Virtual Presentation on 'Harisiddhi Ritual Dance Drama of Jaladesh' Held

Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): A brilliant and thought-provoking presentation on 'Harisiddhi Ritual Dance Drama of Jaladesh' by Dr Linda Iltis was presented at a virtual program organized by World Newah Organization USA chapter on Saturday, June 5, 2021.

The talk presented a detailed and comprehensive description about Harisiddhi ritual dance drama of Jaladesh.

"Forty years ago, I became interested in the classical Newar dance drama traditions in Nepal, because I wanted to know the meaning of a specific ritual dance drama called Jala Pyakhan", Linda said during the virtual conversation.

Giving a brief details about Jala Pyakhan, she said:"Jala Pyakhan is performed in a small town of Harisiddhi located about one mile south of Patan. The Newar families who live there call it Jala."

Laying emphasis on the cultural importance of Jala Pyakhan, Linda said that it is probably the first mask dance of Nepal.

"According to historical chronicles and oral traditions, Jala Pyakhan is reputedly the oldest and most famous dance drama of Nepal," said Linda and added: It still has the largest royal (now state) land endowments of any of the Newar ritual dance groups, and its private community sponsorship was widespread throughout the Kathmandu valley and beyond, as far as Dolakha where a tall dance platform daboo and shrine house is still standing.

Linda said:"When I first saw the Jala Pyakhan, I was filled with a mixture of admiration, curiosity and awe."

Linda went on saying:"Now there are only two full 18 hour performances of the drama. Although this is a Newar tradition, songs and dialogue are sung not in Newari, but in dya - bhay, the "language of the Gods", which is a kind of mantra language, the meaning of which is understood only by individual performers. These sung dialogues are interspersed with stylized Chari  songs, which to an outside observer seem to be related to the Charya giti, or chacha mya of the Newar Buddhist Vajracharyas."

She added:"But the Jala dyaju priests themselves insist it is not song or mya but rather deva bhasa (god language) accompanied by preta boli (spirit musical syllables)."

At the end of the virtual program, Dr Linda Iltis answered to questions of the distinguished participants.

The virtual program was conducted by Pramesh Shrestha of WNO-USA chapter, while it was moderated by Prajwal Vajracharya, co-founder of Nritya Mandala Mahavihara.

Linda is Professional International Studies academic advisor with a demonstrated history (29 years) of teaching and award winning academic service in higher education at the University of Washington Henry M Jackson School of International Studies.

She is also university researcher, professional editor, publisher, with international experience teaching and training in three countries (USA, Nepal, Ghana), in fields of cultural anthropology, comparative religion, textual studies, applied international development in Himalayan and South Asian, and African areas, including nonprofit and fundraising experience with international communities and human rights advocacy.

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Newah journalist in America)