Nepal Oregon News reporter
Portland, (Nepal Oregon News): There was a time when Nepalese living in America had to go to Nepal for performing important lifecycle rituals like wedding, Ihi, Bara Tayagu, Bratabandha, Bhimratharohan etc.
Not anymore. These important lifecycle ceremonies are performed at Nritya Mandala Mahavihara (NMM) in Portland, the only Nepalese Buddhist temple in the West. A number of weddings and other important lifecycle rituals of Nepalese as well as Americans have been performed at the Mahavihara in the past, says Prajwal Vajracharya, chief priest and co-founder of the NMM.
Meanwhile, a marriage ceremony of Umesh Lal Joshi and Karina Marhatta was solemnized on Friday, July 30, 2021 at Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara. Both Umesh and Karina are from Nepal but are from different ethnic and cultural background, but they have made an important decision to hold each other's hand and share their future as a husband and wife confirming the old adage that marriages are made in heaven.
Sharada Joshi, mother of Umesh had come to the US all the way from Nepal for her son's wedding ceremony whereas Trishna Marhatta, the bride's mom had come from the America's East Coast.
There were about 35 guests at the wedding ceremony at the Mahavihara from Nepal, Oregon, California, Canada and US East Coast.
First of all, the wedding ceremony kicked off with the Sthapana Puja in which chief priest of the Mahavihara Prajwal Vajracharya not only offered ritual materials and objects but he also purified them. Also, he purified his own body, mind and speech.
A Nepali bride wears red sari which is embroidered with gold thread and dotted with sequins. And when bride Karina and groom Umesh entered the ritual space inside the Mahavihara, priest Vajracharya guided them through a symbolic purification of their body, mind and speech during the Gurumandala Puja.
Nepalese wedding rituals are unique and unprecedented in its culture and traditions. Jwola Nhayakan Shinhamu was an interesting aspect of the wedding ceremony in which the priest reflected the good energy created during the ritual to bride Karina and groom Umesh.
Kisli was prepared with rice, coins and betel nuts, while Karina and Umesh prayed for good health and long life together. Tika consisting of yogurt, rice and vermillion powder was prepared by Guruju. Then, Guruju gave a blessing to the bride and groom.
Next, Swayambar was the most important component of the wedding ritual in which the bride circled the groom and placed a flower garland over his head and vice versa. Guru Vajracharya says that the circling binds their energies together.
After that, the bride and the groom exchanged wedding rings. As an essential ritual, the groom then put Abir (vermillion powder) on the bride's head. According to Guru Vajracharya, red color symbolizes a promise as deep as bloom.
Soon after, it was time for Kanyadan (My daughter is your daughter). The bride's parent gave her daughter to the groom.
Later, there was Gwaya Sayeke ritual (sharing betel nuts) in which the groom's family welcomed the bride and introduced their family for life-long relationship.
Thereupon, during the Dhau Sagan ritual, priest Prajwal gave blessings for happiness, prosperity and joy to the bride, groom and all family members.
At the same time, under Shiffala Lwakegu ritual, the heads of the bride and groom were banged together and groom's mother poured rice, flowers and fruits over their heads.
The wedding rituals concluded with Khen Sagan in which wine, fish and eggs were offered to the bride, groom and their families.
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