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 maruni dance by mantru
Dashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons. One of the victory stories told is the Ramayan, where the lord Ram after a big struggle slaughtered Ravana, the fiendish king of demons. It is said that lord Ram was successful in the battle only when goddess Durga was evoked. The main celebration glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur, who terrorised the earth in the guise of a brutal water buffalo.The first nine days signify the nine days of ferrous battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur. The tenth day is the day when Mahisasur was slain and the last five days symbolise the celebration of the victory with the blessing of the goddess.
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 Darjeeling, wedding
ceremony by sacharaLeave a Comment
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AS there are a mix of people living in darjeeling,lots of festivities all year thru...losar is one of the important festivals for the tibetan people.
Tibetan celebrate Losar (Tibetan New Year), this is the most important festival in the Tibetan calendar. They celebrate this for about a week with good food like specially cooked momos, new clothes and dances. This restival is around february around the same time in feb or march we celebrate Saraswati puja or Shri Panchami , Hindus of Darjeeling worship the goddess of knowledge Saraswati and the next day they take the idol singing and dancing to immerse in the nearest stream. This is an important day in the Nepalese calendar as this day is meant for a new beginning like a new account, sowing of seeds, etc.
March-
Around March Muslims of Darjeeling celebrate Id-ul Zuha remembering Allah's prophet Ibrahim. On this day Muslims in Darjeeling like other Indian Muslims eat mutton. In India this festival is also known as Bakr (Goat) Id.
April-Buddha Jayanti, birth anniversary of Lord Buddha, is celebrated with procession from Buddhist monasteries with Lamas (Tibetan Monks) musical troupe followed by Lord Buddha's idol, and the procession usually carries the Buddhist holy books around town.
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 tika by mantru
In October Hindus specially Nepali Hindus, have their greatest festival. It's a continuous celebration for fifteen days. This festival starts from Jamare Aunshi (Newmoon, the day barley is sown in temples for Dasain. The shrada (remembrance of the dead ancestors) ceremony is also performed during this period. From the next day starts Durga Puja, Nepalis also call this Shakti (Power) puja, when the goddess Durga (triumph of good over evil) is worshipped for nine days to worship the nine different forms she comes in. Nepalis celebrate this by worshipping weapons like their traditional Khukuri, etc. On the seventh day is Phul Pati (Flowers and petals) when flowers of different kinds are taken round the town in procession and later taken to Goddess Durga in the temple. The eighth day is Maar (the day of sacrifice), this day is celebrated with the ceremonial sacrifice of a buffalo at Dali ground.
The tenth day is Tika day. On this day people go to their elders to get the blessings and the holy food (Prasad) of Shakti puja. This continues till the fullmoon day.
This is how dasai ia celebrated in darjeeling but for full details there are three tips on the whole festival of dasain.
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 maruni dance by mantru
It is traditionally believed that females should not perform this dance. Therefore, only males perform this in a disguised form wearing female dress and decorating them as females. They thus become maruni and perform the dance. this dance is based especially on the story of the pangs and agony of Sorathi Rani, a legengendary queen. (more)
I have found a small in youtube check it out.Music is great , folk songs.
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 by mantru
Tamangs are a Nepali community and the "Tamang Selo" dance is performed to the rhythmic sound of the "Damphoo" musical instrument which the dancers carry in their hands. This dance is therefore also called the "Damphoo Dance". It is always full of fun and vigor and the brisk movement and rhythmic beat of the Dampoo depicts a style peculiar to the Tamangs. It is performed on occasions like marriage ceremony, childbirth and village fairs.
Tamang Selo is a very sweet and enchanting variety of folk songs. Originally sung by Tamang but favoured by all.As the name suggests this folk song Tamang Selo was originated by Tamang who inhabit the hills . The beat and rhythm is slow but the melody is enchanting. Specially used for expression of love, passion and sorrow, Tamang Selo is also sung as question & answer between two competing groups of singers.
This variety is known to Nepali music from the earliest times and hence its date of origin cannot be definitely answered.
