Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Observes Its Tenth Anniversary

Dr. Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, Nov 11 (Nepal Oregon News): Almost two months of programs and scholarly presentations to mark the tenth anniversary of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara concluded on Sunday Nov 10, 2019 in Portland, USA. A day long program was organized that day to mark the tenth anniversary of the only one Nepalese Buddhist temple in the USA.

The program kicked off in the morning with fire ritual and Saptavidhanottara Puja which was performed by Guruju Prajwal Ratna Bajracharya.

For the first time, the Gurumandala Puja at the beginning of the ritual included ten Buddhist practitioners of the community performing the ritual to re-empower deities represented in the temple: Helen Appell, Yuko Okomoto, Anna Shustrova, Anastasia Roderick, Aleksei Dobry, Joshua Proto, Leson Baker, Gabriel Quitslund, Uppa Shakya, Dina Shakya and Naveena Shakya.

During the program, special guest from Japan Yuko Okomoto presented Buddhist Dharini chanting for world peace based on Tendaichu tradition of Japan.

Speaking with Nepal Oregon News, Guruju Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya said that Nritya Mandala Mahavihara which is the Foundation for Sacred Buddhist Arts of Nepal, is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Charya Nritya and the related traditions of instruments and vocal music, choreography, and the crafts of making the masks, costumes and jewelry used in dances.

Prajwal went on to say:"The Nritya Mandala troupe practices a sacred Buddhist dance form that for hundreds of years has been virtually unknown outside the circles of those who perform it. This ancient ritual dance dates  back to over more than 1000 years and is a religious discipline of the Buddhist priests of the Kathmandu valley who perform the dance as part of their esoteric meditation practices, ceremonies and rituals."

Prajwal added:"Since its inception in 1996, Nritya Mandala has performed in Asia, Europe and North and South America. Classes and workshops are also offered on this sacred art form."

Meanwhile, on the same occasion, co-founder duo of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Helen Appell and Prajwal Vajracharya were honored with a plaque of appreciation for their unparalleled contributions to the cause of the Mahavihara. The plaque was handed over to them by Corinne Kakamura-Rybak and Uppa Shakya.

During the talent show program, songs were presented by Loknath Denis and Leson Baker whereas Ranjan Shakya on the occasion sang the national anthem of Nepal. Likewise, Prajwal Vajracharya also recited a poem entitled "Wake up, all the Buddhists!"

At the end, in a new form yet authentic traditional way in Nepal of performing deity dance ritual, observers and people from the audience requested Buddhist deity of their choice to arise in dance through paying homage and making offerings and then receiving blessings of the deity.

In this way, Mahankal, Padma Sambhawa, Tara, Singhamukhi, Avlokeswor and Bajrayogini charya dances were presented to the audience by Prajwal Vajracharya, Helen Appell, Yuko Okomoto, Bobby Romansky, Anna Shustrova, Anastasia Roderick, Corinne Kakamura-Rybak and Alysha Graham.

The day long program was followed by breakfast, lunch and dinner.