Advisor, Nepa Chhen, Portland, USA.
It was so nice to get a Bhintuna on Facebook on the occasion of Ghyo Chaku Salu from Swaraj Shakya, my cousin brother and General Secretary of Nepal Russia Friendship and Cultural Association. Thank you very much and Suvay. Also, Subhay is due to www.fb.com/newamhasika1/ for the image on Ghyo Chaku Salu.
Salu means the first day of the month in Nepal Bhasa whereas it is Sankranti in Sanskrit. The first day of the month Magh or Maghe Sankranti is known among the Newah people of Nepal as Ghyo Chaku Salu because this day is celebrated by the Newahs by eating Ghyo ( purified butter), Chaku (molasses), Lakhamari and Hamo Gwara.
Each year on Magh 1st, Newah people and the Nepalese people in Nepal and around the world should celebrate Ghyo Chaku Salu or Maghe Sankranti to raise awareness about our cultural values to the coming generations. Although different communities and indigenous groups observe Maghe Sankranti in their own ways, the Ghyo Chaku Salu celebrated by the Newah people is also remarkable because of its rich tradition, culture and cuisines.
This festival is also called the Festival of Sesames because sesame is used in many ways on this day: (1) Taking shower with sesames (2) Rubbing the body with oil and sesames (3) A Newah mother puts oil with sesames on heads of her children (4) Offering the pitri water with sesames (5) Offering sesames on fire and (6) Offering daan of sesames.
Newah people living not only in Nepal but also living in different countries of the world celebrate Ghyo Chaku Salu in their own way. Similarly, even though we are far away from the motherland - the Nepal Mandala - we the Newahs living in Portland, Oregon, USA keep up our cultural heritage alive by celebrating Ghyo Chaku Salu in our own way.
At a time when western culture and media are invading our values, culture and traditions, we must always strive to safeguard and protect our own culture. Festivals and culture are the key identity of the Newah people.
The people of Nepal celebrate Maghe Sankranti as the beginning of the auspicious month of Magh because preceding month of Poush is usually considered inauspicious. Also, from this Day, the day becomes longer than the night.
Traditional and cultural fervor is evoked by this festival long before the Ghyo Chaku Salu. Usually, the local markets of Kathmandu are hustling and bustling with the sale of molasses, Hamo Gwaras and Lakhamari long before the Salu.
According to Newah culture, the festival of Ghyo Chaku Salu is regarded as the Festival of Daughters or Mhyay Macha Nakha.
On this day, a Newah mother rubs her children's head with sesames on oil. Married daughters also come to their parent's house on Nakhatya on this day and have oil put on their head by their mom. That is why it is traditionally axiomatic to say "Ghyo Chaku Salu, Mhyay Mast Tinhu" (At the time of Ghyo Chaku Sanhu, the daughter folks jump with excitement).
There is also a Newah tradition which says that a married daughter cannot eat Ghyo and Chaku at her husband's home until a child is born from her. Since Ghyo Chaku Salu is a Mhyay Macha Nakha, the husbands of daughters should not visit the in-law's house on that day. Only married daughters and married cousin daughters are welcome on this day.
In Bhaktapur, on the day of Ghyo Chaku Salu, five Dipankar Buddhas are displayed. However, in Kathmandu, all the Dipankar Buddhas of the capital city are displayed at Hanuman Dhoka Palace on this day only once in twelve years. That is why this is a remarkable festival for the Kathmanduites. A day after Ghyo Chaku Salu, all the Dipankar Buddhas are displayed at Bhuikhel, Swayambhu with Samyak Puja and Pancha Daan.
Maghe Sankranti is the traditional celebration in which Sun God is the focus. Sun God is symbolized as a source of power, divinity and wisdom. Therefore, Sun God is especially worshipped on the day of Maghe Sankranti. According to astrology, this is the day when the Sun moves from the zodiac sign Sagittarius to Capricorn.
Also, thousands of people take a holy dip onto the confluence of the holy rivers of Nepal on this day.
Tharus are one of the indigenous communities of Nepal. Tharus celebrate the Day of Maghi Sankranti with a lot of fun, enthusiasm and much fanfare. Since Tharus start their New Year on this day, they celebrate it for five consecutive days.
The celebration of festivals like Ghyo Chaku Salu and other Newah festivals especially by Newahs abroad should be intended not just for joy and celebration, but also for instilling and inculcating values of culture and traditions on their children who are unaware about our rich festivals.
Increased cultural awareness of how we celebrate the traditional festivals, along with showcasing our traditional utensils, attires, foods, musical instruments etc may be helping to promote our culture and traditions despite the decreasing interest of children of Newahs living abroad in our culture and festivals.
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