Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Rajeeb L.Satyal, Kathmandu

 When we present a mobile set as a gift to our female relatives- wife, daughters (in law), mothers, and friends, we should not fantasize to remain connected with them. It is just the other way round. When we present “her” with a mobile-set on her birthday, we take a sigh of relief that we can now contact her any time anywhere. So we will not bother to ask where she will be or when to pick her up from her parent’s house or office or wherever she goes, mentally thinking that we can get to her wherever she is. But that rarely happens. It won’t take long before our smiles fade away when our enthusiastic romantic or urgent mobiles calls are hardly heard and responded despite repeated redials. It is not that she ignores us. But the fact is she won’t have heard the ring. But it’s not her fault for not responding the call. The flaw, in fact, lies in the design of Asian women’s traditional dress such as sari and kurta that are completely devoid of pockets; the beautiful creatures are compelled to keep their mobile sets in their handbags which being detached from their body prevents them to hear the ring as well as to feel the vibration. That’s the root cause of the problem. It’s different that some women might like to use this phenomenon to their benefits, just like some males justify their unpunctuality with their foresighted probably- could-have-happened traffic jam. Both excuses are so convincing.

 In the usual scenario, when we desperately try to reach out to her through mobile-phone, she will not hear the ring of the mobile set immersed deep inside her handbag made of thick synthetic leather, stuffed with things you don’t want to know. She will also not always be carrying her bag with her. During some lucky moment, when she faintly hears a ring coming from somewhere, it takes a while for her to realize it’s her own mobile that is screaming from her bag abandoned in a place she momentarily forgets. By the time she literally rushes to find her bag, her mobile set, desperate hubbies or sonnies or cuties will have no choice but to give up dialing, hoping that she will call back as soon as she sees the missed call. But even that does not happen, again; again due to nobody’s fault. Our women have not yet become techno-savvy. Apart from calling and receiving calls, they don’t bother using other features such as replying to missed-calls, SMS and etc. The best way is to allow them to pick up the call as soon as it comes.

 It is intriguing why the mobile phone manufacturers missed to see that women who occupy world’s half population as their key consumers, and designed mobiles-set especially to suit their feminine need. I am sure all the women, and their men in the globe will appreciate that  And why the fashion designer, tailors and women who wear dresses without pockets themselves never thought of having a pocket in lady's dress?

 There are substantial proportion of women population in the world who wear Asian attire including Kurta, Sari and others that do not have pockets. The mobile companies should design special mobile phones for these women with features that enable them to wear them as a part of their fashion wear; such mobile phone attached with fashionable belt which she would not leave anywhere like her handbag, or any other innovative fashion wears that serves both as cosmetics as well as mobile. I am confident that day will come soon but until then, women should start tailoring “pocket” in their dress so they can keep not only their mobiles but also other essentials they sometimes keep inside their cleavage. It would really make all those desperate loved men to remain connected with them; isn’t that what we all want?

Everest expedition at Florida

-Compiled by Sunjuli Singh , Nepal

The 200 feet high, Expedition Everest opened in the Asia section of Disney's Animal Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida on April 7, 2006. Expedition Everest is a new runaway train adventure combining a high-speed race through the Himalayas and a thrilling encounter with the legendary yeti. This makes this the 4th Disney World "mountain" - Space Mountain, Splash

Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and now Expedition Everest in the animal kingdom. Expedition Everest is a high-speed adventure that combines coaster-like thrills with the folklore of the yeti.

Expedition Everest is part of the 18-month "Happiest Celebration on Earth," the jubilee honoring 50 years of Disney theme parks and commemorating the 1955 opening of Disneyland. The celebration began May 5, 2005, with the launch of new shows and attractions and will continue through 2006.

The journey of Expedition Everest begins when guests are transported to a distant world of exploration and the mythical village of Serka Zong. A canopy of prayer flags, an ornamental monastery, intricately carved totems, and a garden of stone carvings of the yeti. Yeti's role as protector of the sacred mountain is reinforced in this detailed environment.

The journey begins when the proprietors of Himalayan Escapes Tour Company enticed explorers to embark on a rugged train journey to the mystical Everest. First stop is Norbu and Bob's booking office to obtain permits, and then it's off to Tashi's General Store and Bar for needed supplies for the journey.

