercialized, with industries sponsoring events around the festival to sell goods.

Dashain this year falls on September 28, 2009.

Dashain

2009-09-29T08:48:00.001-07:00

Dashain (दशैं) is the 10-day national festival of Nepal, and a state festival of Indian states of Sikkim and the Darjeeling district of West Bengal. It is also a national holiday in Bhutan. Now it is celebrated all around the world by the Nepalese diaspora. The festival falls around September-October, after the rice harvest. This festival is known for emphasis on family gatherings, as well as on a renewal of community ties. People will return from all parts of the world, as well as different parts of the country, to celebrate together.

The festival is a blend of Hindu Tantrik and animistic harvest festival traditions. On the first day, called Ghatasthapana, the "Dashain Ghar", or special worship room, is set up—this room is used to worship the Astha-Matrikas (the 8 tantrik goddesses) as well as the Nava Durgas (the 9 durga goddesses), to whom the festival is consecrated. Married women will say the mantras for the next fifteen days, and guard the goddesses. Barley is sowed on big earthern pots which have a coating of cow dung. These seeds will sprout in ten days. The sprouts, which symbolize a good harvest, will be decoratively placed on the heads of family members later on in the festival as a blessing.

Tika (In red color) and Jamara (green color) used in Dashain.

Stairway to Bajrayogini- Sankhu

2009-09-25T06:58:00.000-07:00

Stairway to Bajrayogini Temple- Sankhu

This stairway is in Sankhu. Last stairway to Bajrayogini. As Bajrayogini is on hill everyone has to climb through stairway from sankhu. Among lots of stairway this one is the last one. Which contains 108 steps.

Evergreen Farewell

2009-09-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

Evergreen Higher Secondary School is not a new name for the people of Sankhu and surrounding. This is a private school which promises to give better education to the people Sankhu and surrounding. Today on the occation of Great Nepali festival Dashain this school organised a programme. The farewell and Felicitaion Ceremony to +2 and Greeting exchange and welcome programme to new comers grade 11. The programme was really fabulous. We all can see the effort of School team. All are really excellent. All the teachers, staff and students showed their effort.

Everyone can sense their effort. We all need to wish them on the auspicous occation of Dashin. As they are doing something which really help to boost the education level of the people of sankhu and surrounding. That effort definately will bring the positive result to give better education in this place.

History of Newar People

2009-09-19T10:53:00.001-07:00

History (इतिहास)

The different divisions of Newars had different historical developments before their arrival in the Kathmandu valley. The common identity of Newar was formed after their arrival to the valley. Until the unification of Nepal, with the possible exception of the Muslims under Gayasuddin who attacked and destroyed many parts of the valley, all people who had inhabited the valley at any point of time were either Newar or were progenitors of Newar. So, the history of Newar correlates to a great magnitude to the history of Kathmandu valley prior to the Unification of Nepal.

The earliest known history of Newar and Kathmandu valley were recorded in the form of mythical scriptures. One of such texts which even accounts the creation of the valley is Swayambhu Purana.

Swayambhu Purana
Swayambhu Purana is a Buddhist scripture about the origin and development of Kathmandu valley. Swayambhu Purana gives detail of all the Buddhas who came to Kathmandu..... According to Swayambhu Purana, the Kathmandu valley was a giant lake called Nagdaha until the Bodhisattva Manjushree, with the aid of a holy sword called Chandrahrasa, cut open a part of southern hill of Kachchhapala and then cut open Gokarna daha and drained the giant lake, allowing humans to settle the valley land. This apocryphal legend is supported by some geological evidence of an ancient lakebed and it provides an explanation for the high fertility of Kathmandu valley soil. According to Swayambhu Purana, Manjushree then established a city called Manjupattan (Sanskrit: land established by Manjushree), now called Manjipa, where he crowned Dharmakara as the king of the land. A shrine dedicated to Manjushree is still present in Majipa.

No recorded historical document has been found after this era till the advent of Gopal era. A genealogy of emperors is recorded in a book called Gopal Raj Banshawali. According to this manuscript, Gopals were followed by Mahispals, and Kirats before Licchavis entered from south. Some claim Buddha to have visited Nepal during the reign of Kirat emperor Jitedasti.

The Licchavi Licchavi (लिच्छवी )

Licchavi was an ancient republic which existed in what is now Bihar state of India, since the birth of Mahavira , and later a kingdom in Nepal which existed in the Kathmandu Valley from approximately 400 A.D to 750 A.D....dynasty ruled for at least 600 years, followed by the Malla dynasty in 12th century AD. Nepal Bhasa script is estimated to be at least 1200 years old. Nepal Bhasa inscriptions in an ancient manuscript, Nidan, from 901 AD and on a stone tablet from 1173 AD in the courtyard of Bajrayogini Temple.

Bajrayogini Temple

Bajrayogini Temple is a famous Tantrik temple of Kathmandu valley. It is also well known as Bodhisattva's temple.A very famous temple of Nepal of Bajrayogini situated in Sankhu, Kathmandu is supposed to have the greatest power of blessings....at Sankhu

Sankhu (सांखू)

Sankhu is a Village Development Committee in Kathmandu District, Nepal in the Bagmati Zone of central Nepal. At the time of the 1991 Nepal census it had a population of 2097 residing in 353 individual households...., attest to the deep roots of Newar culture in the Kathmandu

Kathmandu
Kathmandu is the Capital and the largest metropolis city of Nepal. The city is situated in Kathmandu Valley that also contains two other cities - Patan, Nepal and Bhaktapur....valley.

Newar reign over the valley and their sovereignty and influence over neighboring territories ended approximately 250 years ago with the conquest of the Kathmandu

Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the Capital and the largest metropolis city of Nepal. The city is situated in Kathmandu Valley that also contains two other cities - Patan, Nepal and Bhaktapur....valley in 1769 by the Gorkhali Shah dynasty founded by Prithvi Narayan Shah

Prithvi Narayan Shah

Prithvi Narayan Shah, King of Nepal was a Nepali nobleman. He was the ninth generation descendant of Dravya Shah , the founder of the ruling house of Prithbinarayan..... Newars were engaged in business between Tibet and Moguls in India. So, to affect the Mogul empire's treasury, British East India Company supplied weapons and advice to Prithvi Narayan Shah who in return would conquer kathmandu valley and put an end to the trade between Tibet and Moguls of India. Systematic brutal suppression of newar people was pursued for generations during early shah dynasty rule in order to discourage newar people from any political aspiration.7

The Newar maintain a highly literate culture and their members are prominent in every sphere, from agriculture, business, education and government administration to medicine, law, religion, architecture, fine art, and literature. There is a wide acceptance of the fact that Newar architects may have been responsible for developing Asia's hallmark multi-tiered pagoda

Pagoda

A pagoda is the general term in the English language for a tiered tower with multiple eaves common in China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and other parts of Asia....architecture. Newar devotional pauba (and thanka) painting, sculpture and metal craftsmanship are world-renowned for their exquisite beauty. The fine temples and palaces of Kathmandu

Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the Capital and the largest metropolis city of Nepal. The city is situated in Kathmandu Valley that also contains two other cities - Patan, Nepal and Bhaktapur....

, Patan and BhaktapurBhaktapur

Bhaktapur , also Bhadgaon or Khwopa is an ancient Newar town in the east corner of the Kathmandu valley, Nepal. It is located in Bhaktapur District in the Bagmati Zone....

are largely the product of Newar architects, artisans, and sculptors. Now however the enterprising Newars are spread across Nepal, Bhutan, State of Sikkim and the District of Darjeeling in India.

VALLEY DESTINATIONS- Sankhu- Shankharapur

2009-09-17T10:58:00.000-07:00

Sankhu. Sankhu is a sleepy town beneath the Gum Bihar religious complex. Within the complex is the temple of Bajra Yogini built in the 17th century. The area has been an important religious site since the 4th century and has excellent woods and bird-life as well as charming monkeys and pigeons in the temple area. Visitors may wish to bike up to Nagarkot and come down biking to Sankhu.

The ten Avatars-HIndu

2009-09-17T10:22:00.001-07:00

The scriptures speak of the 10 Avatars of Vishnu – different incarnations that take the form of divine intervention provided by Vishnu during the various stages of human evolution. The “dasavatara” (ten avatars) is meant to re-establish dharma or righteousness and destroy tyranny and injustice on earth.

The ten Avatars are:

1. Matsya (the fish)

2. Koorma (the tortoise)

3. Varaha (the boar)

4. Narasimha (the human-lion)

5. Vamana (the dwarf)

6. Parasurama (the angry man, Rama with an axe)

7. Lord Rama (the perfect man, king of Ayodha)

8. Lord Krishna (the divine statesman)

9. Balarama (elder brother of Krishna)

10. Kalki (the mighty worrior)

The last Avatar is yet to appear, and in many versions of the mythology, the ninth incarnation is mentioned as Lord Buddha.

A Cosmological Necessity

The legend of the Avatar, like all myths, is prophetic, says Cosmologist and Astrologer Robert E Wilkinson. According to him: "It is not a mere allegory but an archetypal story describing the incarnations or emanations of living and conscious evolutionary forces. The appearance of the Avatars is also not a random event but a cosmological necessity. The periodic manifestation of the Avatars is determined by their inherent association with the 'Time-Spirit.' They take birth at particular points in the cosmic cycle which correspond to the earth's passage through the zodiacal ages as described in the Rig Veda."

Establishing Order on Earth

In his “Myth=Mithya: A Handbook of Hindu Mythology,” Dr Devdutt Pattanaik, one of India’s most popular mythologists, writes about the Avatars of Vishnu: “Every time dharma is threatened Vishnu mounts his eagle, the mighty Garuda, and comes to earth ready to do battle. The descents of Vishnu from Vaikuntha to earth are his avatars or incarnations. The form in each descent is different because the demands of the world each time are different. The different avatars thus reinforce the idea that rules and regulations that maintain order are not static by nature. They are forged when the demands of desire clash with the quest for order. As man's understanding of the world changes, desires change and so do concepts of order. Rules have to therefore constantly adapt themselves. Social stability must not be compromised, yet new ideas must be respected. Vishnu's descents are not just about reestablishing order. It is also about redefining them."

Role of the Goddess

Dr Pattnaik adds: "Each avatar of Vishnu involves a crisis involving the Goddess. Vishnu takes the form of a turtle to help the Devas churn Lakshmi out, the form of a boar to rescue the earth that have been dragged under the sea, the form of Rama when Sita is abducted and the form of Krishna to help Draupadi. Thus the Goddess is the embodiment of nature and culture. She is the kingdom and Vishnu is the king. She is Bhoodevi and he is Shripati. Both validate each other, she by giving him powers of kingship and he by defending her."

Heritage Conservation Projects

2009-09-14T08:54:00.000-07:00

Sankhu as an ancient town consists numerous historical monuments. In the past, wealthy individuals, religious groups or families used to build such monuments to obtain religious merits. However, as they lost the sources of income these monuments are now left without maintenance, so many of them are in dilapidated condition. Most recently, the NGOS working in sankhu and INGO from different countries are taking responsibility of conservation of heritage of the town. The NGOS and INGOS are a non-government organisation, the main aims of these INGOS and NGOS are to enhance rural development through self-awareness among the people of the community and to activate them to put collective efforts into socio-economic development, environmental protection, human resource development and heritage conservation. It assists in improving situation of women by encouraging their participation in all its activities. The primary resources of NGOS are are donation from different countries and people who really want to help countris like Nepal. The foreingner and Countries believes that the development process will only be successful through participation of the community. Working areas of the INGOS are Sankhu and its surrounding villages.

In the past years, the Friends of Sankhu has completed five major heritage conservation works in Sankhu. The most interesting thing about heritage conservation in Sankhu is that every project carries with it a sequel again, and that the path taken now is turning this small town already into a concentration point of Dutch efforts at cultural preservation and its spin-offs. In its efforts in carrying out heritage conservation in Sankhu besides local people’s supports the Friends of Sankhu have received financial support from the Royal Netherlands Consulate (SNV-Nepal KAP, a short Embassy project), the Royal Netherlands Embassy Neda, the Government of the Netherlands, the VNN-Netherlands-Nepal Association (Vereniging Nederland-Nepal) CORDAID, Seva Foundation the Netherlands and Wilde Ganzen, the Netherlands. Local Government organisation Vajrajogini VDC supported it financially and in each instance FoS was able to mobilize community participation.

Heritage Conservation in Nepal: the case of Sankhu

2009-09-14T08:51:00.000-07:00

The town of Sankhu

Sankhu is an old and historical trading town situated about 17 km northeast of Kathmandu on the ancient trade route to Tibet. The foundation of the kingdom of Sankhu is attributed to the goddess Vajrayogini, whose shrine is located in the forest above the town of Sankhu. The temple of Vajrayogini is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists and Hindus alike. The yearly festival of the goddess is also the main event in Sankhu's ritual cycle. According to the legend Manisailamahavadana, Vajrayogini instructed the priest Jogdev and the first king Sankhadev to build the town of Sankhu in the shape of a conch shell. The oldest inscription found in Sankhu is dated 538 AD.

After the opening of alternative trade routes to Tibet the town lost in importance. Nowadays Sankhu is a mainly agricultural town, which offers a medieval sight in spite of its proximity to Kathmandu. Sankhu’s surrounding villages; Lapsephedi and Nanglebhare Village Development Committees are the most remote and backward areas of Kathmandu.

Newar Music

2009-09-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

Newar Music

The Newars are very much rich in traditional, classical and folk music as in dances. Various music and dance events take place in different parts of Newar societies on the occasion of different festivals. In fact, the Newars are so duly intermixed with music and dances that not a single festival, feast or ceremony, 'from womb to tomb', passes without a music or music and dances.

