Articles and Poems

Various Meanings of Dasai

                                     Anil Sakya (Bhikkhu Sugandha)

-     Brunel University, UK

Just after Dasai festival, which is the most important festival for the Nepalese, I joined a Nepalese meeting in London. During the meeting some Nepalese began a discussion about the Dasai festival in Nepal and how it relates to Nepalese identity.

It began when Mr Gurung, a resident of the UK, suggested that as a Nepalese one should not celebrate Lhosar festival because it is a Tibetan new year festival. This was protested by Mr. Shrestha who said there should not be any restrictions or discrimination in celebrating festivals. He added that even the Nepalese Dasai festival does not actually belong to Nepal. It originally from India and is related to the story of Rama, who was successful in killing Rawana on the tenth day of the month Asoj (September/October). It is therefore, named Vijaya Dasami which literally means the victory on the tenth day.

Listening to their arguments I began to reflect on my own culture. For the Newars, Dasai is known as Mohani Nakha.

Mr Baldev Juju, a Newar Brahman found that nowadays the Newars often send each other greeting cards with pictures of Bhagavati goddess killing Mahisasur and bearing phrases such as ‘Vijaya Dasamiko Subhakamana’ (‘best wishes on the occasion of Vijaya Dasami’). In actuality, the Newar are mistaken in their belief that Dasai is based on Indian mythology.

The purpose of Newar Dasai or Mohani is to empower oneself in order to conquer life’s obstacles in the year to come. Newar Dasai or Mohani falls on the month of Kaulathwa which is the last month of the year according to Newar calendar. After many days of celebration, the last day is the ritual is known as ‘khadgasiddhi’. The ritual is performed in their ‘agam’ or sacred room of the house, in which a person receives power from a sword.

At the end of the ritual everybody comes out of the room with a sword in their hands and their bodies shaking signifying that they have transformed into gods. This part of the ritual is known as ‘Paya Wanegu’. This is in fact the essence of Mohani i.e. empower oneself from various gods and power sources. After this ritual Newars attend feasts at their relative houses which again symbolizes gathering power from different relatives (another source of power).

On the dark moon day of Kaulaga month the ritual of Laxmi Puja is held which signals the end of Mohani. Laxmi Puja day is also the last day of the year. It is followed by New year’s day which is celebrated by performing ‘Mha Puja’ or ritual of self worship, which symbolizes the readiness to begin another year. This is the Newar version of Dasai or Mohani festival.

In addition, there is also a Buddhist interpretation of the festival which is different from the Hindu legend. However, they relate the festival with the Emperor Ashoka’s victory over his own mind when he became enlightened, stopped all killing and followed the path of Buddhism.

Buddhists consider Mohani as the day when Emperor Ashoka gave up his weapons and stop invading other countries. In this case, the real victory is not victory over others in war but the victory of morality in one’s mind.

Therefore, there are some Nepalese who refuse to celebrate Dasai according to Hindu rituals with animal sacrifices. Instead, they celebrate in a Buddhist way by commemorating as the non-violence day and the victory over one’s ignorance and evil.

The various myths and interpretations put forward only attests to the diversity that is Nepalese culture, each with its own unique identity, and each equally enriching to the culture of Nepal as a whole. Rather than deny our cultural diversity, we should celebrate Dasai in our own unique way, without any cultural conflict.

Take Me Home

- Hind Vaidya

May be until about three, I could not remember my childhood very much. I did not know how old I was , once, my mum was trying to let me sleep carrying me on her back supporting with her patuka. She was shaking me gently moving forward and backward. At the same time she was singing with low voice.

I was a happy girl grown up in a little house in Balukha, Patan, Nepal. I did not have sisters and brothers. But I did have many friends. I never understood then why I was different from my friends. My friends would touch my dress and look at my shoes. I was allowed to go outside with my friends. Soon after my mum or dad would come and watch me playing. I had

to go home for my meal and even a snack. Sometimes my friends would offer me dry roasted corns, soyabeans, broadbeans. I had a wonderful time nibbling them, playing and laughing with my friends and have a fresh memories of those good old care free happy days.

My mum was a tall women with brilliantly white teeth. She was strong and

determined type. She had a dominating character. She used to clean her teeth with some kind of plant, might be due to that, her teeth were so bright. My dad was a quiet type. He was gentle and kind. I can

remember, once, they had an argument and they did not speak each other for few days.

I was taking my dad’s side in my mind. Of course, they both loved me very much.

