Newar Buddhist Temple in Portland, USA Greets New Year 2021 with Purification Rituals amid Covid-19 Pandemic

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

(From left to right: Gabriel Quitslund, Alexei Dobry, Naveena Shakya, Prajwal Vajracharya, Anna Shustrova and Joshua Proto)

Portland, Jan 4, 2021 (Nepal Oregon News): The Nepalese Buddhist temple in Portland - Nritya Mandala Mahavihara - bade farewell to 2020 and greeted the new year 2021 by performing and chanting Gurumandala Puja on Friday, Jan 1, 2021.

Very limited number of people joined the Puja - which was conducted by Mahavihara's co-founder,  pundit Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya - for purifying and reviving the old energy of the previous year and for overcoming obstacles and opening up fresh new potential through the annual New Year's  purification ritual at the Mahavihara because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Mandatory social distancing, covering of face and other pandemic guidelines were strictly followed during the New Year purification puja at the Portland Baha.

This kind of New Year purification puja is chanted at the Mahavihara once every year, Senior Pujari of the Mahavihara Prajwal Vajracharya told a journalist from Nepal Oregon News, adding:"The Puja helps you to move forward with new vigour and enthusiasm all year along."

For this Puja, only 1, 3, 5, 11, 21, or 108 people are able to participate in the ritual, based on tradition, Prajwal went on saying.

The participants at the New Year purification puja were: Joshua Proto, Anna Shushtrova, Naveena Shakya, Alexei Dobry, Gabriel Quitslund and Dr Rabin Man Shakya.

Except the limited number of participants because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the religious program was taken part by 15 other participants on the zoom from Oregon, California, Hongkong and Nepal.

On the occasion, a Mandala - which is a circle or cosmic diagram for ritual of interior visualization, representing various realms of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas and their cosmic energies - was also drawn for each participant. Likewise, three Gojas on the sand Mandala were worshipped during the ritual.

A Puja Sankalpa consisting of raw rice, beaten rice, dry fruit, red and yellow color powder, flowers, a little cow milk, three small incense sticks, six cotton wicks, three Gojas, three Jajankas, three coins etc were carefully and meticulously prepared for each participant who were seen sitting cross-legged six feet apart from each other at the Mahavihara.

The traditional community ceremony honored oneself and others by making offerings of purified elements and was guided by using one's own Mandala of sand.

On the occasion, participants were also given time for a short meditation. Similarly, a long pasuka (sacred thread) was used, spread and passed over to all the New Year purification ritual participants. It was an important component of the purification ritual.

Meanwhile, before the start of purification ritual, Sangha member Naveena Shakya offered  fruits to Tathagata Buddha to commemorate Punya Tithi of the third year of passing away of her mother-in-law Man Shova Shakya.

New Year's purification ritual event was followed by a vegetarian pot-luck dinner and opening of champagnes. Importantly, Yomari dumplings were also served during the New Year feast reminding participants of the Yomari Punhi observed couple of days before the New Year day.

(Gabriel Quitslund and Alexei Dobry during puja)

(Naveena Shakya, Joshua Proto and Prajwal Vajracharya during puja)

(Joshua Proto and Prajwal Vajracharya during puja)

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(Naveena Shakya, Alexei Dobry and Gabriel Quitslund performing rituals.)

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in America)

Nepal Bhasa online dictionary launched

By Nepal Oregon News reporter

A virtual program was organized on Saturday Dec 5, 2020  by World Newah Organization (WNO) for launching Nepal Bhasa online dictionary. Kathmandu Metropolitan City Mayor Bidya Sundar Shakya was the chief guest on the occasion.

WNO's chief Season Shrestha delivered the welcome speech, while Dipesh Shakya showed the demo of the online dictionary on the occasion.

President of Newah Dey Daboo Naresh Tamrakar and a number of Newah personalities representing different Newah organizations across the world expressed their views.

Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Shakya said that KMC is ready to cooperate and collaborate with the WNO during his tenure.

Mayor Shakya said that the activities of the WNO for the promotion and preservation of Nepal Bhasa is praise-worthy.

The program, which was conducted by WNO secretary Rasmila Prajapati, was also addressed by WNO founder member Daya Ratna Shakya.