Various songs, musical instruments and dances are connected with various religious, social and cultural life of the Newars Different musical instruments are in practice in the festival, feasts, ceremonies and also in funeral procession.

Musical instruments

It is believed that there are about 200 (two hundred) types of original musical instruments in Nepal, and 108(one hundred eight types) of musical instruments have been found till now. A great number of Newar musical instruments are included init. These instruments can be classified into four classes according to Sangeet Shastra.

Membranophones - Dhimay, Dhah, Paschima, NayaKhin etc.

Idiophones - Bhusyah, Chhusyah, TainNain etc.

Chordophones - Piwancha

Aerophones - Muhali, Nekoo, Bansuri etc.

Mostly used musical instruments in Newar societies are membranophones, which are generally accompanied with idiophones and aerophones.

. Newar Dance The Newars are very much rich in traditional, classical and folk music as in dances. Various music and dance events take place in different parts of Newar societies on the occasion of different festivals. In fact, the Newars are so duly intermixed with music and dances that not a single festival, feast or ceremony, 'from womb to tomb', passes without a music or music and dances.

There are many mask dances, folk dances and classical dances the newars perform. A number of mask dances are also performed once in every twelve years. In general, these all types of dances can be classified into three categories

Masked Dances - Mahakali Dance, Bhairab Dance, Sikali Dance, Various Gan Pyakhan etc.

Folk Dances - Jyapu Dance, Ghintanmuni etc.

Charya Dances - ManjuShree, Arjya Tara, Sodasa Lasya etc.

Sawan Bhaku

2009-09-07T10:19:00.001-07:00

Sawan Bhaku

Sawan Bhaku is claimed to be god so are workshipped by local persons. Sawan Bhaku wears mask with red cultural dress. One of them carries the sharped weapon and comes in blue dress.he is reagarded as Bhairab. They shows dance in many places.The most interesting thing is that during puja the raw eggs are also devoted to Sawan bhaku,and they just eat the raw eggs and get drink too much wine. Most amazing thing is that their health is not affected due to lots of raw eggs and too much wine. It is said to be encarnation of the god in them in the time of wearing the mask.

Chariots of Ganesh, Bhairab and Kumari

2009-09-07T10:15:00.002-07:00

Chariots of Ganesh, Bhairab and Kumari

Three chario ts of Ganesh, Bhairab and Kumari is pulled around Kathmandu during the Yanya Punhi in series wise.It is said that the chariots of ganesh and Bhairab is taken for the protection of Kumari god. Kumari is considered to be only one living goddess in Nepal, the bodily incarnation of Taleju Bhawani.She is a Hindu goddess but Kumari is represented by a Buddhist girl of the Shakya, a clan within the Newar community. A chariot carrying Kumari is pulled around Kathmandu during Indra Jatra. The tradition was started by the last Malla King of Kathmandu, Jaya Prakash Malla.

Along with above processions festivals, including the Procession of Goddess-Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Dasha Avatara masked dances are staged in Kathmandu Durbar Square, near the Kumari Temple. The "Dasha Avatara" refers to the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu who is one of the Hindu's Holy trinity

Gigantic mask of Aakash Bairab represented by a massive mask spouting beer and liquor is also displayed in this festival. Households throughout Kathmandu display images and sculptures of Indra and Bhairab only at this time of year.After the chariots of godess are pulled around the Kathmandu, people moves towards the mask to have drop of beer and liqor spouted throught that mask as (prasad) of Asak bhairab.

This festival is also observed by the Newars as a day to remember the family members who passed away during the past year by offering small oil lamps along a traditional route covering all the parts of the old city. It is believed to have been started during the reign of Mahendra Malla.

The excitement of the festival of Indra Jatra comes to an end on the last evening of the festival when the long wooden pole erected on the first day is lowered with religious ceremonies, animal sacrifices and ritual gestures.

Pulukisi (or Tanakisi)

2009-09-07T10:15:00.000-07:00

The hollow painted elephant. Three people go inside an elephant costume and start their journey in a wild way accompanied by a man holding a flaming torch and a musical band. The Pulukisi appears once in a year during this festival from Kilagal.All the local people basically children are very happy to see the dance of the pulukisi. Many of local persons also do worship pulukisi as regarding as the ganesh god.

Newar Buddhism

2009-09-07T10:01:00.001-07:00

Newar Buddhism is the form of Mahayana-Vajrayana Buddhism practiced by the Newar ethnic community of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. It has developed unique socio-religious elements, which include a non-monastic Buddhist society based on a caste system and patrilinial descent. The ritual priests, Bajracharya or Vajracharya, and their Shakya assistants form the non-celibate religious sangha while other Buddhist Newar castes serve as the laity. Newar Buddhism seems to preserve some aspects of the Indian Buddhism that died out during the 12th century and appears to have not been preserved in Buddhist schools elsewhere. Newar Buddhism is characterized by its rich artistic tradition of Buddhist monument and artwork as well as by being a storehouse of ancient Sanskrit Buddhist texts, many of which are now only extant in Nepal. According to the authors of Rebuilding Buddhism: The Theravada Movement in Twentieth-century Nepal: "Today traditional Newar Buddhism is unquestionably in retreat before Theravada Buddhism."

RELIGION

Ask a Newar whether he's Hindu or Buddhist, the saying goes and he'll answer "yes" : after fifteen centuries of continuous exposure to both faiths, the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley have concocted a unique synthesis of the two. To religious scholars, the Newar religion is as exciting as a biologist's missing link, for some believe that it provides a picture of the way Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism functioned historically in India.

Until only the past two centuries, the Newars held fast to original monastic form of tantric Buddhism – as the bahal of Kathmandu and Patan still bear witness – while their rulers pursued the Hindu tantric path. However, the Kathmandu Valley has become progressively "Hinduized" since the unification of Nepal in the eighteenth century: the monasteries have largely disappeared, their monks have married, and the title of Vajracharya (Buddhist Priest) has become a hereditary caste like that of the Bahun (Brahman) priests. Today, Newar Buddhists are perhaps the only Buddhist culture that no longer maintains active communities of monks or nuns. Although the acceptance of caste and decline of monasticism have shifted the balance in favor of Hinduism, at the popular level the synthesis remains as well bonded as ever.

When Newars refer to themselves as Buddha Margi (Buddhist) or Shiva Margi (Hindu), they often do so only to indicate that they employ a Vajracharya or Bahun priests; even this does not hold true, though, as many jyapu (farmers) call themselves "Hindu" and attend Hindu festivals, yet still use Vajracharyas. In any case, Newar rituals vary little from Hindu to Buddhist.

Puja (an act of worship) is performed to gain the favor of deities for material requests as often as for "spiritual" reasons. It is a profound and very personal ritual. An integral part of all Newar rituals is the "puja of five offerings", consisting of flowers (usually marigolds), incense, light (in the form of butter lamps), sindur (colored powder) and various kinds of purified food (usually rice, dairy products, sometimes sweets). Before darshan (audience with a deity), the devotee or the priest uses consecrated water to wash him or herself and to bathe the deity. After the deity has symbolically accepted and eaten some food, the remainder is taken back by the devotee as prasad (consecrated food). This, along with a tika made with the colored powder, confers the deity's blessing and protection.

Priests are ordinarily engaged for the more important life-cycle rites (birth, marriage, death) or for larger seasonal festivals; wealthier Newars may also seek private consultations at times of illness or important decisions. Bahun priests don't perform animal sacrifices, but they do preside over the rituals that precede them. This brings up one of the rare differences between Hindu and Buddhist Newars : while Hindu Newars are enthusiastic sacrificers – they call the bloody ninth day of Dasain festival Syako Tyako (roughly, "the more you kill, the more you gain") – Buddhists seldom participate. During dasain, Tibetan monasteries in Nepal hold special services to pray for good rebirths of the sacrificed animals.

History in Nepal

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Whilst the veneration of a living Kumari in Nepal is relatively recent, dating only from the 17th century, the tradition of Kumari-Puja, or virgin worship, has been around for much longer. There is evidence of virgin worship taking place in India for more than 2,300 years. It appears to have taken hold in Nepal in the 6th century. There is written evidence describing the selection, ornamentation and worship of the Kumari dating from the 13th century.

There are several legends telling of how the current tradition of the Kumari began. Most of the legends, however, tell of King Jayaprakash Malla, the last Nepalese king of the Malla Dynasty (12th-17th century CE). According to the most popular legend, a red serpent approached the king's chambers late one night as he played tripasa, a dice game, with the goddess Taleju. The goddess came along every night to play the game, with the condition that the king refrain from telling anyone about their meetings.

But one night the king's wife followed him to his chamber in order to find out who the king was meeting so often. The king's wife saw Taleju and the goddess was angered. She told the king that, if he wants to see her again or have her protect his country, he'd have to search for her among the Newari(Shakya) community, as she would be incarnated as a little girl among them. Hoping to make amends with his patroness, King Jayaprakash Malla left the palace in search of the young girl who was possessed by Taleju's spirit.

Even today, a mother's dream of a red serpent is believed to be a portent of the elevation of her daughter to the position of Royal Kumari. And each year, the Nepalese King seeks the blessing of the Royal Kumari at the festival of Indra Jatra. This tradition has changed recently with the country becoming the youngest republic of the world. This year the president of Nepal sought Kumari's blessing instead.

A variation of this and other legends names King Gunkam Dev, a 12th century ancestor of King Jayaprakash Malla, as the main character rather than Jayaprakash Malla.

A third variation of the legend says that during the reign of King Jayaprakash Malla, a young girl was banished from the city because it was feared that she was possessed by the goddess Durga. When the queen learned of the young girl's fate, she became enraged and insisted that the king fetch the girl and install her as the living incarnation of Durga.

Kumari (The Living Goddess)

2009-09-03T20:55:00.001-07:00

Kumari, or Kumari Devi, is the tradition of worshipping young pre-pubescent girls as manifestations of the divine female energy or devi in South Asian countries. Kumari literally means virgin in Sanskrit, Nepali and other Indian languages and is a name of the goddess Durga as a child. In Nepal a Kumari is a prepubescent girl selected from the Shakya clan of the Nepalese Newari community. The Kumari is revered and worshiped by some of the country's Hindus as well as the Nepali Buddhists, though not the Tibetan Buddhists. In India a Kumari is generally chosen for one day and worshipped accordingly on certain festivals like Navaratri or Durga Puja. In the Indian state of Bengal this is a particularly prevalent practice.

While there are several Kumaris throughout Nepal, with some cities having several, the best known is the Royal Kumari of Kathmandu, and she lives in the Kumari Ghar, a palace in the center of the city. The selection process for her is especially rigorous. The current Royal Kumari, Matina Shakya, aged four, was installed in October 2008 by the Maoist government that replaced the monarchy.

A Kumari is believed to be the bodily incarnation of the goddess Taleju (the Nepalese name for Durga) until she menstruates, after which it is believed that the goddess vacates her body. Serious illness or a major loss of blood from an injury are also causes for her to revert to common status.

Ganesha

2009-09-03T20:49:00.000-07:00

Ganesha (Sanskrit: गणेश; IAST: Gaṇeśa; listen (help·info)), also spelled Ganesa or Ganesh and also known as Ganapati, Vinayaka, and Pillaiyar, is one of the best-known and most widely worshipped deities in the Hindu pantheon. His image is found throughout India. Hindu sects worship him regardless of affiliations. Devotion to Ganesha is widely diffused and extends to Jains, Buddhists, and beyond India.

Although he is known by many other attributes, Ganesha's elephant head makes him easy to identify. Ganesha is widely revered as the Remover of Obstacles and more generally as Lord of Beginnings and Lord of Obstacles (Vighnesha, Vighneshvara), patron of arts and sciences, and the deva of intellect and wisdom. He is honoured at the beginning of rituals and ceremonies and invoked as Patron of Letters during writing sessions. Several texts relate mythological anecdotes associated with his birth and exploits and explain his distinct iconography.

Ganesha emerged as a distinct deity in clearly recognizable form in the 4th and 5th centuries CE, during the Gupta Period, although he inherited traits from Vedic and pre-Vedic precursors. His popularity rose quickly, and he was formally included among the five primary deities of Smartism (a Hindu denomination) in the 9th century. A sect of devotees called the Ganapatya, (Sanskrit: गाणपत्य; gāṇapatya), who identified Ganesha as the supreme deity, arose during this period. The principal scriptures dedicated to Ganesha are the Ganesha Purana, the Mudgala Purana, and the Ganapati Atharvashirsa.

Yanya Punhi

2009-09-03T20:46:00.000-07:00

Yanyā Punhi (Devnagari: ञेया पुन्ही, Sanskrit: Indra Jatra) is a festival celebrated in Kathmandu, Nepal. The main attraction of the festival is the procession of chariots and masked dancers representing deities and demons.

Procession

Kumari paraded during the festivalThe procession consists of:

Majipa Lakhey

Pulukishi

Sawan Bhaku

Ganesh (Chariot) Ganesh Sankhu

Kumar (Chariot)

Kumari (Chariot)

Besides these, there are various dances held on the open stages of the city called dabu. There is display of Swet Bhairava as well as various deities of the city.

Bodhisattva

2009-09-01T20:16:00.000-07:00

Theravada Buddhism

The term Bodhisatta (Pali language) was used by the Buddha in the Pāli Canon to refer to himself both in his previous lives and as a young man in his current life, prior to his enlightenment, in the period during which he was working towards his own liberation. When, during his discourses, he recounts his experiences as a young aspirant, he regularly uses the phrase "When I was an unenlightened Bodhisatta..." The term therefore connotes a being who is "bound for enlightenment," in other words, a person whose aim is to become fully enlightened. In the Pali Canon, the Bodhisatta is also described as someone who is still subject to birth, illness, death, sorrow, defilement and delusion. Some of the previous lives of the Buddha as a bodhisattva are featured in the Jataka Tales.

