Virtual Conversation 'e-heritage' Organized by World Newah Organization - USA Chapter
Dr Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, Feb 24 (Nepal Oregon News): Promoting, preserving and protecting traditional and cultural values of Nepal in the USA are not easy work, but Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland is giving it a shot. Its establishment in 2009 in Portland has paved the way for Nepalese Portlanders and beyond to carry on with lots of lifecycle rituals and cultural ceremonies just like the way it is done in the Kathmandu valley. Nritya Mandala Mahavihara is always committed to promote and preserve Newar Buddhism and Newar culture in America.
Priest and co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya said this while addressing 'e-heritage' a virtual conversation hosted by World Newah Organization, USA chapter on Saturday, Feb 13, 2021. The program was participated and watched by a number of people from the USA, UK, Canada, Hong Kong and Nepal.
Throwing light on the concept of the Viharas which is thousands of thousands years old, Vajracharya said:" A Vihara has a spiritual connection. Vihara is also a courtyard. Back in the old days, a Vihara used to be a monastery and a school as well."
He informed the participants that there are 500 Viharas in the Kathmandu valley. Viharas were built in the historical past to build the community and fraternity in the area. The last Vihara built in Nepal was 350 years ago. Nritya Mandala Mahavihara is the first Vihara launched abroad after 350 years, Vajracharya added.
Make no mistake between Dance Mandala and Nritya Mandala Mahavihara, said Prajwal adding "Dance Mandala was launched in 1996 in Kathmandu whereas Nritya Mandala Mahavihara was established in 2009 in Portland, USA."
Prajwal also shed light on the history of the Mahavihara, the challenges and problems, he faced in the beginning."There was a fire during the construction of the Mahavihara and as a result we had to stop the construction for one whole year. A lot of damage was caused by the fire," Prajwal recollected.
Helen Appell, an American Buddhist and also co-founder of the Mahavihara helped a lot to establish the Newah Buddhist Baha in Portland, Prajwal went on saying.
The inauguration rituals of NMM was carried on by Prajwal himself and senior Gubhaju Yagyamanpati Bajracharya and Sugat Bajracharya who came to the US in 2009 for the launching rituals of the Mahavihara, Prajwal stated.
Laying emphasis on the importance of preserving Newar Buddhist heritage, Prajwal said that Nritya Mandala Mahavihara which is the Foundation for sacred Buddhist art of Nepal, is dedicated to the preservation and protection 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.
Pundit Vajracharya also underlined the need for publicizing the value of Newar Buddhism in the West and said that various lifecycle rituals like rice feeding ceremony, wedding ceremony, Bratabandha, Ihi, Bhimratharohan rituals were also organized in the Mahavihara.
Many dignitaries and Dhamma luminaries have visited the Mahavihara in the past like Dalai Lama's personal interpreter and Dalai Lama's previous teacher and many renowned Rinpoches etc, Prajwal said.
Earlier, Pramesh Shrestha of the World Newah Organization, USA chapter gave a short introduction of pundit Vajracharya who is also the director of Heritage Division, WNO, USA chapter.
(Some more new and old file photos)
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