"English to Nepal Bhasa Dictionary" said in a statement that this is a community enabled online English to Nepal Bhasa dictionary.

The statement went on to say:"Before submitting, please check our database and make sure the words that you are submitting ars not already in the database. The translation will appear online once approved by the admin." 

Meanwhile, a two day Global Newah Conference is to be organized by WNO on Dec 30 and 31, 2020.

Twenty three Newah personalities from 12 countries are going to present working papers at the zoom program to be organized on the occasion of the WNO's tenth anniversary.

A Global Newah Conference was held in Kathmandu two years ago by the WNO which was established ten years ago with the objective of uniting the Newahs living across the world.

This year, the two-day WNO conference is being organized through zoom because of the on-going coronavirus pandemic.

Newar Buddhist temple 'Nritya Mandala Mahavihara' celebrates its eleventh anniversary in Portland, America amid pandemic

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, Nov 11 (Nepal Oregon News): Nritya Mandala Mahavihara (NMM), which is the only Nepalese Buddhist temple in the West celebrated its eleventh anniversary in Portland, Oregon on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2020 amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

The eleventh anniversary of the Mahavihara started with the Kush Puja in the morning at the Mahavihara. The rituals of Kush Puja was performed by Mahavihara's co-founder and priest Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya.

Kush Puja is a Newah Buddhist Tantric ritual. The Puja is an esoteric one which usually is confined to the Newah Buddhist devotees who have been ordained with Nhikan Yayegu rituals at the shrines of the houses of the Shakyas and Bajracharyas.

Prajwal says,"Because of the pandemic, we are celebrating the temple's anniversary with social distancing and pandemic guidelines."

Kush Puja consists of different rituals with traditional and religious components. Among others, five grounding nectars in the form of five different kinds of alcohol and five different kinds of meat are used in the Puja.

In this Puja, emphasis is laid on Go Ku Da Ha Na, in which a cow is considered as a harmless creature, a dog is regarded as a sensitive animal, a horse gives continuity, an elephant is treated as a fearless creature, whereas Nara (or man) is known for his knowledge. The purpose of the Puja is to raise the consciousness of our own body and mind,  Vajracharya, the senior pujari at the Mahavihara told a journalist from Nepal Oregon News, USA.

On the occasion, 108 butter fed lamps were also lit. Similarly, refugee dance was performed by Prajwal Vajracharya and other Sangha members.

At the end of the Puja, Prajwal Guruju handed over small pieces of sacred flowers and sacred Kokha to the Sangha members and dabbed Hyaungu Sinha and Haku Sinha on their foreheads. 

Kaula (Prasad) and Samaya Baji was served to the participants of the Kush Puja on the occasion. Bulla (a Newah style soup made of fermented rice) was the center of attraction of the Samaya Baji.

The other important part of the eleventh anniversary was the performance of Charya dances.

Charya dance program was launched on Zoom because of the pandemic. Charya dancers from different parts of the USA, Nepal, Hong Kong, Brazil and Germany demonstrated their wonderful and amazing talent.

Because of the time zone difference, dancing through Zoom was arranged in the morning and in the evening. Both morning and evening sessions of international Charya dancing were moderated by Kuon Hunt, a member of the Sangha.

In the morning session of the dance program, Yamuna Baker from Germany performed Vajrayogini, Saldon Wu from Hong Kong presented Kurukulla dance, Vesta Corradini from Brazil showed Arya Tara dance whereas Anupama Dahal's students from Nepal demonstrated a Pancha Tara dance. Similarly, Bunu Shrestha (Bajracharya) from Germany performed White Tara while Prajwal Vajracharya presented a dance 'Maya Jaal.'

In the evening session of the dance program, a dance called 'Nairatma' was performed by Bunu Shrestha while Yogini Mandala was presented by Corinne Nakamura. A team of Charya dancers from Hong Kong including Tina Ho, Eliza La, Kerry Ho, Eliza Lau LY, Chin Chin Chang performed a dance 'Vajrasattva.'

Charya nritya dance 'Vajrasattva'

A dance 'Arya Tara' was presented by Shahrazad Huisman from Germany, while Kumari dance was performed by Kalpana Bajracharya from Nepal. Likewise, Annapurna dance was carried out by Uppa Shakya, USA and Sky Dakini dance was performed by Anna Shrustova, also USA. And finally, a Mahankaal dance was presented by Prajwal Vajracharya.