In the Pāli Canon, the Bodhisatta Siddhartha Gotama is described as thus:

before my Awakening, when I was an unawakened bodhisatta, being subject myself to birth, sought what was likewise subject to birth. Being subject myself to aging... illness... death... sorrow... defilement, I sought [happiness in] what was likewise subject to illness... death... sorrow... defilement.

—Ariyapariyesana Sutta

While Maitreya (Pali: Metteya) is mentioned in the Pāli Canon, he is not referred to as a bodhisattva, but simply the next fully-awakened Buddha to come into existence long after the current teachings of the Buddha are lost.

In later Theravada literature, the term bodhisatta is used fairly frequently in the sense of someone on the path to liberation. The later tradition of commentary also recognizes the existence of two additional types of bodhisattas: the paccekabodhisatta who will attain Paccekabuddhahood, and the savakabodhisatta who will attain enlightenment as a disciple of a Buddha.

Salkha Mahadyo Ganesh

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Dhunlla Mahadyo Ganesh - Sankhu

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Chalakhu Ganesh - Sankhu

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Dugahiti Ganesh- Sankhu

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Dhunlla Ganesh - Sankhu

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Inlla Ganesh -Sankhu

2009-08-31T08:28:00.000-07:00

Devi Pyakhan Pictures- Sankhu

2009-08-28T10:41:00.000-07:00

Devi Naach ( Dance)

Devi Pyakhan Videos

2009-08-28T10:39:00.001-07:00

Devi Naach ( Dance)

Devi Pyakhan ( Dance) is an ancient dance of Hindu Goddess. It is an ancient dance celebrated in different part of old Newar towns of Nepal. This dance give entertaintment as well but it has more ritual values and religious aspect than anything else.

Every year this festival is celebrated on the Kage- Asthami. Tha Kage-Asthami is the Asthami before Yanya Punhi (Bhadra Sukla Purnima) Indra Jatra. The festival of Devi Pyakhan Starts at 10 pm of night and last whole night. The dance shows every tole (main place) of Sankhu. This dance is a traditional religious dance.

History of Dance

Once upon a time Goddess Bajrayogini came to sankhu by disguished 3 little babies. They came to Sindhu Chowk near the Chalakhu tole. When they were dancing a very powerful Tantric of Sankhu knew about this and he catched babies by the Tantrik power. The Tantrik got promise from Goddess Bajrayogini that every year she will come to sankhu and show dance in Sankhu. From that time the dance is continusely running once every year in Sankhu.

Devi Pyakhan ( Khya Pyakhan)

Bajrayogini jatra( Vajrayogini festival) of Sankhu

2009-08-22T02:25:00.000-07:00

Every year the Bajrayogini’s jatra at sankhu, Kathmandu celebrated for 8 days. This is one of the major Jatra that we can see inside Kathmandu valley. During these 8days we can see differen kind of possessin of festival and the crowd as we see in jatra of Kathmandu, Bhaktapur or Lalitpur. May be since Sanku is a small village/city east north of Kathamndu and the population is very less in comparision to big citites like Kathmandu. Many people came to visit from Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Patan and near newar towns to observe this jatra.

You will get different type of excitement while watching this jatra. Since the Bajrayogini temple is at the top of the hill, brining the god’s statue down the steep hill on the heavy chariot is really exciting. I think locale from Shanku should invite people, friends, and relatives from different places to see this jatra so that people will know about it, see the excitement of this jatra and know more about this ancient city Shanku.
When you did a hiking from shanku to Nagarkot, This place is also popular for Sali Nadi (holy river which is mention in one of the holy book of hindu, Swasthani )

This place has many thing to offer for internal, Indian (for holy reason) and external tourism). I read somewhere about this place that around 15th or 16th century some Italian priest visited this place and compare it with their Italian city saying it’s beautiful .
Government will take some steps to make such jatra, Fairs to make the place popular and attract tourist so that the economy of the locale people will increase।

Visit the stunning Newari town of Sankhu

2009-08-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

Visit the stunning Newari town of Sankhu
The small town of Sankhu lies hidden in the Kathmandu Valley and once was a significant town located on the Tibetan trade route. Today, Sankhu, or Sankharapur, does not have a thriving economy and most inhabitants work on farms or in the trading industry. Even though it does not have the hustle and bright lights of the cities, Sankhu is a favourite tourist destination in Nepal, due to its history and many spectacular sights and attractions.

It is believed that Shankharapur was established in 1801, although many have argued that its founding date was in 1299. But no matter which date is completely accurate, it still remains the oldest and most historic location in the Kathmandu Valley. The legend related to the history of the town tells of a kingdom that was created and how the Tantric goddess Bajrajogini was significant in the establishment of Sankhu. Her shrine is hidden in the dense forests surrounding the town and it is a place of pilgrimage for many Hindus and Buddhists.

The annual Sankhu festival is also held in her honor. Her shrine consists of beautiful statues, stupas and a few other shrines. The main structure at the shrine was constructed in the year 1655 by the then King, Prakas Malla. It is the most historic and oldest shrine that is located in this area. The goddess of wisdom is honored at the Sankhu Bajra Jogini and Hindus make their way to this shrine to offer blood sacrifices to the goddess. Buddhists have their own tantras here to make their own offerings. The caves that are located near the temple of Bajrajogini should also be explored, as it is said that in the cave that has two rooms the priest pays penance here for his love for her.

The Changunarayan Temple and the Salinadi River (a holy river in the Hindu religion) are two other very important and breathtaking sights. The lush green forests that surround Sankhu are worth looking into, as they are peaceful and magical, with many creatures and birds that make the forest their home. This charming destination in Nepal has a wonderful mixture of culture, tradition, history and spectacular beauty to share with visitors. It is guaranteed to be a rewarding experience and is a recommended town to visit when in Nepal.

Shaligram found in Sankhu

2009-08-19T07:43:00.000-07:00

Shaligram found in Sankhu ( Shankharapur)

A 100-kg shaligram has been found on the Sankhu side of Narayan Gadgade Khola in Kathmandu. The location is in kathmandu and near the border of Bhaktapur district. The place is locally known as Ita khel chaur ( big ground).
The 18 inch wide and 24 inch long shali-gram was found on the foundation of Muktinath temple laid by Muktinath Pithadhiswor Swami Kamal Nayanacharya in 2004, said Madhusudan Dangal, a local.
The Akhanda Jyoti Baba Swami Shri Shri Charitable Trust established for the construction of Muktinath temple has kept the shaligram in the Ashram, said Trust heir Swami Jagadish Prapannacharya.

If you go and ask about the found of Saligram there are different stories you can hear from different people. Although there are lots of peopl who are continusely worship the found saligram. If you want to see the saligram you can go by motor bike from sankhu. It is 25 min walk from sankhu and easy to find the way.
The shaligram was dropped from a truck loaded by a dozer on the foundation site on the river bank while levelling the ground for Muktinath Temple and a school on Tuesday.

Pictures from festivals

2009-08-19T03:59:00.001-07:00

Sankhu Newar Rites

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Different rites and rituals of Newars are observed in Sankhu including related to birth, Bell Bibah "Ehi" ( Marriage with Bell fruit), Barha Tayagu ( Marriage with Sun) and others.

In additions of Newars others communties like Tamangs, Brahmans, Chhetris etc. follo unique rites and riuals in Sankhu.

Newar Rituals in Life

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.

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'.

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.

Busankha (Boys)

Busankha means shaving of hair. it is done at the age of 6 or 7. 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'.

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.)

Ihi (Girls)

This is a ritual symbolic marriage with a bel (byah) fruit, the symbol of lord Vishnu. This ceremony, celebrated at the age of 5-11 , is done to prevent widowhood. As they are married to immortal lord, the Newar girls never become widow.

The girls are also taught household works in Ihi.

Bahra (Girls)

After Ihi, a Newar girl undergo bahra, ritual confinement of a girl before the onset of menstruation. A girl is kept separated from all males and from sunlight for 12 days. On 12th day the girl has to pay homage to the sun.

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).

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

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

Swosthani and Shalinadi- sankhu (Shankharapur)

2009-08-14T09:00:00.000-07:00

The Nepali version of the Holy Scripture called Swosthani begins with the description of the creation of heaven, earth, divinities, demons, humans, ghosts, animals and birds. After the creation of the heaven and earth, the story goes on telling about the lives of divinities, and how one divinity insulted another. It goes on describing the life of Lord Shiva with his first spouse called Satidevi, and then with the second spouse called Parvati, and then the life of human called Gomaiju, her son Navaraj, and his spouse called Chandrawoti. The story ends with the elevation of Navaraj and Chandrawoti to the status of king and queen by the grace of Goddess Swosthani.

Narration of these stories takes one full month for a person reading out a number of pages for about an hour every evening during the winter month called Magha dedicated to this religious service. The reader performs a small puja to the scripture before opening it to read. A small wicker plate of popcorn and fried peanuts or of any other ready to eat sweet item is set beside the scripture so that it also would listen to the scripture. All household members and neighbors who do not have such a scripture to read or no person to read joining the household members listen to the story of Swosthani. At the end of reading the scripture, the reader makes offerings of the food set aside to Goddess Swosthani and then distributes it to the listeners as the blessing from the Goddess.

After the story of creation of earth, heaven, divinities, demons, humans, animals and birds, the story of marrying one daughter after another of Hindu demigod called Dachhe prajapati begins. Dachhe prajapati had tens of fabulous daughters married to various divinities. Lord Shiva alone remained unmarried among the deities. When Lord Shiva came to know Dachhe prajapati had given his daughters in marriages to deities leaving behind a single senior most daughter with him. Lord Shiva thought that Dachhe prajapati must have set her aside for him to marry her. So, Lord Shiva himself approached Dachhe prajapati for the hands of the senior most daughter called Satidevi. Dachhe prajapati and his wife did not give her in marriage to anybody because they wanted her to be with them during their old age. When Lord Shiva approached Dachhe prajapati with the proposal of marrying Satidevi, he not only rejected the proposal but also insulted Lord Shiva in public. Dachhe prajapati was a conservative Hindu whereas Lord Shiva was a liberal one.

The preserver of the Hindu world, Lord Vishnu, and heavenly king Indra saw urgency in easing the insult inflicted on Lord Shiva, as the Hindu world might be in jeopardy if something would go wrong with Lord Shiva. So, they tricked Dachhe prajapati into giving his daughter Satidevi in marriage to Lord Shiva. This was actually a reconciliation Lord Vishnu attempted to bring about between Lord Shiva and Dachhe prajapati. He, however, never forgot the trick played by Lord Vishnu on him. He also never forgave Lord Shiva for the marriage. So, Dachhe prajapati ignored Satidevi and her spouse after the marriage.

When Satidevi came to know that her father Dachhe prajapati did not invite her to the great fire-offering (Yagyan) he had been performing, she rushed to her father and demanded explanation from the father for not inviting her to such a great event. Dachhe prajapati instead of promising her not to repeat such a mistake, continued to insult Lord Shiva, which Satidevi could not tolerate any more, and she in her extreme anger jumped into the burning fire and ended her life.

When Lord Shiva saw the lifeless body of Satidevi lying on the great fire at the altar, he could not control his anger, too. He cut off the head of Dachhe prajapati and tossed it on the fire. With great sorrow and repentance for the misdeeds of Dachhe prajapati, his spouse pleaded with Lord Shiva to return the life of Dachhe prajapati. His mind filled with pity for her; Lord Shiva picked up the head of a sacrificial lamb and fixed it on the shoulder of Dachhe prajapati with its face on backside, and gave him a new life with the head of a lamb.

Lord Shiva carried the lifeless body of Satidevi on his back, and began trotting around the globe, again posing threat to the Hindu world. Gradually, the corpse of Satidevi began decomposing, and fell one piece of her body after another on the ground creating various deities on the site.

Satidevi reincarnated in Parvati. Satidevi was born again as the daughter of king Himalaya. The king named her Parvati. When Parvati reached puberty; her parents wanted her to marry to Lord Vishnu. However, she developed a wish for receiving Lord Shiva as her spouse. To get her wish met, she undertook a month long Swosthani brata and got married to Lord Shiva as a result. The divine couple has two sons called Kumar and Ganesh.

Ganesh became an elephant-headed because Lord Shiva not being able to recognize Ganesh beheaded him in anger when Ganesh refused Lord Shiva an entry into his own abode. Ganesh was keeping a guard while his mother Parvati was taking a bathe in her chamber when Lord Shiva arrived at Kailash. Lord Shiva could not recognize Ganesh as he had been away from his home called Kailash for several years. By the time, Ganesh had grown quite a bit making him unrecognizable. When Parvati saw Lord Shiva in her inner chamber she realized that something must have gone wrong. Realizing the mistake Lord Shiva sent his attendants to get a head of any beings they met on the way at first hand. They met an elephant and cut off its head, and brought it to Lord Shiva who in turn fixed it on the shoulder of Ganesh.

The divine couple decided to grant a boon to their sons: Kumar and Ganesh, as they have come of age. They called on them and asked them to make a round trip to the Mount Sumeru so that they could bless them with a boon on their return.