Next, explorers pass through an old tea warehouse that houses an elaborate museum run by Professor Pumba Dorjay, a conservation biologist who believes the yeti's existence is grounded in fact. The richly designed yeti museum showcases artifacts reflecting Nepalese culture, plus a history of the Himalayas and tales of the yeti. Several photos of Sherpas and other summiteers are also showcased.

Now equipped to conquer the mountain, trekkers board the Anandapur Rail Service. This 34­passenger industrial railway is destined to Mount Everest. As the steam train rolls through thick bamboo forests and fern groves up the first hill through a fortress, ritualized music signal riders to danger ahead. En route a cluster of sacred yeti totems and a massive yeti crafted on the rockwork gives further warning to turn back.

The train continues across a teetering bridge into the mountain, dives into shimmering glacier valleys and then climbs up through the snow­capped peaks. Skulking silhouettes and shadows of the lurking yeti. coupled with startling special effects and climate variations, enhance the attraction as the steam train darts in and out of the picturesque mountain range.

But suddenly the train screeches to a halt near a gnarled mass of twisted metal. In a fit of rage, the yeti has torn apart the track. The thrills intensify as the runaway train moves both forward and backward through darkened mountain caverns and icy canyons and guests head for an inevitable face-to­ muzzle showdown with the towering yeti - known to some as the abominable snowman.

The train accelerates at speeds up to 50 mph into a fog of spiral curves, taking mountaineers down a 112-foot plummet to escape the powerful yeti. (This yeti is said to be the most sophisticated Audio-Animatronics figure ever created by Walt Disney Imagineering.)

Expedition Everest is nearly 200 feet tall and occupies 6.2-acre land. It is one of 18 mountain attractions created by Walt Disney lmagineering at Disney theme parks worldwide. Disney's Animal Kingdom is a 500-acre theme park. Expedition Everest is outcome of more than six years of research and multiple trips to the Himalayas by Walt Disney. Disney designers, architect, and creative storytellers visited areas of Asia near Mount Everest to study local cultures, traditions and architecture Joe Rohde, executive designer at Walt Disney Imagineering is the lead designer of the park.

The mountain contains about 1,800 tons of steel and cost more than $100million and is the most expensive roller coaster ever constructed. 2000 gallons of stain and paint were used on the rockwork and throughout the village. Thousands of photographs and hours of video were collected of Bhutanese and Nepalese culture, villages, homes, public spaces, architecture, trees and plants. Team members visited Buddhist temples and shrines, trekked through the foothills on donkeys, and spent hours talking with locals to learn about their beliefs and traditions.

The designers spent a long time traveling through the Himalayas and collected more than 2000 items of furniture and decorations during their trip. The village consists of several buildings, including a hotel, Internet cafe and trekking supply store, all reflective of today's Nepalese architecture. The natural landscape of Expedition Everest was created specifically to evoke the lowlands surrounding Mount Everest. More than 900 bamboo plants, 10 species of trees and 110 species of shrubs are being nurtured and planted to create an authentic environment around the village and mountain.

Text courtesy: The NTTR May 15 - 21, 2006 . Thanks the compiler and the NTTR-ed.

Newars OF THE VALLEY

Newars, who used to be almost the entire population of Kathmandu Valley before the invasion of the Shah dynasty in 1768, are inheritors of the rich history and culture. Prior to the Gorkha conquest of the valley, the three neighboring cities of Kathmandu, Patan and Bhadgaon (Bhaktapur) were the capitals of autonomous Newar kingdoms. Even today the populations of both Patan and Bhaktapur are largely Newar. But present-day Kathmandu plays host to a large number of migrants from different parts of the country and also the neighboring countries.

The economy of the valley depended on the rice cultivation and the trade between India and Tibet. Reflecting on the fertility of the valley and its strategic position for trade between India and Tibet, it could be said that Newars were primarily farmers and traders. Sound economic position and the stable and strong Malla regime gave the people abundant time development of art, architecture and culture. This led to the growth of major urban complexes; the cities. The prosperity is still visible if we go to the Durbar Square.