When Nepali folk songs are sung in gathering of singers, Tamang Selo is sung to conclude the ceremony.
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Limbus, in general, marry within their own community. Boys are at liberty to choose a girl and girls are equally free to decide whether to spend life with the boy in question or not . Cross-cousin marriage is not allowed in Limbu culture. Marriage between a man and the widow of his elder brother can take place if they mutually agree. Marriage between a man and a woman outside family relations and having different thars (clans) is also possible either by arrangement or by mutual consent of the boy and the girl in question. It is conventionally said that the customs and traditions of Limbus were established in the distant past by Sawa Yethang (council of eight kings/leaders). The marriages are mostly arranged by parents or result when a boy elopes with a girl. Asking for a girl's hand, that is the most important ceremony. In that system, the girl can ask for anything and an unlimited amount of gold, silver, etc. This confirms to the girl's family that the boy is financially secure enough to keep their daughter happy. Few days after the wedding, the boy's family members have to visit the girl's house with a piglet and some alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks depending upon the financial standard of his house. The key ceremonies of a Limbu wedding take place in the groom's house rather than that of the bride's because girl has to stay with her husband. There are two special dances in this ceremony, one is called dhan nach (wheat harvested rice dance) and Chyabrung. Dhan nach is characterized by men and women dancing in a slow circle, whereas Chyabrung consist of complex footwork that goes with the beat of the drums. Anyone can join the dance and they can go for long hours. Dhan naach also celebrates the harvest season in addition to being a feature of social occasions including weddings.
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It is Limboo's traditional musical instrument. The dancers hang the 'Chyap-brungs' around their necks and beat the drum with an open palm on one side and with a stick on the other side. This maneuvers produces two different sounds. In this fashion, groups of Limboos or Subba men dance executing delicate and complicated footwork son the hypnotic beats of the Chyap-Brung. It is song less dance, which is only rhythmic music. In this age-old fold dance the Limboo dancers depict graceful movements of wild animals and birds.
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 girls giving blessings to
the household after song by mantru,
4 more photos
Tihar or diwali is the festival of lights celebrated by hindus all aver however the nepali diwali is a bit different it is a customery to adorn our doors and windows with marigold garlends.People come to know weather a family is celebrating the festival or not as sometime when some family members passes away we do not celebrate any festivals for one year of the persons death, this applies to paternal family members.
It is celebrated for five days.(will write in detail later) The festival begins with Kag (Crow) Tihar when Crows are given good food as they are considered as the messenger of the Lord of Death, Yama. The next day is Kukur (Dog) Tihar. This day the dog is given good food as it is considered the guardian of Yama.
The next day is Laxmi (Goddess of wealth) puja or Gai (Cow,
symbolises Laxmi) Tihar when the Goddess of Wealth and Cow are worshipped along with money and jewellery. On this day it is customary to gamble. In the evening young girls go from house to house singing Bhaileni (special songs of Tihar) and they are offered money and food. Nepalis celebrate this day with lights and firecrackers in the evening.
The next day is Govardhan puja, when the bull is worshipped. On this day boys go from house to house singing Deusee (singing special hymns to spread the message of Dasain), they are offered money and food.
The next day is Bhai Tika, when brothers go to their sister's house. There the sisters put a special tika on the forehead and garland them with a garland made of thread and marigold wishing them long life. Sisters offer them special food and brothers give them money and gifts. This is a day of merry making for the Nepalis.
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june -Ashar ko Pandra (15th day of Nepali month Asar) is a special day for Nepalis to eat curd and chewra (beaten rice). They say that goddess Parbati had given Lord Shiva curd and chewra on this day, so if you take the same this day, you get salvation.
August-On the same full moon day is Hindu's Raksha Bandhan (Thread of Protection) - this day is celebrated by Nepali Hindus as Raksha Bandhan and the priests go to different house and bind a thread on the right hand as a mark of Protection that the Gods will give for another year. WE also tie the sacred thread to our brothers wrist for their protection and goodwill.
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