Ganesh secured the boon from the parents first despite his vehicle being a lousy rat. Kumar has a peacock as his vehicle whereas Ganesh has a rat. Kumar immediately rode on the peacock and flew to make a trip to Mount Sumeru. Poor Ganesh could not dare to ride on the rat and make an almost impossible trip to Mount Sumeru. So, Ganesh was upset. Seeing his master sad, the rat asked Ganesh the reason for being so sad. Thinking useless to tell his problem to the mundane rat, Ganesh kept quite. However, the rat went on insisting Ganesh on telling him the truth. Ultimately, Ganesh gave in and told him what his parents had said to him. The rat smiled and told Ganesh that it was a very simple thing to do for securing the boon first. Then, the rat said to Ganesh, “Master, please go to your parents, ask them to stand together and then go round them three times and prostrate at their feet and tell them ‘you are my parents and you are Mount Sumeru, too for me.’” Then, Ganesh took the counsel of the rat and went to his parents: Lord Shiva and Parvati; Ganesh did to them what the rat told him to do. His parents were very happy with him, and granted him the boon of the rights to receiving the first offerings. So, none of the Hindu deities accept the offerings made to them without making offerings to Lord Ganesh.

Kumar secured the boon but less significant than Ganesh received. When Kumar came back from the trip to Mount Sumeru; Ganesh has already received the boon. Kumar strongly protested against his parents’ granting the boon first to Ganesh, as he did not meet the condition set by them. However, the parents could not revoke the boon given to Ganesh; they made Kumar eligible to receive offerings before Ganesh but in a simple form. So, the Newar community has a stone carved into an eight-petal form Kumar set at the entrance to their houses, and they bring offerings to him in a leaf plate and drop them on it before going to make offerings to Lord Ganesh.

After having a divine boon, Ganesh himself began making favors to his devotees. The first beneficiary was the family of Shiva Bhakta Brahmin. As the couple was poor and childless, Ganesh made them rich, and then granted the couple a daughter. The couple with a beautiful daughter lived happily for a number of years.

However, a great misfortunate befell them. Shiva Bhakta Brahmin lost his wealth; he had to give her beloved daughter called Gomaiju in marriage to an old man without any possessions of wealth. Gomaiju underwent several kinds of sufferings because she unknowingly antagonized the Lord. She brought up her son, Navaraj with a great difficulty.

Gomaiju revered Goddess Swosthani taking a fast every day for a month; as a result, she not only got relief from her sufferings but also got her son Navaraj crowned a king. At that time the tradition had it that an elephant with divine power went around the city-state to choose a king from among the people. The elephant chose Navaraj for a king.

However, his spouse Chandrawoti because of her ego of being a queen insulted Goddess Swosthani rejecting the blessed food offered by the porters carrying her to the palace. When the porters reached the bank of the river called Salinadi; Chandrawoti stopped the porters to have a break for some time. During the break the porters went to watch the group of people performing worship to Goddess Swosthani. They listened to the story of Goddess Swosthani, received the Goddess-blessed food and saved some of it for Chandrawoti. When the porters came to her she was furious with them at spending so much time on wandering elsewhere. They tried to explain to her where they were and why they took so much time to come back. However, she did not listen to their explanation. She tossed away the blessed food offered to her from their hands.

Chandrawoti suffered the consequences of her insult to Goddess Swosthani. In no time, there was a heavy rain. The river Salinadi swelled up with the water from the rain. The swollen river swept away the porters while crossing the river. She fell down the river. She turned into a stone and remained there in-situ. Nobody could recognize her and nobody offered her any food.

Later on, she realized her sins and to atone for the sins, made offerings to Goddess Swosthani for a month. She not only got relief from her sins but also transformed into a demigoddess by the grace of Goddess Swosthani.

Thereafter, Nepalese people set the tradition of revering Goddess Swosthani, Demigoddess Chandrawoti, her spouse Navaraj and the porters at Salinadi during the month long religious fair in the month of Magha.

Women taking the month long Swosthani brata complete their offerings on the full moon day in the bright fortnight of the Magha month. On this day, they perform purification rites, and they fast for the whole day. In the evening they perform special offerings to Goddess Swosthani. These offerings comprise 108-special bread called ‘achheta’ prepared for making offerings to the Goddess on this occasion. After the completion of offerings to the Goddess they offer these blessed bread first to their husband. If they do not have a husband, they offer the bread to their son, if they do not have a son, to the son of their close friends. If they do not have even such sons, they dispose the bread in a holy river.

Shree Krishna Janmastami- Sankhu

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Shree Krishna Janmastami
Sri Krishna Janmastami marks the celebration of the birth of Lord Sri Krishna. This festival is also known as Krishna Jayanti or Janmashtami. Lord Krishna is regarded as the 8th avatar or 'incarnation' of Lord Vishnu.It falls on Saptami of Bhadra (August/September).

The birth anniversary of Lord Krishna, the eighth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, is one of the greatest Hindu festivals for the Hindus of Nepal. In Kathmandu Valley, the focal point of the festival is the Krishna Mandir in Patan Durbar Square. Devotees gather around the 17th century temple to light small oil lamps and chant as a mark of devotion. As midnight, the hour of Lord Kirshna's birth approaches, chanting becomes more frenzied, and people rush to worship the impressive image of Lord Krishna inside the temple. Patan is covered under our Best of Nepal Tour.

Videos from Ropai Jatra

2009-08-13T06:35:00.001-07:00

Sankhu- Ropai Jatra Pictures

2009-08-13T06:34:00.000-07:00

Ponds of Sankhu

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1. Pala Pukhu (Pond) - This pond was built for the production of lotus flower for Goddess Bajrayogini.
2. Pukhulachhi Pukhu- This pond was built for religious purpose especially for Gathemangal ( Ghantakarna ) festival.
3. Bhaudhwakha Pukhu- These twin ponds are built for welcoming any visiters to the city. Pots full of water with flowers are considered good omen for both welcome and farewell in Hindu culture.
4. Mahahyo Pukhu- This pond was built for worship of Lord Shiva "Jyoti Lingeshwor".

Gates of Sankhu

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1. Bhau Dhwaha (Bride Gate) - Main entry gate of Sankhu.

2. Sangal Dhwakha ( Daughter Gate) - It is the gate from which to bid farewell to a daughter who is married off.

3. Dhunlla Dhwakha - This gate is important for Bajrayogini festival. All kinds of ritual processions including the chariot of Bajrayogini enter through this gate.

4. Mahadyo Dhwakha: Dead body of Sankhu is taken out to funeral through this gate.

5. Historical Courtyard- Before Malla Dynasty in Nepal, Sankhu was a separate kingdom. The historical Durbar square ( Layaku ) has still been preserved.

GaiJatra Pictures

2009-08-09T03:56:00.000-07:00

The festival of "Gai Jatra", the procession of cows, is generally celebrated in the Nepalese month of Bhadra (August-September). The festival of cows is one of the most popular festivals of Nepal. The whole complex of Gai Jatra festival has its roots in the ancient age when people feared and worshipped Yamaraj,"the god of death". However, the ironical sessions synonymous with the Gai Jatra festival came into tradition in the medieval period of Nepal during the reign of Malla Kings. Hence, the present form of Gai Jatra is a happy blending of antiquity and medievalism.

According to the traditions since times immemorial, every family who has lost one relative during the past year must participate in a procession through the streets of Kathmandu leading a cow. If a cow is unavailable then a young boy dressed as a cow is considered a fair substitute. In Hinduism, a cow is regarded as the most venerated among all the domestic animals. It is believed that the cow, revered as a holy animal by Hindus, will help the deceased relative's journey to heaven.

In terms of historical evidences, once when King Pratap Malla lost his son, his wife, the queen remained dumbstruck. The king was very sad to see the condition of his beloved queen. The king, in spite of his several efforts, could not lessen the grief of his wife. By all means he wanted to see little smile on the lips of his sweetheart. He announced that someone who ever made the queen laugh would be rewarded adequately.

During the festival of Gai Jatra, the cow procession was brought before the griefstricken queen. Then the participants began ridiculing and befooling the important people of the society. Finally when the social injustice and other evils were highlighted and attacked mercilessly, the queen could not stop smiling. The queen laughed, and Pratap Malla, the king ensued a tradition of including jokes, satires,mockery and lampoon in the Gai Jatra days.

After the procession is over, in the afternoon, nearly everyone takes part in another age-old tradition in which the participants dress up and wear masks. The occassion is filled with songs,jokes, mockery and humour of every kind become the order of the day until late evening. Hence, Gai Jatra is a healthy festival which enables the people to accept the reality of death and to prepare oneself for the life after death. According to Hinduism,"whatever a man does in his life is a preparation to lead a good life, after death".

Video from Gaai Jatra ( Cow festival)

2009-08-09T03:45:00.000-07:00

Valley denizens celebrates Gai Jatra- the cows festival- one of the famous Hindu festivals. The festival is marked in memory of the departed soul with many dance and drama performances mainly in different places of the three districts—Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur.

Gai means cow, and the Gai Jatra or cow festival lasts for eight days. Dancing, singing, pantomime, anything that causes mirth and laughter is part of the festival's highlights. People whose family members died during the year, parade a decorated cow and young family members, dressed as cows or hermits. The streets are filled with musical bands, children in costumes made to resemble cows. Amongst the three towns in the Kathmandu Valley, the celebration in Bhaktapur is the most interesting. Tall bamboo contraptions, wrapped in cloth and topped with horns fashioned of straw, and palanquins bearing clay figures of cows, are carried around the town in memory of the dead. The weirdly made up

Ghintang-gishi dancers, gyrating to the rhythm of boisterous music, are the prime attraction in this festival processions.

Tantric Goddesses- Bajrayogini

2009-08-09T03:22:00.000-07:00

The name Bajrayogini suggests a close association with Tantric beliefs. A Bajra (dorje in Tibetan) is the Buddhist thunderbolt symbol that looks a bit like a hollow dumb-bell and vajraya is the name for the Tantric form of Buddhism. Tantric beliefs developed as a synthesis of ancient pre-Hindu religions and new ideas that rejecctedmany orthodox Hindu and buddhist beliefs. Tantric believers hold that endless rebirths on the journey to nirvana can be avoided by incorporating magival rites with all the energies of existence- both good and bad under the strict tutelage of a lama. Sex and sexual imagery play a central role.

Hinduism was initially a patriarchal religion introduced by the Aryan invaders of India and overriding the existing earth goddesses. The development of shaktis or the female consorts joyed tremendous popularity in the Kathmandu valley , sometimes completely overshadowing their male counterparts, especially in Tantric belief. A parallel development is Buddhism produced the female counterparts to the Dhyani Buddhas.

A jogini is the female counterpart to a Bhairab, one of the wrathful forms of Shiva. In other words a jogini is the wrathful form of Shiva's partner Mhadevi (great goddess) wh0 is parwati in a more peaceful manifestation. Among some of Mahadevi's fearsome manifestations are Kali, Durga, Annapurna and Taleju.

So who is Bajrayogini you ask? A Tantric goddess is the simple answer- a unique Nepali goddess possibly combining elements from Hinduism, Buddhism and perhaps even earlier religions.

Nagarkot to Sankhu

2009-08-08T08:07:00.000-07:00

Fewer walkers follow the trail to Sankhu just north of the Naarkot to Changu Narayan ridge line in the north-ast of the valley. The picturesque Newari town is surrounded by rich agricultural land and is easily visible fom Nagarkot or from the trail down to Changu Narayan. The trail follows the same rigdge line then drops steeply down the hillside in the north westerly direction, joining the main Helambu to Sankhu trail and passing a gruop of teahouses where you can ask directins to the important temples of Bajrayogini. The temple is to the north of Sankhu and by leaving the main trail you can walk wet to this interesting site before completing thedescent to sankhu.

From sankhu buses run back to Kathmandu via Boudhnath every 15-20 minutes..

Nagarkot Tower

Sankhu & Bajrayogini Old Tibetan Trade Route

2009-08-07T10:52:00.000-07:00

The route to Sankhu follows the old Tibetan trade route past Boudhnath. After Boudhnath the road to Sundarijal turns off to the north east and the road to Sankhu continues to the east.

Gokarna Safari Park ( 10Km)

Continuing east of Boudhnath from Kathmandu, the entrance to the former Royal Game Reserve or Kings Forest is off the Sankhu road. A deep park was created here alate in the 19th century and the wallled reserve has spotted birds.

This is one of the few woodlands left on the valleyh floor and used to be a great spot for picnics amd a bot pf ga,e-spotting. Unforntunately it has been closed and golf course and resort are being developed in the open part of the reseve closet to the road. The golf course should have been completed by now but entry may be only for golf club members.

Sankhu (20Km)

Sankhu was once an important post on the trading route betwen Katmandu and Lhasa, and although the town's great days are over, you can still see many signs of its former prosperity. The town was first settled in the LIcchavi era and there are many old homes decorated with fine woodcarving. Although many traditional aspects of Newari life continue in the town, the most persuasive reason to visit this place is the beautiful Bajra yogini Temple complex, an easy walk or bicycle ride about 2km north of town.

Getting There & Away

Buses to Sankhu leave from the ity bus station and Sat Dobato near Lalitpur. They take about 1:30 hours and Rs. 26 . It is easy to reach Sankhu by bike. The road is sealed and flat (with a few minor exceptions), and basically follows the Manohara River. Its's an attractive and interesting ride takin about 1.5 hours byond Boudhnath. Rather than back track all the way, in the dry seson at least it is possible to cross the Manohara and climb to the fascinatin Changu Narayan Temple. ;

Nepal Sambat

2009-08-04T08:11:00.000-07:00

The lunar calendar Nepal Sambat (Nepal Bhasa: नेपाल सम्बत) is commonly used in the Kathmandu valley of Nepal. It is believed that in the reign of King Raghav Dev of Kathmandu, it was initiated by Sankhadhar Sakhwa to commemorate the pay back of all the debts of people living in Kathmandu, then known as "Ya." Local legend has it that he raised the funds through alchemy, turning the sand of the Bagmati river to gold dust. The Bikram Sambat is official calendar of Nepal. Gregorian calendar is also widely used due to it international acceptance and Nepal Sambat has its own special relevance for Newars living in Nepal. Nepal Sambat is one among few of the native calendars to Nepal.Most of others either passed over the time or only maintain existence in the religious calendars called Patro.