During the rice planting season, on the month of Asaar (July), my parents used to take me in the rice- field. Most times, it was raining. It did not matter for me because I was well protected inside a very big umbrella made up of big leaves and bamboo strips. Rice planting was a enjoyable team work, needed lots of hands. All the members of the farmer family, living in the Newar Community help each other turn by turn with no labour charge. However the host would provide an excellent lunch which includes cheuraa, Haaku choelaa, aalu walaa and bubaha walaa. The lunch to be served with thoo/jaad. During the lunch break, at noon, young boys and girls happened to joke with each other by splashing with mud and chasing each other. During the transplanting of rice, they had to stand in one horizontal row and move backward as they plant the rice seedlings in the front. The process should be very fast and they have no time for joking, but, they all would sing a chorus song. Their bare foot would dip inside the water lodged mud.

"No Smoking", "No Smoking Please"

- Padma Prakash Shrestha, M.A

Trans-Cultural Counsellor

Well, I have experienced that non-smokers are much happier and healthier than before ! Because they left cigarette smoking behind. Non smokers now feel their environment are cleaner than what it was used to be.

I have been serving for a wider community in the U.K. since 1990 as the Trans Cultural Counsellor, I came to experience many an issue of our wider community in the U.K. and beyond. One of the issue is the smoking and health. Our research shows that smokers who quitted smoking after a process, find themselves and their body begin clearer itself of tobacco toxins. Within a few weeks, their body had a better sense of taste and smell. Their body have cleared out a lot of mucus and debris from their lungs. They felt less wheezy and less short of breath. Overall, they felt fitter and less likely to become ill.

Therefore, it is never to late to stop smoking and no matter whatever you age group are on however long you have been smoking. There is always a benefit.We know that health is wealth. It is better to save in before it is too late ! Please remember ?

‘Tomorrow Never Dies’ Yes but smoke take care of your health & proper care of your daily routine. Otherwise you know ? Non-smokers increase appetite & weight gain. People tend to eat more to substitute or compensate for not smoking cigarettes. Two thing can probably help you ? Firstly, watch food in take - eat fruit & other non-fattening foods for snacks & nibbles.

Secondly increase levels of physical activity, start going to swimming or jogging, even walking up the stairs rather than using escalators. This will help you and environment, a lighted cigarettes generate our 2000 chemicals and increase risk of cancer 10% to 30% & other disease & illness to follow them.

We have seen Rio Brazil conference, and very recently Japan conference on global warning, pollution & environment. The world - our community assembled together to see that the smoking of any kind is very harmful and can be fatal for future generations. The conference on smoking indeed welcome such a moment & stopping smoking - stopping absolute pollution.

For many people, smoking has become so much a part of daily life and a part of their self-identity that may feel something almost like a bereavement when they stop. But then they realized, they gained a new freedom and sense of control etc. No smoking will enhance quality of life away from absolute pollution. It is important to stress that mood swings may be strong at first but until settle down with time. The best way, think is to do exercise that is an ideal way of reducing tension. Relaxation exercises i.e. a couple of simple exercises to try, are breathing in and exhaling slouty or clenching hands tightly together and holding for a few second before releasing. Both these exerciser should be repeated a few times. It is important to stress that the health benefits of quitting far exceed a few days or weeks & discomfort through withdrawal syndrome or any adverse psychological effects that may follow quitting.

Given time, non smokers are likely to enjoy favorable psychological changes, such as enhanced self-esteem and increased sense of control etc. Many of the physical withdrawal symptoms encountered, indicate the recovery & normal physiological functions e.g. a tingling sensation in the hands and feet’s, is caused by improved circulation.

Health and wealth both are important for our life. Without health, where is our wealth ? Quitting smoking (No Smoking). How can one save money too for your annual holidays indicating on the table provided for your attention. No Smoking Please !

The following is the table that shows the amount of money spent over a lenght of period dependin on the daily cigarettes smoked.

(* Increase based on 6% per year asuming 3% inflation and estimated 3% additional increase to tobacco products)

Resources courtesy : QUIT

Cara Lakhmi

- Hind Vaidya

You are a sweet baby girl,
born in the time of Diwali.
A dearest baby, Cara Lakhmi.
So innocent, unique and pretty,
With sweet-deep thoughts
and sparkling eyes.

Of course, in every minute........
Your mummy calls you a "sweety"
you are really sweet and full of love
Who does not want to hold ?
You are on top of your mum's mind
She makes sure if you are cozy.

If not, she keeps asking you,
"What's wrong sweety,
What's wrong sweet heart"
Holding you close to her heart.

When you slept and dreamed,
your mum wondered that
What that might be......
as you have taken a deep-deep breath
with eye balls rolling
inside the closed eyes.

You are your mum and dads
Dreams come true and
your grand parents joy too.

This poem is specially for you,
may God bless you.

Lost Self

-Rabindra Mishra

 I assembled
The pieces of my broken self
Hoping myself to see anew:
Collecting the fragments of my identity
Some
Lying in the Boss’s drawer
Some
On the path she treads
Some
In my own dustbin
Some left within -
I looked in the mirror;
‘Rabindra’ was shapeless
Like a sculpture
Carved by some raw hand.