Thursday, November 10, 2011

Saki Mila Punhi

Friends,
Today, I took few snaps of "Hali mali punhi" or Sakimila punhi. Ashon, Layakushal, and Machhindra baha were the location. Hope you like them.
Sunil Chitrakar

Gathu Pyakhan : Sunil Chitrakar

[Photo: Sunil Chitrakar]

Friday, November 4, 2011

Invitation : Saturday Photography

Dear all,
As a first round of Saturday Photography, we are going to watch the Shree Pachali Bhairav mask dance on November 5, 2011.
You are invited to join us. We will meet at Ambe Complex (Nano Car Showroom), Teku at 10.00 am and proceed to Jyabahal on Saturday.
Regards,
Razen Manandhar
SATURDAY PHOTOGRAPHY 01
Pachali Bhairav mask dance
Shree Pachali Bhairav (Gathu Pyakhan), is one of the historical masked-dances of Kathmandu Valley.
This dance is said to have been started around 470 years ago. It portrays assembly of protector goddess of the valley, the god Bhairav and their two guards. It generaly presents the celebrations they make after they defeat/kill the demon. It is performed by adult males. They wear traditional dreses, heavy ornaments and heavy clay-paper masks with metal and flower decorations. Once they start wearing the masks, they move on a state of "trance". They are said to be unconsicous and a divine power rules them. In certain occasions, during secret seremonies, they even suckle fresh blood from sacrificed animals!
It is socially attatched event. Local people not only enjoy the dance but also pray to the dancers in masks as real gods and goddesses. So they offer rice, eggs, fruits and animals to them. This is how the tradition moves on.
It is run by the Mali, Malakar and Banmali families of the Newars. They have trust like organization and the members have separate role to play to make this century-old organization alive in today's context.
The participants:
1. Mahalaxmi (orange, trhee eys)
2. Ganesh (white, three eyes)
3. Bramhayani (white, U shape tika)
4. Rudrayani (white, three eyes)
5. Kaumari (red, marks on cheeks)
6. Narayani (green, U shape tika)
7. Barahi (red, pig's nose, eye tika)
8. Manamayju (Indrayani, horizontal eye tika)
9. Kali (blue/red, wrinked face with eight points)
10. Bhiarav (blue, big eyes, big face)
11. Singhini (white, lion-faced)
12. Bhangini (orange, tiger-faced)
13. Swait Bhairav (white, looks like Shiva, comes out only occassionaly)
This dance festival is celebrated only once in every 12 years. During this period, it is performed over a dozen times in different places of the valley.
It starts on the tenth day of the Dashain. This year, it came out on October 6, from the temple of Pachali Bhairav, on the banks of the Bagmati river, by Teku. It is generally called "Shree Pachali Bhairav Khadga Siddhi Jatra". Traditionally, it was believed that the monarchs of this country used to have power to rule the country from the god Bhairva of this dance. Ceremonially, on the first day, the Bhairav exchanges his sowrd with the king at Bhutisaa of Kasthamandap Temple. Now, in this republic setting, the ceremony was done by offering the divine sword to the ground.

Razen Manandhar
razeno@gmail.com
9849052384

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Welcome

SATURDAY PHOTOGRAPHY
Razen Manandhar
Photography can be a fun.  Without being professional, we can record events, moments, expressions and feelings being at right time, right place. To make this very idea realized, I've developed a concept of "Saturday Photography".
It is loose network of hobby photographers. it should not necessarily be limited to Saturdays. We can be extended holiday photography too. The objective of the network is to engage people in photography and make people aware of art, culture, architecture and environment of the Kathmandu Valley (for now).
aim
1.       To organize people of same interest
2.       To engage people on Saturdays, to make Saturdays productive
3.       to create an atmosphere of family, friend's circle
4.       To give introduction to art, culture, architecture and lifestyles of the Kathmandu Valley and its surroundings
5.       To make them aware of the changing lifestyle of people here.
6.       To make the members take photographs of the human settlements and other cultural activities that might vanish in future
7.       To help them make their personal archives of photographs
8.       To produce/ publish their photographs in a forum where they can share and discuss about one another's products
9.       To support them to develop their hobbies into profession

What will the group do?
1.       They will develop a googlegroup for interaction, dissemination of information etc.
2.       They will organize an excursion every month, first Saturday, most probably, with their cameras.
3.        They will choose a destination. Use public transportation; go on morning come back after noon. Depending on the nature of the place and event we may choose to depart on afternoons too.
4.       They will take pictures of their tastes. Some senior or professional photographers will guide, support them.
5.       They will file their selected photos in a multiple blogsite, give comments on one another's work
6.       They will also be posting their photos their own blogsites or Facebook walls.
7.       In future they will develop a website to showcase the photographs of the members.
We still have to discuss and agree on
1.       Meeting point
2.       Fund
3.       Making of common/multiple use blogsite
4.       Opening of a website
5.       Copyrights/watermarks/initials
6.       Guides

Do you have any other ideas?
razeno@gmail.com