This calendar was widely used in official use during the Malla period in Kathmandu valley. After the unification of Nepal, Saka sambat took ground and later on, during the premiership of Chandra SJBR Bikram Sambat were recognized for official use. This calendar, Nepal sambat, is being revived, especially in Kathmandu valley, over the last 3 decades. Moreover, the calendar was widely used by Newars for cultural and religious purpose inside the Kathmandu because of its relation with festivals Jatra that are celebrated in Valley

Devanagari --------- Roman script ------------Corresponding Gregorian month
कछला ---------------------- Kachha lā ---------------------- November
थिंला ---------------------- Thin lā ---------------------- December
पोहेला ---------------------- Pohe lā ---------------------- January
सिल्ला ---------------------- Sil lā ---------------------- February
चिल्ला ---------------------- Chil lā ---------------------- March
चौला ---------------------- Chau lā ---------------------- April
बछला ---------------------- Bachha lā ---------------------- May
तछला ---------------------- Tachha lā ---------------------- June
दिल्ला ---------------------- Dil lā ---------------------- July
गुंला ---------------------- Goon lā ---------------------- August
ञंला ---------------------- Yen lā ---------------------- September
कौला ---------------------- Kau lā ---------------------- October

Newar caste system

2009-08-04T08:08:00.000-07:00

Newar caste system
(note: this list does not mention all the castes found in Newar society. until a detailed and accurate list is provided, use it only to get a general idea about the Newar caste system.)

In alphabetic order, they are:

Buddhacharya (Buddhist/Swoyambhu priests)
Mulmi
Shakya (Gurju, goldsmiths)
Bajracharya / Vajracharya (Buddhist priests, Gubhaju)
Chyami (sweepers)and Shahi/Khadgi (butchers, meat-sellers)who are considered to be of lower caste by the Malla rulers. This caste system is probably considered to be the only dark side of the Malla dynasty.
Jati (music player)
Joshi (astrologers)
Juwa (AKA Jujuwa, advisors to the King)
Kansakar / Kasaa (bronze craftsmen)
Kulu (drum-makers)
Maharjan / Dangol (Jyapu, farmers)
Malla (Rulers)
Sayami/Manandhar (oil pressers)
Nakarmi (blacksmiths/people who makes machinery goods with iron or steel)
Pradhan / Shrestha/Amatya (Administrators)/WARRIORS OF NEPA REGIME
Prajapati (Kumha) (Potters)are a Newar clan, the original inhabitants of the Kathmandu Valley. The traditional Prajapati occupation is to make fine clay pots which have had significant importance among both the Hindu and Buddhist based socio-religious gatherings.However, the younger generation don't find it any more a lucrative business and thus are shifting to other professions.
Puun or Chitrakar (Artist/Painter)
Rajkarnikar halwai (confectioners)
Ranjitkar (dyers/dye related professionals)
Sagajyu (Merchant)
Sayajyu (Cleaner)
Shilpakar (sikami)
Shrestha (shyosyo)/WARRIOR OF NEPA MANDAL
Tamrakar (copper craftsmen)
Tuladhar (weigher craftsmen)
Tandukar
Vaidya (doctor)
Rajthala
Koju
Rajbhandari (Royal Treasurer / Ruling class of Kathmandu during Malla Period / Kaaji / newa warriors)

Newa people

2009-08-04T08:03:00.000-07:00

Newa people
The Newa (Nepal Bhasa: नेवाः Newā(h), Classical Nepal Bhasa: नेवार Newār or नेवाल Newāl) are the indigenous people of Nepal's Kathmandu Valley. Newars are a linguistic community with Tibeto-Burman and Indo ethnictiy/race, bound together by a common language.
The term Newar applies roughly to the descendants of citizens of Medieval Nepal (consisting of Kathmandu Valley as the capital and the territory ever changing with farest extent being Gandaki river to west and Koshi river to the east, Tibet to north and Terai in south). Their common language being Nepal Bhasa ("Newari" according to Statistics Nepal) or the languages progenitor of Nepal Bhasa. According to Nepal's 2001 census, the 1,245,232 Newar in the country are the nation's sixth largest ethnic group, representing 5.48% of the population. Nepal Bhasa is of Tibeto-Burman origin (but heavily influenced by Indo-Aryan languages like Sanskrit, Pali, Bengali and Maithili). Nepal Bhasa also contains Austro-Asiatic words and phrases. In 2001 the language is spoken by 825,458 Nepalese as their mother tongue .

History
The different divisions of Newars had different historical developments before their arrival in the Kathmandu valley. The common identity of Newar was formed after their arrival to the valley. Until the unification of Nepal, with the possible exception of the Muslims under Gayasuddin who attacked and destroyed many parts of the valley, all people who had inhabited the valley at any point of time were either Newar or were progenitors of Newar. So, the history of Newar correlates to a great magnitude to the history of Kathmandu valley prior to the Unification of Nepal.

The earliest known history of Newar and Kathmandu valley were recorded in the form of mythical scriptures. One of such texts which even accounts the creation of the valley is Swayambhu Purana. According to the Swayambhu Purana, the Kathmandu valley was a giant lake called Nāgdaha until the Bodhisattva Manjusri, with the aid of a holy sword called Chandrahrāsa, cut open a part of southern hill of Kachchhapāla. and then cut open Gokarnadaha and drained the giant lake, allowing humans to settle the valley land. This apocryphal legend is supported by some geological evidence of an ancient lakebed and it provides an explanation for the high fertility of Kathmandu valley soil.

According to the Swayambhu Purana, Manjusri then established a city called Manjupattan (Sanskrit "Land Established by Manjusri"), now called Manjipā, where he crowned Dharmākara as the king of the land[6]. A shrine dedicated to Manjusri is still present in Majipā.

No recorded historical document has been found after this era till the advent of Gopal era. A genealogy of emperors is recorded in a book called Gopal Raj Banshawali. According to this manuscript, Gopals were followed by Mahispals, and Kirats before Licchavis entered from south. Some claim Buddha to have visited Nepal during the reign of Kirat emperor Jitedasti.

The Licchavi dynasty ruled for at least 600 years, followed by the Malla dynasty in 12th century AD. The Nepal Bhasa script is estimated to be at least 1200 years old. Nepal Bhasa inscriptions in an ancient manuscript, Nidan, from 901 AD and on a stone tablet from 1173 AD in the courtyard of Bajrayogini Temple at Sankhu, attest to the deep roots of Newar culture in the Kathmandu valley.

Newar reign over the valley and their sovereignty and influence over neighboring territories ended approximately 250 years ago with the conquest of the Kathmandu valley in 1769 by the Gorkhali Shah dynasty founded by Prithvi Narayan Shah. Newars were engaged in business between Tibet and Moguls in India. So, to affect the Mogul empire's treasury, British East India Company supplied weapons and advice to Prithvi Narayan Shah, who in return would conquer Kathmandu Valley and put an end to the trade between Tibet and Moguls of India. Systematic brutal suppression of the Newar people was pursued for generations during early dynastic rule in order to discourage the Newar people from any political aspiration.

The Newar maintain a highly literate culture and their members are prominent in every sphere, from agriculture, business, education and government administration to medicine, law, religion, architecture, fine art, and literature. There is a wide acceptance of the fact that Newar architects may have been responsible for developing Asia's hallmark multi-tiered pagoda architecture. Newar devotional pauba and thangka painting, sculpture and metal craftsmanship are world-renowned for their exquisite beauty. The fine temples and palaces of Kathmandu, Patan (Yala) and Bhaktapur are largely the product of Newar architects, artisans and sculptors. Now the enterprising Newars are spread across Nepal, Bhutan, State of Sikkim and the District of Darjeeling in India.

Courtesy : Wikipedia

Festivals in Nepal

2009-08-04T07:59:00.000-07:00

Festivals of Nepal
Mata Tirtha Snan (Mother's Day)
This is one of the widely celebrated festivals that falls on the first month, Baisakh (April/May), of the Nepali Year.It is also called Mata Tirtha Aunsi as it falls on a new moon night.

Gunla
Gunla is a sacred month dedicated to Lord Buddha. This festival commemorates the auspicious "rains retreat" when the Buddha, over 2,500 years ago, led his close disciples into solitary meditation and preached to them the essence of his principles.

Guru Purnima
Teachers come second (after the gods) in the Hindu hierarchy of respect. The full moon day of the month June/July is set aside for students to pay homage to their teachers and receive blessings from them in return. At a place called Vyas on the Kathmandu-Pokhara highway, special worship is performed to Maharishi Vyas, the saint who wrote the great Hindu epic, Mahabharat. For Buddhists, the occasion (Dilla Punhi) is sacred as the day when the Buddha-to-be entered the womb of Queen Mayadevi. Religious functions are held at monasteries and temples to commemorate the event.

Buddha Jayanti
This day is celebrated to mark the birthday of the Lord Buddha which dates back in about 543 BC.It falls on Jestha Purnima (Full moon night-May/June).

Gathemangal (Ghanta Karna) Chaturdasi
This festival celebrates the exorcism of the mythical demon Ghantakarna.It is also called Gathemangal festival which falls on trayodashi of the month Shrawan (July/August).

Janai Purnima,Rakshya Bandhan,Khumbeshwor Mela Patan
Janai Purnima is the festival of Sacred Thread.On this day every Hindu ties a sacred thread on the wrist.It is also called Rakshya Bandhan.On this day, there is a big Mela (fair) at Khumbeshwor, Lalitpur.It is again on a full moon night.

Gaijatra (cow festival)
The festival of "Gai Jatra" (the procession of cows) which is one of the most popular festivals, is generally celebrated in the Nepalese month of Bhadra (August-September).This festival has its roots in the belief that the god of death, Yamaraj, must be feared and hence worshipped.

Shree Krishna Janmastami
Sri Krishna Janmastami marks the celebration of the birth of Lord Sri Krishna. This festival is also known as Krishna Jayanti or Janmashtami. Lord Krishna is regarded as the 8th avatar or 'incarnation' of Lord Vishnu.It falls on Saptami of Bhadra (August/September).

Gokarna Aunsi (Father's Day)
The most auspicious day to honour one's father is Gokarna Aunsi . It falls on the dark fortnight of Bhadra or in August or in early September.It is also known as Kuse Aunsi.

Ghode Jatra (Horse festival)
Ghode Jatra, the Horse Racing Day falls on Darhsa Shrad Aunsi of the month Chaitra (March/April). A grand horse parade takes place at Tundikhel, the central point of the city reputed to have been in the former days the largest parade ground in Asia.

Teej

"Teej" is the fasting festival for women. Through this religious fasting, hindu women pray for marital bliss, wellbeing of their spouse and children and purification of their own body and soul. It takes place on Tritiya of Bhadra (August/September).

Indrajatra(Holiday Only in Kathmandu)
This festival falls in the end of Bhadra (August/September). Both Hindus and Buddhists unite to celebrate the festival of Indra Jatra with great enthusiasm.

Dashain Holidays (Grestest festival in Nepal)
During the month of Ashoj in the Bikram Sambat calendar (late September and early October), the Nepalese people indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country. The fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon.

Tihar Bhai TIka

Tihar, the festival of lights is one of the most dazzling of all Hindu festivals. In this festival we worship Goddess Laxmi, the Goddess of wealth. It heralds the month of Kartik (October/November) starting with Kukur Puja-Narak Chaturdashi.

Maghe Sankranti
Maghe Sankranti is the beginning of the holy month of Magh, usually the mid of January. It brings an end to the ill-omened month of Poush (mid-december) when all religious ceremonies are forbidden. Even if it is considered the coldest day of the year, it marks the coming of warmer weather and better days of health and fortune.

Shree Panchami
This festival falls in mid Magh (January/February).It is celebrated as the birthday of Saraswati, the Goddess of Learning. She is the lily-white daughter of Shiva and Durga in spotless white robe and seated in a full-blown lotus.
This day is also dedicated to the martyrs of Nepal and hence celebrated as Martyr's Day.

Yomari Punhi
Yomari Punhi is one of the popular Newar festivals observed every year during the full moon of December. A yomari is a confection of rice-flour (from the new harvest)dough shaped like fig and filled with brown cane sugar and sesame seeds, which is then steamed.

Maha Shiva Ratri
This day is the celebration dedicated to the Lord Shiva which falls on the Trayodashi of the month Fagun (February/March).

Fagu Purnima (Holi)
The ancient Hindu festival of Holi falls on late February or on early March. Allegedly named after the mythical demoness Holika, it is a day when the feast of colours is celebrated. The festival is of a week. However, it's only the last day that is observed by all with colours.

Shree Ram Nawami
Ram Nawami is celebrated in the mid of Chaitra (March/April) as Lord Ram's Birthday. It is celebrated with much pomp at Janaki temple in Janakpur city, which lies in southern Nepal.

Bagh Jatra
The Bagh Jatra of Pokhara is another cultural baggage brought by Newars from Kathmandu, celebrated in early august. The festival has been celebrated in Pokhara for about 150 years. It expresses the people's joy at their deliverance from a marauding tiger. On the first day, people dress up like hunters and make an appearance accompanied by musical bands. The next day is an interlude devoted to the showing of comic programs. For three days,the hunting party parades through different parts of the town before "slaying" the beast to end the festivities.

