Friday, October 2, 2009

Dashain vs Mohani Nakha

September 25, 2009
Mr Naresh Shakya
Manka Khala
Nareshjee

I partly agree with you. Even within ethno-cultural linguistic community (indigenous nationality) known as Newa there is diversity in the way Mohani Nakha is celebrated. There are Hindu Newa and Buddhist Newa and the way of celebrating Mohani is very different among these two diverse groups. Further, even amongst Hindu Newa there exists diverse ways of celebrating it in tandem with the existence of various Varnas within Hindu Newa. I am sure same must be true amongst Buddhist Newa. It is noteworthy here that Newa in Khokana neither celebrate Mohani nor Dashain. I am sure that we have many more unique practices even amongst other Newa people.

Besides, our ethno-cultural linguistic group is famous for its religious tolerance such that it is not surprising that Hindu Newa worship Buddhist deities with equal (or more) fervor (if that is at all possible) and vice versa (in Sri Lanka Hindus and Buddhists are at each others’ throats). Essentially the beauty lies in this diversity within the ethno-cultural linguistic group known as Newa identity. Therefore, during our Mohani festival some Newa will be worshipping various manifestations of Goddess Kali while others will be worshipping entirely different set of gods and goddesses. We should all strive to preserve such diversity which is famed as New culture.

I agree with you that for non-Newa people Dashain is not as culturally rich as for us. For them it is just about getting Tika on Vijaya Dashami (continue to go get it on following days if unable to finish making the rounds on that particular day). They don’t have anything else to do during rest of the Dashain. What distresses me are two things. One, this “tika” culture is metamorphosing into chakari culture – going to get tika to curry favor. Two, although for quite a chunk of Newa people this isn’t a culture but they have adopted it and will be busy currying favor by way of going to get tika (I an not referring to those Newa people for whom going to get tika is a culture).

My family joins me in wishing happy Mohani to you and your family and all Newa people here and abroad.

With best regards,

Sincerely,

Ratna Sansar Shrestha,

From: nesocamails@googlegroups.com [mailto:nesocamails@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of naresh shakya
Sent: Thursday, September 24, 2009 9:33
To: nesocamails@googlegroups.com
Subject: [NESOCA Mail #3507] Re: Happy Vijaya Dashami 2066

Dear Sirs

Please note Mohani Nakha we observe is different from Bijaya Dasami or Dasai. Newars identity is on Mohani Nakha.

We newars observers Mohani Nakha to strengthen oneself and gain courage to fight against all evils where as Dasai is observed to get blessing from goddess . Mohani Nakha is getting obliged to all good deeds done to mankind (tangible/intangible )which helped people to observe life easier, that is why we newars worship all the tools that we use to earn our livelihood. So Mohani is our traditional and unique festive.

So we should know the difference and stick with our own identity.

Mohani Nakha ya vintuna. HAPPY MOHANI NAKHA

Naresh

2 comments:

DesignDude said...

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DesignDude said...

Well you wrote nicely Ratna dai.. Can you also please tell me how did you manage to install the blogger into your own domain name? Do we need to buy domain from certain domain provider? Also what other things do we need to arrange so that I can run my blog in a domain.