Sixteen offering goddess charya dance.

The vocal rendition for most of the Charya dances was provided by Joshua Proto, a Sangha member.

About 65 people had participated in the Zoom dance program in the evening and about 50 people in the morning. Among them, notable were Prof Dr Linda Iltis from Washington, Prof Dr Myrinda Shaw from California, Helen Appell, co-founder of the Mahavihara, Dr Shubhash Ram Prajapati from Washington, Dr Mahendra Man Shakya (Physics) from California, Home Shrestha a Ph D researcher from Canada, Daya Shakya, vice president of World Newah Organization and so on.

Participants on Zoom during the event

In the last 11 years, Nritya Mandala Mahavihara has continuously served the sangha or community in many ways, and credit for this goes to co-founders duo Prajwal and Helen Appell.

In fact, many of Portland's Nepalese community activists coming from different spectrums have mentioned it as one of the quintessential aspects of Prajwal's unrelenting campaign to promote, preserve and protect the Buddhist traditions of Nepal.

The Mahavihara has provided a wide range of cultural, life cycle and calendrical rituals based on Newar Vajrayana Buddhism and Newah and Nepali traditions.

NMM has offered teachings and presentations, including by recognized scholars from around the world.

It has offered instruction and organized performances of Charya dances, as well.

While the temple itself has been closed during the pandemic, NMM has continued in the same spirit with zoom classes on Dharma, Dharani, Sadhana, Sanskrit, Charya Giti singing, Charya dance and scholarly lectures.

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA)

Nahli Swan Peegu: The First Day of Mohani Nakha

Dr. Rabin Man Shakya

Nepal Oregon News

Culturally and traditionally, Mohani Nakha or Dashain is the most important and longest festival of the Newah people as well as of the entire Nepalese population.

Mohani Nakha kicks off with Nahli Swan Peegu, the sowing of barley seeds, corn seeds and other seeds on the first day of the longest festival.

In fact, Nahli Swan  Peegu is the first day of Nav Ratri which lasts for nine days. Many of the subtle rituals of Mohani Nakha including the Nahli Swan Peegu are on the verge of extinction. I remember  during the days of my childhood in 1960s and 1970s, my late grand parents and late parents used to plant wheat, barley seeds, corn seeds and sesame seeds in sand and soil in Bhyega (pitcher made of mud) and Bata (big bowl made of copper). This all was done in the Nhika Yayegu Kotha (worshipping and praying room) at our home in Naghal Tole.

Sand for planting barley seeds was brought from Bishnumati river in Kathmandu in those days. The purpose of planting of barley seeds is to grow barley shoots (Jamara) which is given away by the eldest person to other family members on the day of Chalan (Dashami or the tenth day of the forthnight according to lunar calendar).

During our childhood, we, as kids, used to go to the shrine room of our home and used to play Kanta Dabdab (Damaru) in the morning from the day of Nahli Swan Peegu and onwards. Today, very few will bring sacred sand from Bishnumati river. Also, today, there won't be too many kids to play Kanta Dabdab to create a festive mood during the Mohani Nakha festival.

There is a subtle difference between Nahli Swan Peegu and Ghata Sthapana. Ghata Sthapana is celebrated by the entire Hindus of Nepal while Nahli Swan Peegu is celebrated only by Newah Hindus as well as by Newah Buddhists.

Here in Portland, America, just like all other Nepalese families in the US, my spouse also sow maize and barley seeds in pots filled with soil on the day of  Nahli Swan Peegu. And we also use Jamara on the tenth day of the lunar calendar.

The Mohani Jamara is yellowish because it is grown in dark with the cover. When you put the Jamara on your ear, then you feel like you are really celebrating the Mohani Nakha.

During the entire period of Mohani Nakha, we, here in Portland, USA keep listening to Mala Shree Dhun and "Haye Re Jyapuni Tata" a song by late Newah singer Ramesh Tamrakar and other Nepal Bhasa songs.

The Newah people living abroad celebrate Mohani Nakha with a feeling of nostalgia. 