Bhairav Kumari Jatra
This is one of the major religious celebrations in Dolkha, an historic town in north-eastern Nepal (133 km from Kathmandu off the highway to Tibet). The festival falls on early August; and consists of masked dances that go on non-stop for five days. Escorted by musical bands, dancers representing the deities Bhairav and Kumari and other gods and goddesses swirl and sway through Dolkha, visiting its many temples. On the occasion, devotees also undergo fasting and worship Bhairav and Kumari. The ceremony has a history going back more than five centuries.

Chaite Dasain
Chaite Dasain used to be the original day of the grand Dasain festival (which takes place exactly six months later now), but because people got their stomachs upset after feasting on spicy food during the warm month of Chaitra, the grand celebration was shifted to the cooler season. But the religious fervor is still evident in the celebrations of the day.

Gaura Parva
Gaura Parva is another celebration honoring Lord Krishna's birthday. It is celebrated in far western Nepal with much gusto for two days (August/September). Apart from the many ceremonies that happen during this festival, it is the occasion for married women to put on the sacred thread. The deuda dance is a major part of the festivities in which participants hold hands and form a circle as they step to traditional music.

Lhosar
Lhosar is the Tibetan New Year which falls on February/March. This festival is mast impressively observed by all the Tibetan-speaking populations. They organize folk songs and dances on this occasion. These dances can be seen in Khumbu, Helambu and other northern regions of Nepal and also at Boudhanath in Kathmandu.

Rato Macchendranath Jatra
(Begins on the full moon day of Baisakh)This is the longest as well as the most important festival of Patan. It begins with several days of ceremonies and the fabrication of a wooden-wheeled chariot at Pulchowk, near the Ashoka Stupa.

Mani Rimdu
(Full moon of the 9th Tibetan month) Mani Rimdu is the biggest event of the year for the Sherpas of the Khumbu region. Sherpas from the Khumbu region congregate at Thyangboche Gompa, the picturesque monastery situated on a spur at 3,870 meters from where both Mt. Everest and Ama Dablam can be seen.

Mata-yaa
Celebrated in mid-August Mata-yaa is one of Patan's popular festivals. It consists of a day-long procession of devotees going around the Buddhist courtyards of the town and offering worship at the shrines there. Carrying lighted tapers and joss sticks in their hands, Mata-yaa participants rush in a meandering file and visit the hundreds of Buddhist sites scattered all over Patan. They toss rice grains, flowers and coins at the shrines as they pass by. Some devotees wear elaborate and amusing costumes. Musicians also take part in the parade.

Neel Barahi Pyakhan
Neel Barahi Pyakhan is a sacred masked dance which is shown over four days(August/September)in different parts of Bode. Nineteen persons representing the town's guardian pantheon take part in the dance performance. Music is provided by a 27-piece traditional orchestra. The ceremony invokes peace and harmony, and is dedicated to the deity Neel Barahi whose temple is located in a jungle outside Bode. Bode adjoins Thimi which is 8 km east of Kathmandu.

Rath Yatra
Biratnagar in south-eastern Nepal brings out a spectacular chariot procession to mark Lord Krishna's birthday (August/September). The parade sets out from the Radha Krishna temple and goes around the town. The six-meter tall chariot carries the images of Krishna and his consort Radha and is drawn by hordes of devotees. The annual chariot festival was started in 1932 to commemorate the building of a temple dedicated to Krishna.

Sita Vivaha Panchami
This festival, commemorating the marriage of Sita to Ram, is particularly celebrated in Janakpur. Each year in Janakpur, idols of Ram and sita are brought out in bright processions and their Hindu wedding ceremony is enacted.

Tamu Dhee
Tamu Dhee (also known as Trahonte) is a Gurung holiday (august). Ceremonies are performed to purge the neighborhood of evil spirits and to safeguard one's farm and farm animals from hostile elements. The festival can be observed in Pokhara. Groups of people beating on different kinds of drums form a colorful procession and make house-to-house visits. Participants with their faces smeared with soot and wearing feather headdresses parade through the town to drive away negative influences and ensure peace and security.

Tansen Jatra
The hilltop town of Tansen in central Nepal exults in a week-long festive spree beginning with Janai Purnima, when Hindus change their sacred threads. The next day, Gai Jatra is marked by parading figures of cows made of bamboo and cloth. Ropai Jatra is the rice planting ceremony and participants perform plowing and planting acts on the streets. During Bagh Jatra, actors dressed up like tigers and hunters march through town. Then there are the parades. Images of Ganesh, Bhimsen and Narayan are placed on palanquins and carried around Tansen. The celebrations climax on August 12 with Bhagawati Jatra, the procession of the town's protective goddess.

Taya Macha
The Taya Macha dance is shown in different parts of Pokhara as part of the Gai Jatra observances. The five dancers, four dressed up as angels and one as a clown, are accompanied by a group of traditional musicians. It is believed that the performance will bring peace to the souls of those who have passed away during the previous year. The festival has its roots in the Kathmandu Valley. It was brought to Pokhara by Newars who migrated here centuries ago.

Songtsän Gampo

2009-08-02T20:05:00.000-07:00

Songtsän Gampo (Tibetan: , Wylie: Srong-btsan sGam-po, 605 or 617? - 649) was the founder of the Tibetan Empire (Tibetan: Bod; Chinese: 吐蕃, Tubo/Tufan), by tradition held to be the thirty-third ruler in his dynasty. In the Chinese records his name is given as Qizonglongzan.[1]

The dates of his birth and when he took the throne are not certain. In Tibetan accounts it is generally accepted that he was born in 617 (one year before the founding of the Tang Dynasty, when Gaozu of Tang became emperor of China). As he is thought to have ascended the throne at age thirteen (twelve by Western reckoning), by this reckoning c. 629 CE.[2][3]

There are difficulties with this position, however, and several earlier dates for the birth of Songtsän Gampo have been suggested, including 569, 605 or 593.[4] The question must remain open.

Utpala

Utpala or Bhaṭṭotpala (Bhaṭṭa-utpala) is the name of a 10th century Indian commentator of Vārāha Mihira's Brihat Samhitā. Brihat Samhitā is a Samhitā text of Jyotiṣa (Indian astrology and astronomy) . Samhitā is one of three branches of Jyotiṣa (Samhitā has many other meanings outside Jyotiṣa.

He is known for quoting six verses from Surya Siddhanta which are not found in the extant version of Surya Siddhānta. These six verses can be found in the 'Introduction' by S.Jain to the translation of Surya Siddhānta made by E. Burgess[1].

He is also the author of a commentary on Brahmagupta's Khaṇḍa-khādyaka (7th century). In this, he is a successor of Prthudaka and a predecessor of Amaraja.

Pokhara-See Nepal

2009-07-31T10:25:00.001-07:00

Pokhara

Pokhara Sub-Metropolitan City (Nepali: पोखरा उपमहानगरपालिका Pokhara Up-Mahanagarpalika) is a city of close to 200,000 inhabitants in central Nepal located at 28.25°N, 83.99°E, 198 km west of Kathmandu. It is the third largest city of Nepal after Kathmandu and Biratnagar. It is the Headquarters of Kaski District, Gandaki Zone and the Western Development Region. It is also one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country.

POKHARA

POKHARA, Pokhara is the most beautiful city in Nepal. The city is situated 200 km west of Kathmandu, is the starting point of Nepal's popular trekking and rafting destinations. The elevation of Pokhara is approximately 915 meter from the sea level. This is the magic city in the sense that you can enjoy exotic view of Machhapuchhre [6977m] very close from Pokhara city. Moreover, Pokhara offers panoramic views of five peaks of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Himchuli etc. The valley is famous for natural and cultural beauty that has more than seven lakes, out of them Fewa and Rupa are very attractive for tourists

Geography
Pokhara is situated in the northwestern corner of the Pokhara Valley, which is a widening of the Seti Gandaki valley. The Seti River and its tributaries have dug impressive canyons into the valley floor, which are only visible from higher viewpoints or from the air. To the east of Pokhara is the municipality of Lekhnath, another town in the valley.

In no other place do mountains rise so quickly. In this area, within 30 km, the elevation rises from 1,000 m to over 7,500 m. The Dhaulagiri, Annapurna and Manaslu ranges, each with peaks over 8,000 m, can be seen from Pokhara and there is a lake named Phewa Tal (Tal means lake in the Nepali language), three caves (Mahendra, Bat and Gupteswor) and an impressive falls (Patale Chhango or Devi's Fall) where the water from the Phewa Lake thunders into a hole and disappears. Due to this sharp rise in altitude the area of Pokhara has one of the highest precipitation rates of the country (over 4,000 mm/year). Even within the city there is a noticeable difference in the amount of rain between the south of the city by the lake and the north at the foot of the mountains.

The climate is sub-tropical but due to the elevation the temperatures are moderate: the summer temperatures average between 25–35 °C, in winter around 5–15 °C.

In the south the city borders on Phewa lake (4.4 km² at an elevation of about 800 m above sea level), in the north at an elevation of around 1,000 m the outskirts of the city touch the base of the Annapurna mountain range. From the southern fringes of the city 3 eight-thousanders (Dhaulagiri, Annapurna, Manaslu) and, in the middle of the Annapurna range, the Machapuchare (Nepali language: Machhapucchare: 'Fishtail') with close to 7,000 m can be seen. This mountain dominates the northern horizon of the city and its name derives from its twin peaks, not visible from the south.

Tibet Tour

2009-07-31T09:58:00.000-07:00

Potala Palace

The Potala Palace (Tibetan: པོ་ཏ་ལ; Wylie: Po ta la; simplified Chinese: 布达拉宫; traditional Chinese: 布達拉宮) is located in Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region. It was named after Mount Potala, the abode of Chenresig or Avalokitesvara. The Potala Palace was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to Dharamsala, India, after an invasion and failed uprising in 1959. Today the Potala Palace has been converted into a museum by the Chinese.

The building measures 400 metres east-west and 350 metres north-south, with sloping stone walls averaging 3 m. thick, and 5 m. (more than 16 ft) thick at the base, and with copper poured into the foundations to help proof it against earthquakes. Thirteen stories of buildings – containing over 1,000 rooms, 10,000 shrines and about 200,000 statues – soar 117 metres (384 ft) on top of Marpo Ri, the "Red Hill", rising more than 300 m (about 1,000 ft) in total above the valley floor. Tradition has it that the three main hills of Lhasa represent the "Three Protectors of Tibet." Chokpori, just to the south of the Potala, is the soul-mountain (bla-ri) of Vajrapani, Pongwari that of Manjushri, and Marpori, the hill on which the Potala stands, represents Chenresig or Avalokiteshvara.

Tibet (Tibetan: བོད་; Wylie: bod, pronounced [pʰø̀ʔ]; Chinese: 西藏; pinyin: Xī Zàng) is a plateau region in Asia, north of the Himalayas. It is home to the indigenous Tibetan people, and to some other ethnic groups such as Monpas and Lhobas. Tibet is the highest region on earth, with an average elevation of 4,900 metres (16,000 ft). It is sometimes referred to as the roof of the world.

During Tibet's history, it has been an independent country divided into different countries, and a part of China each for a certain amount of time. Tibet was first unified under King Songtsän Gampo in the seventh century. A government nominally headed by the Dalai Lamas, a line of spiritual leaders, ruled a large portion of the Tibetan region at various times from the 1640s until 1950s. During most of this period, the Tibetan administration was subordinate to the Chinese empire of the Qing Dynasty. The 13th Dalai Lama proclaimed Tibet independent in 1913, but this declaration was not accepted by China, nor recognized by any country as a de jure independent nation. Only three of the fourteen Dalai Lamas have actually ruled Tibet; regents ruled during 77 percent of the period from 1751 until 1960. The Communist Party of China gained control of central and western Tibet (Tibet area controlled by the Dalai Lama) after a decisive military victory at Chamdo in 1950. The 14th Dalai Lama fled to India after the 1959 Tibetan uprising.

Today, Tibet is administered by the People's Republic of China (PRC). Beijing and the Government of Tibet in Exile disagree over when Tibet became a part of China, and whether the incorporation into China of Tibet is legitimate according to international law(see Tibetan sovereignty debate). Since what constitutes Tibet is a matter of much debate (see map, right) neither its size nor population are simple matters of fact, due to various entities claiming differing parts of the area as a Tibetan region.

ABC- Annapurna

2009-07-31T09:03:00.000-07:00

Annapurna Base Camp

The treks in the Annapurna area are the most popular and famous of Nepal's treks. Annapurna Base Camp trek can be done in about 8 days (depend on your walking pace). The way up to the base camp is also the way back down. The trek is not easy, and the adjustment to high altitudes may be difficult, and altitude sickness is very common. On the other hand, anyone with a reasonable level of physical fitness can walk the trek.
The Annapurna Base Camp trek leads to a natural amphitheater that is used as the base camp from which climbers start on their way to conquer the Annapurna Mountaintop. The mountain reaches 8091 meters above sea level, and the base camp's altitude is 4130 meters above sea level.

