 |
| Newar Buddhist Temple Organizes Halimali Bwoyegu Program in Portland, USA to Observe Sakimila Punhi Dr Rabin Man Shakya |
Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): Nepal is rightly described as the land of festivals and cultural carnivals. Festivals are a quintessential part of the life of the Newah people. Similarly, festivals are important factors that enliven the Nepalese culture. They have added to the cultural richness of the nation.
It goes without saying that festivals, rituals and traditions, which are the embodiment of a nation and national glory, are always in need of three Ps (preservation, protection and promotion).
In this age of globalization, thousands of Newah people have settled in different countries. Newah families and their children living abroad are familiar with major Newah festivals but many of them may be unaware about festivals like Sakimila Punhi.
It is with this purpose in mind that a Halimali Bwoyegu program (artistic display of different fried grains including wheat, puffed corns, fried soya beans, and peanuts and different kinds of fruits) was organized at Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara on Saturday, Nov 24, 2018 to celebrate Sakimila Punhi.
The Halimali Bwoyegu program on the occasion of the Sakimila Punhi organized at a Buddhist Mahavihara with participation of a Buddhist Guruju is the first time in the entire history of the Nepalese community in the USA.
On the Day of Sakimila Punhi, people from Newah community of the Kathmandu valley celebrate the day by making display of different grains, puffed corns and fruits.
Different Bhajans (religious hymns) are also recited on the same day.
The Halimali exhibition in Portland, USA is a testimony of the fact that today the celebration is not confined to just the Kathmandu valley or Nepal only.
 |
| (Nepalese Portlanders preparing Halimali Bwoyegu) |
Sakimila Punhi (also known as Sakimana Punhi) is one of the full moon days in Nepal Sambat calendar on which the Newah people eat boiled arum, sweet potato and different fried grains.
Halimali Bwoyegu program in Portland was led by Guruju Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya and participated by Pradeep Vajracharya, Kusumabati Vajracharya, Dina Shakya, Naveena Shakya, Pramod Karanjit, Sharmista Amatya, Ranjeeta Shrestha, Palistha Shakya and other Nepalese Portlanders.
 |
| (Prajwal Guruju (far right) and other participants chanting Buddhists Tutas.) On the occasion, Prajwal Vajracharya of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara shed light on the importance of celebrating festivals like Sakimila Punhi. |
Vajracharya underlined the significance of Halimali carnival with the health point of view.
Vice president of World Newah Organization Daya Shakya said that celebration of Sakimila Punhi in Portland, USA demonstrated its growing relevance and importance.
In addition, various Buddhist Tutas like Naam Sangiti, Bandeshree and Daan Balen were recited by Guruju Prajwal and other participants that included Nepalese Portlanders and some American Buddhists of the Mahavihara.
Likewise, at the program, octogenarian Buddhist activist Shanta Ratna Shakya (now on a visit to the US) chanted Sheel Prarthana and Tri Ratna Gatha.
 |
| (Octogenarian Buddhist activist Shanta Ratna Shakya chanting Sheel Prarthana.) |
"Gyan Mata Sita" written by Maha Pragya Bouddha Rishi and "Ragami Nugalaya Gunu Gunu Noyeka" written by Durga Lal Shrestha were the bhajan renditions performed by Shakya.
At the end of the program, artistic Halimali display was jumbled and mixed up as per tradition by small kids who were present at the ceremony.
 |
| (At the end, kids jumbling and mixing up Halimali) |
The program which was participated by about 50 Newahs and Americans from Portland was followed by a pot-luck dinner. Attendees at the program included Sangha members of the Mahavihara, office bearers of Nepali Association of Oregon (NAO), Nepaa Chhen, NRNA-USA-Oregon Chapter and representative of Nepal Oregon News.
No comments:
Post a Comment