Chatha Festival: A Day to Worship 'Thief God'

Rabin Man Shakya

(A Newar Vajracharya priest worshipping the Chatha Dyo in Kathmandu.)

Chatha Nakha (Chatha festival) is one of the interesting festivals of the Newah people of the Kathmandu valley in Nepal.

Chatha is also considered a miniature 'Mohani Nakha' by the Newah people. It is believed that if you celebrate Chatha festival in a good way, your celebration of Mohani Nakha will be great too for you.

This miniature Mohani Nakha is  celebrated by the Newah people of the Kathmandu valley on the fourth day of the Bhadra Shukla Chauthi or Yolan Thwo Chauthi as per the Lunar calendar of Nepal Sambat. 

The Newah people worship different Gods on different festivals. They even worship Chatha Dyo who is considered a Thief God. That is why if you call somebody Chatha Dyo, he will be very mad at you.

Knowingly or unknowingly, willingly or reluctantly, people commit some mistakes sometimes or even steal cash or other stuffs from other people. Chatha Dyo is worshipped so as to wipe away the wrongdoings in the past and move ahead  for a good and prosperous life.

It may be a coincidence, but Ganesh Chaturthi also falls on the Day of Chatha festival. As Lord Ganesh was born on this day, this day is also known as Ganesh Chaturthi. This festival of the Newah people is known as Chatha Nakha because it is celebrated on the Day of Chauthi.

On this day, the idol of Lord Ganesh at the local temples of Lord Ganesh at various neighborhoods in the Kathmandu valley is taken out on palanquins  on different local streets for jatra and worshipping.

Bau Ya Khwa Swayagu: Newah People's Father's Day

Rabin Man Shakya

Even though we celebrate Mothers Day and Fathers Day in the United States, these days are totally different in terms of dates and cultural value comparing to Bau Ya Khwa Swayagu and Maa Ya Khwa Swayagu in Nepal. Here, in America, we the people from Nepal celebrate Nepalese Fathers Day, Nepalese Mothers Day as well as American Fathers Day and American Mothers Day.

There is no doubt that Nepal is a land of nakha - chakha (festivals). A number of festivals are celebrated in Nepal regularly every year. In fact, it will not be an exaggeration to say that more festivals are observed in Nepal than in any other countries.

Among many festivals, Bau Ya Khwa Swayagu (Day for looking at father's face - Father's Day) is also one of the important festivals of Nepal. This day which is celebrated  in Nepal on the day of Kushe Aunshi (late August - early September) is a testimony to the honor and respect the sons and daughters offer to their dads.

Beauty of Nepal lies in the fact  that Nepal is a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-lingual country having more than 70 ethnic communities all of whom have their own festivals, culture, traditions and languages. Nepalese Fathers Day is celebrated by different Nepalese ethnic communities in their own way.

Home-cooked delicacies, sweets cakes and other delicious foods are offered to the fathers by daughters and sons. On this day, the narrow streets of Kathmandu are full of extended sweet meat shops. And also, married daughters are seen going to their father's home with goodies and sweet-meats.

The Nepalese Hindus - whose fathers have deceased - offer foods to them by doing Shraddha Puja, a traditional ritual to the deceased. Similarly, the Nepalese Hindus observe this festival by offering prayers to the Shiva temple at Gokarna while the Newah Buddhists go to Jana Bahal (Seto Machhindranath or White Tara) temple in down town Kathmandu.

Newar Buddhist Festival Gunla Dharma and Naam Sangiti Reciting in Portland, America

Dr. Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, July 16 (Nepal Oregon News): If Nepal Sambat (Nepal Era) is one of the most unique calendar in the world because it is named after a nation, then the month of "Gunla" in the Nepal Sambat is equally the most unique month in the Nepal Sambat calendar especially for the Newar Buddhists.

There is no doubt that Gunla signifies a lot for Newar Buddhists. It goes without saying that the month of Gunla is very pious and sacred month for the Newar Buddhists in the Kathmandu valley.

Gunla is the ninth month in the Nepal Sambat, hence the name Gunla. Gun means ninth whereas La means month. This month is also known as Gunila which in turn means the month of a good quality.

A number of important festivals take place during the month of Gunla: Naag Panchami, Gunpunhi, Bahidyo Swowonegu, Saa Paru, Mataya Jatra, Panjaran and Nepalese Father's Day etc.

