Dr Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, Jan 9 (Nepal Oregon News): A virtual talk on 'Bura-Buri Janko (Bhimratharohan - Honoring Old Age Ritual Ceremony in Nepal' by Hom Shrestha, a Ph D student in Canada, was organized by Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara on Friday, Jan 8, 2021.
Speaking on the occasion, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara Prajwal Vajracharya said:"When a man or woman turns 77years, 7 months, 7 days and 7 hours, there is a special ceremony to perform. The celebration may also be held for a couple when either the husband or wife reaches that age."
Bura Buri Janko is a traditional and religious honoring for senior Newar citizens that has been carried out since many, many centuries ago, Vajracharya said adding Bura Buri Janko is a quintessence of Newar culture.
The Bhimratha observance calls on the goddess of long life, Usnisavijaya, to purify karma and bestow the blessings of good health and a long life span, Prajwal added.
Kuon Hunt, member of the Board of Directors of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara gave a short introduction of Hom Shrestha on the occasion.
Hom Shrestha, a Ph D scholar in Canada doing research on Bura-Buri Janko, speaking on the occasion threw light on the cultural and traditional significance of the Bura Buri Janko.
Highlighting on the historical and cultural background of Bura Buri Janko, Shrestha said that Bhimratharohan is an important part of the life-cycle ritual of a human being.
Bura-Buri Janko is an ongoing 5,000 years old ritual tradition, Hom said and added that it is a ritual practice of spiritually and a culturally based worship in Newah culture.
According to Shrestha, important ritual functions on Bura Janko procession include: welcome ceremony, (lasakusa), homa or yojna (sacred or holy fire), Kalash Puja, Argha Puja (offer holy water) for the celebrant to wash his or her both feet with the Kalash water, milk, roasted rice and coins and bow down to touch feet by forehead for blessing, wearing a new pair of gold ear rings, celebrants mount or climb the palannquin or chariot, paraded through the neighborhood on a palanquin or chariot (four-wheel cart), Bettali chikegu (covering head of celebrant family with white turban cloth), Sacred dish (Thayebhu - large plate with stand), khen sagan (offering of egg, fish, meat, ginger and bara).
"To get old in Nepal is to become a God", Shrestha said adding that aging is a spiritual process in Newah tradition and also growing into old age is an eternal truth.
Laying emphasis on the cultural significance of the Bhimratharohan, Hom expressed the view that Bura Buri Janko which is a celebration of longevity and aging wellness, and honoring old age in a divine realm, is for enhancing the compassionate transcendental life for elder or senior people in a holistic aspect of spiritual, emotional and intellectual wellness.
The virtual interaction on Bura Buri Janko was attended by 15 participants from the USA, Hongkong and Canada. Prof. Dr. Linda Iltis of University of Washington was also among the participants. The talk was followed by an interaction between Hom and the participants.
Living and studying in Canada since 2014, Hom Shrestha is an emerging indigenous scholar (Masters in Interdisciplenary Health Program, Honors B. A. in Specialized Gerentology) that belongs to the indigenous clan of the sacred land of Nepal Mandala.
Shrestha also volunteers at Laurentian University and has participated in the CIHR - funded dementia research activities in Ontario.
(Nepal Oregon News writer Rabin Man Shakya is a Newah journalist in America)
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