Preparations before the trek:

■Trekking permit
There is no need to issue a trekking permit to go on treks in the Annapurna area as it was in the past.
■Food and water
There is no need to take food and water to the trek. Everything can be bought in the restaurants and guest houses along the way. As the trail goes up, so does the water prices increase. Therefore, as long as you are at the beginning of the trek it is worthwhile buying mineral-water bottles. Later on the way it is possible to use water purification tablets.
■Sleeping equipment
There are many guest houses along the trek (don't expect too much...). Bring a good and warm sleeping bag with you, that will protect you from the cold (there is no heating).
■Equipment
Map of the trek, big backpack and a rain cover for it, small backpack, sleeping bag, water purification tablets, toilet paper, toiletries, sandals for the shower, towel, flashlight, spare batteries, reading book, first-aid kit, sunglasses, laundry rope, washing powder, sun-screen, fleece coat, rain coat, water proof nylon bag, travel clothes, warm clothes, laundry bag, camera.
■Toilets and showers
In the beginning of the trek you may find running water, but as you climb, they will become more and more scarce. If you want to take a shower further on the trek, you will have to take a bucket showers (sometimes with hot water).
■Porters
It is highly recommended to hire a porter (carrier and guide) that will carry your heavy big bag with the equipment, and leave you with the small bag. The porter will also be your guide (no need for an additional guide). It is recommended to hire a porter through an agency to reduce the chance that the porter will disappear with you bag. You can use one porter for two persons, but avoid overloading him. Try to meet with your porter before leaving for the trek to get to know him.
The route

Every walking day starts around 07:00 (your porter will wake you up), stops for lunch around noon and ends at around 14:00 with the arrival to the guest house. An average walking day is about 7 hours.

Going up: 5 days, coming down - 3 days. All together - 8 days.

Costs and Technical Issues

As mentioned before, there is no need for any special trekking permit to travel in the Annapurna region, as it used to be in the past.

Entrance fee to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project ACAP is 2000 Rupee (about $28). Be aware that if you pay the entrance fee at the entrance to the conservation area it will be double - 4000 Rupees (about $56). Therefore it is advisable to pay it at the offices in Pokhara or Kathmandu.

ACAP offices:

ACAP / National Park Office
In the basement of the Sanchaya Kosh shopping center
Tridevi Marg
Thamel, Kathmandu
Tel: 223088, ext. 363

ACAP Office
Lakeside, Pokhara
opposite Grindlays Bank
Tel: 061 32275

Opening hours: Monday - Friday: 09:00-16:00
Sunday: 09:00-15:00
Saturday and holidays: closed

When paying the entrance fee, bring along 2 passport photos and a photocopy of your passport.

The cost of a porter is about 400 Rupee (almost $6) per day.

TOURISM- SANKHU

2009-07-26T21:12:00.000-07:00

Nepal (Asia and the Pacific)

Category: Cultural

State, Province or Region: Kathmandu District, Bagmati Zone, Central Nepal

The Lichchhavi period (2nd to 9th Century AD) settlement of Sankhu lies on the northeastern corner of the Kathmandu Valley on the ancient trade route to Tibet. The traditional Newari settlement still retains its medieval character with narrow streets, public squares with in dispersed tiered temples and rest houses.

The Vajrayogini temple complex constructed in the mid 17th Century is located on the flanks of the hills 1.5 km north of Sankhu. The main tiered temple dedicated to the tantic goddess Vajrayogini, is surrounded by several monuments and freestanding statues.

Justification for Outstanding Universal Value
Satements of authenticity and/or integrity
The Vajrayogini temple complex has been maintained in its original state. Large parts of the traditional settlement of Sankhu still retain their original character, with many of the monuments having been restored over the years.

Comparison with other similar properties
The Vajrayogini Temple Complex and the early settlement of Sankhu are culturally and historically related to the Monument Zones of the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site. "Vajrayogini and the Early Settlement of Sankhu" can be considered as a possible future extension to the Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site.

World Heritage in Nepal
Kathmandu Valley
Sagarmatha National Park
Royal Chitwan National Park
Lumbini, the Birthplace of the Lord Buddha

STOLEN IMAGES OF NEPAL

2009-07-26T08:19:00.001-07:00

Buddha, standing
view of N24001 (colour image)
From Chabahil, Deopatan, Nepal
Stone
H: 37"
5th century C.E.
stolen in July, 1985

Buddha, standing
From Bangemura, Kathmandu, Nepal
Stone
5th century C.E.
There have been several unsuccessful attampts to steal this image. It is now protected by iron bars.

Buddha, standing
From Rajrajesvarighat, Pashupati, Nepal
Stone
12th century C.E.
Several unsuccessful attempts have been made to steal this image in the past few years.

Buddha, standing
From a Law Firm, Ram Shah Path, Nepal
Stone
7th century C.E.
During an attempt to steal this image it was broken into pieces.

Mount Everest

2009-07-26T02:58:00.000-07:00

Mount Everest – also called Sagarmāthā (Nepali: सगरमाथा), Chomolungma or Qomolangma (Tibetan: ཇོ་མོ་གླང་མ) or Zhumulangma (Chinese: 珠穆朗玛峰 Zhūmùlǎngmǎ Fēng) – is the highest mountain on Earth, as measured by the height above sea level of its summit, 8,848 metres (29,029 ft). The mountain, which is part of the Himalaya range in Asia, is located on the border between Sagarmatha Zone, Nepal, and Tibet, China.

In 1856, the Great Trigonometric Survey of India established the first published height of Everest, then known as Peak XV, at 29,002 ft (8,840 m). In 1865, Everest was given its official English name by the Royal Geographical Society upon recommendation of Andrew Waugh, the British Surveyor General of India at the time. Chomolungma had been in common use by Tibetans for centuries, but Waugh was unable to propose an established local name because Nepal and Tibet were closed to foreigners.

The highest mountain in the world attracts climbers of all levels, from well experienced mountaineers to novice climbers willing to pay substantial sums to professional mountain guides to complete a successful climb. The mountain, while not posing substantial technical climbing difficulty on the standard route (other eight-thousanders such as K2 or Nanga Parbat are much more difficult), still has many inherent dangers such as altitude sickness, weather and wind. By the end of the 2008 climbing season, there had been 4,102 ascents to the summit by about 2,700 individuals. Climbers are a significant source of tourist revenue for Nepal, whose government also requires all prospective climbers to obtain an expensive permit, costing up to US$25,000 per person.Everest has claimed 210 lives, including eight who perished during a 1996 storm high on the mountain. Conditions are so difficult in the death zone that most corpses have been left where they fell. Some of them are visible from standard climbing routes.

Everest Base Camp

There are two base camps on opposite sides of Mt. Everest: to the South in Nepal, and to the North in Tibet. Located at the altitude of 5,360 metres (17,600 ft) is South Base Camp in Nepal. (28°0′26″N 86°51′34″E / 28.00722°N 86.85944°E / 28.00722; 86.85944), and at 5,208 metres (17,090 ft) is the North Base Camp in Tibet(28°8′28″N 86°51′6″E / 28.14111°N 86.85167°E / 28.14111; 86.85167 (North Base Camp)). These camps are rudimentary campsites on Mount Everest that are used by mountain climbers during their ascent and descent. South Base Camp is used when climbing via the southeast ridge, while North Base Camp is used when climbing via the northeast ridge.

Supplies are carried to the camps by sherpas or porters, and with help of animals. The North Base Camp has vehicle access (at least in the summer months). Climbers typically rest at base camp for several days for acclimatization; to reduce the risks and severity of altitude sickness. Basecamps usually consist of long lines of tents with food, blankets, and light.

Stolen Images of Sankhu

2009-07-25T08:40:00.001-07:00

Buddha, standing
From Vajrayogini Temple, Sankhu, Nepal
Stone
H: ca. 40"
13th century C.E.
stolen in the mid 1980's

Caturmurti
From Epatol, Sankhu, Nepal
Grey limestone
H: 25 1/2"
11th century C.E.
stolen in mid 1985

NEPAL-THE HEAVEN ON EARTH

2009-07-25T05:39:00.000-07:00

NEPAL-THE HEAVEN ON EARTH

Nepal (Nepali: नेपाल [neˈpaːl] (help·info)), officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked country in South Asia and is the world's youngest republic. It is bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India. With an area of 147,181 square kilometers and a population of approximately 30 million, Nepal is the world's 93rd largest country by land mass[3] and the 41st most populous country. Kathmandu is the nation's capital and the country's largest metropolitan city.

Nepal is a country of highly diverse and rich geography, culture, and religions. The mountainous north contains eight of the world's ten highest mountains, including the highest, Mount Everest. The fertile and humid south is heavily urbanized. By some measures, Hinduism is practiced by a greater majority of people in Nepal than in any other nation.[4] A minority faith in the country, Buddhism is linked historically with Nepal as the birthplace of Siddhartha Gautama who, as the Buddha Gautama, gave birth to the Buddhist tradition.

Nepal had been a monarchy throughout most of its history. Prithvi Narayan Shah, a Shah dynasty king, unified the many small kingdoms in 1768. Since then, the country had been ruled by a dynasty of kings. However, a decade-long People's Revolution by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) along with several weeks of mass protests by all major political parties of Nepal in 2006, culminated in a peace accord and the ensuing elections for the constituent assembly voted overwhelmingly in favor of the abdication of the last Nepali monarch Gyanendra Shah and the establishment of a federal democratic republic in May 28, 2008.[5] The first President of Nepal, Dr. Ram Baran Yadav was sworn in on 23 July, 2008.

POKHARA

POKHARA, Pokhara is the most beautiful city in Nepal. The city is situated 200 km west of Kathmandu, is the starting point of Nepal's popular trekking and rafting destinations. The elevation of Pokhara is approximately 915 meter from the sea level. This is the magic city in the sense that you can enjoy exotic view of Machhapuchhre [6977m] very close from Pokhara city. Moreover, Pokhara offers panoramic views of five peaks of Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, Manaslu, Himchuli etc. The valley is famous for natural and cultural beauty that has more than seven lakes, out of them Fewa and Rupa are very attractive for tourists.

More about Pokhara

Gorkha

Gorkha, The town of Gorkha located at a distance of 144 km/90 miles, north west of Kathmandu was the ancient Kingdom of the present Shah Kings. The motorable road ends just below the Gorkha town and all tour of this place has to be done on foot. Gorkha palace located on top of a hill overlooking the town of Gorkha, can be reached after a steep uphill climb of an hour and a half. Though the main palace courtyard is closed to all foreigners one can however enter the outer part, which offers a spectacular birds eye view of the Gorkha town. For the more energetic hiker, a further climb of half an hour is suggested. This particular point known as Upalla Kot gives the best aerial view of the palace. Gorkha can be reached by road in conjunction with Pokhara or a same day trip can be undertaken from Kathmandu.

Gurkha, also spelled as Gorkha or Ghurka, are people from Nepal and northern India[1] who take their name from the eighth century Hindu warrior-saint Guru Gorakhnath..His disciple Bappa Rawal, born Prince Kalbhoj/Prince Shailadhish, founded the house of Mewar, Rajasthan (Rajputana). Later descendants of Bappa Rawal moved further east to found the house of Gorkha, which in turn founded the Kingdom of Nepal. Gorkha District is one of the 75 districts of modern Nepal.

Gurkhas

Gurkhas are best known for their history of bravery and strength in the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas and the Indian Army's Gorkha regiments. The Gurkhas were designated by British officials as a "Martial Race". "Martial Race" was a designation created by officials of British India to describe "races" (peoples) that were thought to be naturally warlike and aggressive in battle, and to possess qualities of courage, loyalty, self sufficiency, physical strength, resilience, orderliness, the ability to work hard for long periods of time, fighting tenacity and military strategy. The British recruited heavily from these Martial Races for service in the colonial army.

Victoria Cross recipients
Main article: List of Gurkha Recipients of the Victoria Cross
There have been twenty-six Victoria Crosses awarded to members of the Gurkha regiments. The first was awarded in 1858 and the last in 1965. Thirteen of the recipients have been British officers serving with Gurkha regiments, although since 1915 the majority have been received by Gurkhas serving in the ranks as private soldiers or as NCOs. In addition, since Indian independence in 1947, Gurkhas serving in the Indian Army have also been awarded three Param Vir Chakras, which are roughly equivalent.

Of note also, there have been two George Cross medals awarded to Gurkha soldiers, for acts of bravery in situations that have not involved combat.

Treatment of Gurkhas in the United Kingdom
The treatment of Gurkhas and their families has been the subject of controversy in the United Kingdom following revelations that Gurkhas received smaller pensions than their British equivalents. On 8 March 2007, it was announced by the British Government that all Gurkhas who signed up after July 1, 1997 would receive a pension equivalent to that of their British counterparts. In addition, Gurkhas would, for the first time, be able to transfer to another army unit after five years service to broaden their experience. It was also stated that, for the first time in the history of the Gurkhas, women would be allowed to join — although not in infantry units, in line with general British Army policy.

Despite this, many Gurkhas who had not served long enough to entitle them to a pension faced hardship on their return to Nepal, and some critics have derided the Government's decision to only award the new pension to those joining after the 1 July 1997, claiming that this left many ex-Gurkhas still facing a financially uncertain retirement. Even the British National Party has waded into the debate in support of the Gurkhas. A charity, the Gurkha Welfare Trust, provides aid to alleviate hardship and distress among Gurkha ex-servicemen.
The nationality status of Gurkhas and their families was also previously an area of dispute, with claims that some ex-army Nepali families were being denied residency and forced to leave Britain. The new policy on Gurkhas (announced by the British Government on 8 March 2007) guarantees residency rights in Britain for retired Gurkhas and their families. In a landmark ruling on 30 September 2008 the High Court in London decided that Gurkhas who left the Army before 1997 did have an automatic right of residency in the United Kingdom.[citation needed] Before this ruling only Gurkhas who left the British Army after 1997 were granted automatic residency benefits.[46] In line with the ruling of the High Court the Home Office is to review all cases affected by this decision.

There is a campaign currently running to support Gurkhas and pressure the UK government into giving more help and equal treatment to Gurkhas, called Gurkha Justice. A motion was voted on in the House of Commons on the 29th April 2009 by the Liberal Democrats that all Gurkhas be offered an equal right of residence. This resulted in a defeat for the Government by 267 votes to 246, the first, first day motion defeat for a government since 1978. The Commons vote is not binding, but it represents an embarrassment for the government. Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader stated that "This is an immense victory on a series of fronts: for the rights of Gurkhas who have been waiting so long for justice, a victory for Parliament, a victory for decency." He added that it was "the kind of thing people want this country to do".