The historical significance of the month of Gunla is interrelated to the origin of the Kathmandu valley.

Photo courtesy: Gunla Instagram posts - Instazu.com

According to Swayambhu Purana, once upon a time, the Kathmandu valley was a huge lake. A Buddha called Vipaswi came there and sowed the seed of Lotus. When the Lotus blossomed, a ray emerged as the Dharma Dhatu Jyoti on the top of the Lotus.

According to Vajrayana beliefs, Lord Maha Manjushree together with his two spouses Varada and Mokshada went to Chovar hills. With the divine power Maha Manjushree possessed, the Lord struck the hill with his sword and released all the waters from the lake.

Later, Swayambhu Maha Chaitya was founded by Buddhist Mahayana Dharma Guru Shantikaracharya by covering the Dharma Dhatu inside the stupa.

And it is widely believed that the Gunla festival of making early morning pilgrimage to Swayambhu Chaitya dates back to the completion of founding of Swayambhu Chaitya.

Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, co-founder of Portland's Nritya Mandala Mahavihara says:"Gunla is a holy month for Newar Buddhists when they recite the scriptures particularly the Naam Sangiti, observes fasts and visit places of worship playing devotional music."

Prajwal Gubhaju went on to say:"It is one of the most important times in Newar Buddhism."

"We have been celebrating a month-long Gunla Dharma at America's only one Newar Buddhist temple -- Nritya Mandala Mahavihara --for last several years by chanting the Naam Sangiti - names of Manjushree," Prajwal added.

At the end of the Gunla month, the Paru Bhoye is organized by each Gunla Bajan Khala at the periphery of Swayambhu in Kathmandu. Similarly, a potluck Paru Bhoye was also organized by the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara at Laurelhurst Park in Portland.  15 Americans and Nepalese were present at the Portland Paru Bhoye, according to Prajwal Vajracharya.

In Vajrayana Buddhism, Naam Sangiti is one of the most important preachings of Shakyamuni Tathagata. It consists of 160 verses and mantra sentences.

Our life is full of memories about different people, festivals and events. Even though we are in the US, we celebrate our Newar festivals as much as we can. For instance, on the day of Gunpunhi, Kwati is prepared at our home in Portland whereas Khir is made on the day of Panjaran.

There are a lot of unforgettable events in your life. During the time of Gunla Dharma, I nostalgically remember taking part in the Bahidyo Swowonegu tradition in Kathmandu every year in !960s-1970s. It was so fun, you can not describe it in writing.

I also can recollect  going to Swoyambhu early in the morning with the Gulan Bajan group of the Ratna Mandal Mahavihara at Naghal Tole, Kathmandu.

Photo courtesy: Nyata Gunla Bajan.jpg - Wikimedia Commons

Likewise, in the evenings of the Gunla Dharma month, my late grandfather Sanu Bhai Shakya would call us: "Oh, Masta, Tuta Bwon Waa." ( Come on, kids, to recite the scriptures). And we used to attentively recite Nama Sangiti, Dus Paramita (Dana Balen) and Bandeshree etc with our grandfather.

Meanwhile,  traditional musical instruments are played at different places in Kathmandu to mark the month of Gunla Dharma. It is to be noted that there is a Buddhist Mahavihara at each Newar Buddhist locality in Kathmandu and each Mahavihara has its own Gulan Bajan team.

During the whole month of Gunla, the Buddhist communities of different localities of Kathmandu make daily pilgrimage to Swayambhu with the Gunla Bajan.

Gunla Bajan means "musical instruments" and "music playing team" during the month of "Gunla".

The musical instruments used in the Gunla Bajan are: Dhaa (a double sided drum), Taa (a small cymbal), Bhusya (a large cymbal), Naykhin (a small drum),  Chhusya and Payentah (a traditional long trumpet).

According  to  Dr  Subhash  Prajapati, a   Seattle- based  Newah music expert, Gunla Bajan is a tradition  which is as old as almost 800 years. 

The word "Gunla" may have been derived from the word "Gunila" mentioned in Gopal Rajvanshavali, says Dr Prajapati.

(Nepal Oregon News writer Rabin Man Shakya is a Newah journalist in USA)