On 21 May 2009, the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced that all Gurkha veterans who retired before 1997 with at least four years service would be allowed to settle in the UK. The actress Joanna Lumley, who had campaigned for the rights of Gurkhas, said "This is the welcome we have always longed to give".

AROUND BANEPA

2009-07-22T08:26:00.000-07:00

Banepa
Banepa, Capital of entire region in the middle of the 15th century, this small commercially active Newar Village lying 27km/ 17 miles ease of Kathmandu city has catered to the people of the neighboring areas unnoticed to it's own past. When Nepal had trade relations with Tibet, this place was an important enroute trade centre. Tour of this village gives a good combination of history, rural life and scenic beauty.

Dhulikhel

Dhulikhel, Situated at an altitude of approx. 1800 m / 5500 ft above the sea level and 32/20 miles east of Kathmandu City. It is famous for it's vantage location in viewing the Himalayan ranges from Cho Olyu in the east to Himalchuli in the west. Dhulikhel is very popular for viewing sunrise and sunset.

Kodari

Kodari is the border point between Nepal and Tibetan Region of People's Republic of China. The 114 km. Road from Kathmandu takes about 4 to 5 hours each way. It is a beautiful drive through country side. On this road one can see beautiful mountain, snow fed rivers, natural hot spring, village life etc.

Nala
Nala is a small isolated village 27 km/17 miles east of Kathmandu situated on the southern slope of a mountain over looking the beautiful green valley. The whole village has gained a mystical valley atmosphere due to it's set up and a typical temple of Bhagawati a classic example of pagoda architecture. There is also a 9th century AD temple dedicated to Lord Lokeshwor – a Buddhist God.

Panauti

Panauti is an ancient village, 32 km/20 miles south east of Kathmandu situated on the banks of Punyamati river. A leisurely walk throughout this tiny village will reveal it's antiquity to the visitors, a must in Peanut is a visit to the 14th century AD Hindu temple of Shiva locally known as Indreswor Mahadev. The wooden struts supporting the temple are splendid example of wood carving of that era, which till date remain unchallenged in the entire Kingdom.

AROUND BHAKTAPUR

2009-07-21T09:09:00.000-07:00

AROUND BHAKTAPUR

Bhadgaon (Bhaktapur)
Bhadgaon is also known as Bhaktapur meaning the city of devotees, this place is the home of medieval art and architecture. Lying 14 km/9 miles east of Kathmandu City, this place was founded in the 9th century and is shaped like a conch shell. The city is at the height of 4600 ft. above see level. In Bhadgaon you will visit the Durbar Square with it's array of temples overlooked by the palace of 55 windows built by King Bhupatindra Malla. The Nyatapola Temple also built by King Bhupatindra Mall, is the best of example of Pagoda style and stands of five terraces on each of which stands a pair of figures two famous strong men,two elephants, two lion two griffins and two goddesses. Time permitting, a visit to the museum of Thanka painting can also be considered.

Pottery and weaving are its traditional industries. The most interesting places for tourists are: Bhaktapur Darbar Square that includes- The Golden Gate, The Palace of 55 Windows, The Stone Temple of Batsala Devi- The Art Gallary, Nyatapola Temple and Dattatraya Temple. The entry fee of Bhaktapur Durbar Squar is U.S.$10 per person

Thimi
Thimi, Clay pottery is the traditional occupation of this village which is on the way to Bhaktapur. Here one can witness the making of clay pots, flower vases etc. and buy them very cheaply if they so desire.

Changunarayan

Changunarayan, The temple of Changunarayan, located at distance of 14km./9miles, in universally acknowledged as the most stately example of Pagoda style in Nepal. It is considered to be one of the greatest artistic legacies of the Lichhavian era. Changu is one of the ancient historical places situated on a hillock with conical shape. It is said to be the oldest pagoda style temple in the valley from early 3rd century AD.

Nagarkot

Nagarkot is situated about 35 km/22 miles east of Kathmandu and from here one can see Mount Everest and other peaks of the Himalayas. Nagarkot is located between Kathmandu valley in the west and Indrawati in the east. The top of Nagarkot commands accelerating views in all directions. The altitude of Nagarkot is 2229 m/7133 ft. above sea level.

BajraYogini Pride of Sankhu

2009-07-13T10:14:00.000-07:00

The oldest and most historic location in the Kathmandu Valley

Sankhu is a very old Newar city and lies 23 km from Kathmandu. It derives its name from Sankhapura, which means Conch City. It lies on the famous route to Tibet. The traders used this route from 7th to 9th centuries AD. This legendary city is worth a visit, because of its old houses, beautiful wood- carved temples and old stone water taps. The famous temple of Goddess Ugratara Bajrayogini is situated at a 45 minute walking distance from here.

The Goddess Bajrayogini is the Hindu – Buddhist parallel manifestation of Goddess Kali. The temple complex is supposed to be as old as Changunarayan (467 AD). It is mentioned in Gopal Vamsabali, a research manuscript, which states Manadev, performed penance at this place. The present three- tier structure or the temple is the contribution of King Pratap Malla.

It is believed that Shankharapur was established in 1801, although many have argued that its founding date was in 1299. But no matter which date is completely accurate, it still remains the oldest and most historic location in the Kathmandu Valley. The legend related to the history of the town tells of a kingdom that was created and how the Tantric goddess Bajrajogini was significant in the establishment of Sankhu. Her shrine is hidden in the dense forests surrounding the town and it is a place of pilgrimage for many Hindus and Buddhists.

The annual Sankhu festival is also held in her honor. Her shrine consists of beautiful statues, stupas and a few other shrines. The main structure at the shrine was constructed in the year 1655 by the then King, Prakas Malla. It is the most historic and oldest shrine that is located in this area. The goddess of wisdom is honored at the Sankhu Bajra Jogini and Hindus make their way to this shrine to offer blood sacrifices to the goddess. Buddhists have their own tantras here to make their own offerings. The caves that are located near the temple of Bajrajogini should also be explored, as it is said that in the cave that has two rooms the priest pays penance here for his love for her.

The Changunarayan Temple and the Salinadi River (a holy river in the Hindu religion) are two other very important and breathtaking sights. The lush green forests that surround Sankhu are worth looking into, as they are peaceful and magical, with many creatures and birds that make the forest their home. This charming destination in Nepal has a wonderful mixture of culture, tradition, history and spectacular beauty to share with visitors. It is guaranteed to be a rewarding experience and is a recommended town to visit when in Nepal

Bajrayogini and early settlment of sankhu

2009-07-08T10:59:00.001-07:00

Bajrayogini and early settlment of sankhu

SANKHU VAJRAYOGINI,

The name of a Goddess of UGRA TARA

Nature.

Her body is red in color with one face and two hands. The first two hands hold a knife and a skull while the other two holds a sword and Utpal flower. Having equal numbers of faces, hands and implements, a bronze statue of UGRA TARA with her left leg stretched out lies in the upper story. Most of the Nepalese call this main object the KHADGAYOGINI. Goddess UGRA T ARA is considered a deity of wisdom worshipped by both Buddhist and Hindus.

The temple is believed to have been built by King MANADEVA during the 5th century. It is also known as one of the oldest temples in Nepal. At this site, you could also see what's known as the fire and water of Aeon.

Purano Bus Park to Shankhu Bus Park. By Bus: (buses run from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM)

1. Route No. -4

2. Rate Rs. -24.00

3. Time -1 hour 25 min.

5. Route -From Purano Bus Park -Putali Sadak -Kamal Pokhari - Gyaneshwor -Maintidevi -Purano Baneshwor -Gaushala - Jayabageshwori -Mitra Park -Chabihil -Tusal -Buddha -Jorpati -

Dakshin Dhoka -Mulpani -Thali -Danchhi -Barmhakhel -Indrayani - Kurthali -Khulaltar -Samlambu tar -Sankhu Bus Park.

Attraction of Sankhu

2009-07-08T10:52:00.000-07:00

Attractions near sankhu are follows:

- Historically and archeologically important ancient city which was as individual country in past.

- holly place Bajrayogini Temple (the temple of Bajrayogini is an important pilgrimage site for

Buddhists and Hindus both community )

- Next to Bhaktpur and Changunarayan Temple ( which is in world Heritage)

- Holly River 'Salinadi' (most respective river for all Hindus)

- Ancient road which links to Tiber and Lhasha.

- Really Close to Tourist place Nagarkot which is famous for sunrise view and Himalaya view.

NIcknames of people of Sankhu (Sakwomi)

2009-07-06T10:35:00.000-07:00

Nicknames attached to family lineage of people of Sankhu always fascinate me. A person from Sankhu may not recognize another person from Sankhu by his first and family name but can fairly guess who she/he is by the nickname of her/his family lineage. For example, if a person from Sankhu living in US for many years meets somewhere in US another person from Sankhu, the former may not know the later by his first and family name or place in the village, but could easily guess who she/he is if told the nickname of her/his family lineage.

Like in other Newa settlements, residents of Sankhu also have caste and social hierarchies. The interesting thing though are nicknames associated to family lineage of many residents of Sankhu (However, not all of the family lineages have such nicknames). These nicknames can be categorized by different traits: (some of the nicknames sound funny but these are mentioned for the purpose of information and possible further research but by no means meant to humiliate or offend any persons/families).

By reference to living/imaginary things
Maaka (monkey); Nya: (fish); Byan (frog), Kawaan (Skeleton); Khya: (friendly ghost) etc.
By reference to appearance
Gwaaraa (fat and round); Ghauwa (huge and big), Ghori (rough skin) etc.
By reference to place
Pukhusi (who lives by the pond); Nyasi (who lives near the narrow lane), etc.
By reference to human traits
Khichulu (timid); Paaka: (stupid); Koprakhi (who shits in a Kopra, a wide round metal bowl kept in room in old days for urinary purposes when there were no in-house toilets); Phonsi (fat and huge, who resemble to a fruit of the monkey-puzzle tree); Hayenla (Duck catcher); Bhoot (who eats, drinks a lot); Haleya: (who talks loudly and a lot) etc.
By reference to objects
Bajhaan (tobacco assorted with sugarcane residue used for smoking); Kwyenpwa: (hollow bone with holes); Paai (a cloth/leather bag used for keeping traditional community group – Guthi records) etc.
By reference to occupation
Syarba (Sherpa); Karki, Majhi, Sarki (castes, groups in non-Newa communities) etc.
Others not known
Pikha, Kalsin (no directly resembling meaning) etc. and there are many more...

Within the community of Sankhu, nicknames are commonly used by people as teasing terms during informal or friendly verbal talks. These are also used as derogatory terms during disputes, quarrels and intended humiliation. As you can see, some of the nicknames related to occupations or castes of non-Newa communities.

WELCOME TO WINDOW OF SANKHU

2009-06-26T11:01:00.000-07:00

About Sankhu (Shankharapur)

Introduction

Sankhu (Shankharapur) is an ancient city. This is ancient city is located at the altitude of1328 meters from the sea level and on east direction of Kathmandu 17Kilometer far from the heart of kathmandu. This is a typical Newar Town. Mostly peoples are newars. And they have their own culture. Sankhu is an ancient but small too. The people of sankhu are mostly well civilized, and educated. At past also this place as well developed and as a country which as its own autonomus.

According to the legend and historic manuscripts, Sankhu village was created and settled for the service of Goddess Ugra Tara Bajrayogini by inviting residents of 7-8 villages in surrounding areas. It is possible then that these nicknames could actually be derived from the community or occupations they belonged to before their ancestors settled in Sankhu. By that token, those families without such nicknames could be new settlers.

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5. Bajraygini Jatra Ugratara Bajrayogini Jatra: started 3300 years ago by King Shankhadeva and the priest of Bajrayogini, Jogadev Bajracharya. This carnival has ben observed continuously since it was started at sankhu where several festivals and cultural events takes place round the years.

6. Sithi Nakha(Feast) :- This festival is observed to worship Kumar, brother of Lord Ganesh.

7. Gathe Mangal: This festival is observed to mark the death of demon called Ghanta Karna and to celebrate the expulsion of evils and protection of the community from the evil's spirits.

8. Gai Jatra:- This festival is observed to commemorate on the death of m embers of the community over the year. Sankhu enjoys Gaijata in special manner.

P.s. Dear friends. this is my first try to give something about sankhu, so please let me know what should I include in this site about sankhu.

please comment me about this site. This will definately help to improve this site contents.

Cultures and festivals:
In addition to other common festivals observed by Hindus like Dashain, the larest festival in Neal worshipped fopr 15 days in celebration of victory over vices. Tihar, Holi purnima and Baishakha purnima people of Sankhu specially celebrate some other festivals.

1. Sakimana Punhi:- people visit Changunarayan and Budhanilakantha to pay homage to the deceased.
2. Yomari Punhi:- Celebration of new harvest during which Ganesh Jatra takes place in Sankhu.
3. Makar Sankranti: This festial is observed on the first day of the month of Magh.
swosthani and Shalnadi :- This is a special festival in Sankhu though its importance is all pervasive among the indus. Since Shalinadi river, a sacred river, lies in this area, this festival has a special significance. a month from Push Sukla Purnma to Magh Sukla Purnima has special significane as religious men and women follow strict ritual and worship Lord Vishnu ( Madhav Nayayan) at the bank of the river is the sacred month in order to get their wishes fulfilled. In addition, there are many many important myths associated with this month like the birth of Shree Goraksyanath Baba, the Guru of Lord Pashupatinath. and a one day fastin by Bhima consumer of a lot food fall in the same month.