Newars speak Newari, which is an independent language with its own script and a rich literature. It belongs to the Himalayan group of the Tibeto-Himalayan branch of the Tibeto Burmeli sub family of languages. It seems likely that the earliest stratum of the Newar population may have come from Tibet and then over a long period evolved into its present form through the inter-mingling of immigrant people, including Indo­-Aryans from the South.

In Nepal the historical research is still in its infancy and very little is known concerning the develop­ment of Newari culture and society. But there are very good grounds for believing that the Newars were Buddhist in religion. The ancient Newars were predominantly Buddhist but with the political domination of Hindu rulers, the Newar religion has grown complex with new practices and beliefs. Many Newars today practice Vajrayana tradition of Buddhism but they also have very strong faith in Hinduism and perform Hindu rituals of feast and fasting as well. There is no line of distinction between Hinduism and Buddhism among Newars.

But there is a queer division of Newars on the ground of caste introduced by a Malla king. The Newars are divided into levels corresponding to the occupation they are engaged in and their social position in defined accord­ingly. The highest class is of course the priestly class. Priest­hood is handed down to the sons by their fathers. Shakya, Bajracharya become priests by birth. Then comes Pradhan, Joshi, Rajbhandari etc. who used to be recruited for governmental services and as the advisors to the king. Then there is the workers' class. The farmers, artisans and craftsmen belong to this class. There are untouchables who are supposedly the cleaners and butchers. The whole social structure of Newars is built on this caste system. With time and the changing mores the attitude towards caste system is definitely changing but even today we find many Newars pursuing their traditional occupation because it is assigned by their castes.

Today we find Newars scat­tered in various parts of the kingdom but they essentially originated in the valley. Newar is not just one caste or community of people but the culture of the valley that has evolved over a long period of time and survived in its own way against political domination and foreign cultural invasion in the past centuries. In today's fast life we see that Newars are still finding time for jatras, pujas and social ceremonies with equal enthusi­asm to continue their unmatched cultural heritage.

Ihi or Bel Sanga Bibaha

Normally Newar girls are married thrice in their lives. the first marriage is called "Ihi" (Newari) or "Bel sanga Bibaha" (Nepali). And then they are married to the Sun which is called "Bara Tayegu" (Newari) or "Gufa Rakhne" (Nepali). When they get into human conjugal relationship it's actually their third marriage. These marriage ceremonies are con­ducted both among Buddhist Newars and Hindu Newars.

Ihi or pre-puberty rite among Newars

Before Newar girls reach their puberty they are married to the fruit of wood-apple tree called Bel. It is performed at the girls's odd age like 5, 7, and 9 before they start menstruation. Ihi is a two-day ceremony commencing with purification rituals and ending with "Kanyadan" of the girl by her father meaning "giving away of the virgin". This Kanyadan ceremony corre­sponds with the Kanyadan performed in Non-Newar Hindu marriage. So Ihi could actually be taken as the first marriage of Newar girls except for that they are married to an icon of Suvarna Kumar, the immortal God.

Ihi is regarded a very sacred Newari ritual and it's a must for all Newar girls. The ceremony is conducted by a Priest called "Gubhaju" for Buddhist Newars and "Deobhaju" for Hindu Newars. The rite is held whenever spon­sors are prepared to meet the considerable expenses. Though a number of girls are always jointly initiated, the scale can vary from just a few closely related members of the same caste to as many as three or four hundred drawn from a wide range of castes. Ihi is often held in conjunction with some other ceremony, such as old age ceremony.

The first day of Ihi is called dusala Kriya. On this day, early morning, the girls prepare at home with the purification bath and dress in new clothes and put on ornaments. The girls then assemble at previously purified courtyard accompanied by a senior woman of the father's lineage. They all sit in a neat line around the edge of the courtyard. And then for the next couple of hours the priest, with the help of his wife, takes the girls through sequences of ritual actions of purification. The second stage of the ritual is the worshipping of a beautiful image of Suvarna Kumara, the golden Bachelor son of Lord Shiva who stands near the center of the courtyard. The event of the day closes with mutual blessings.

The main event takes place on the second day. Once again the girls assemble in the courtyard. Now the girls are dressed elabo­rately in glittering bridal suit comprising of ankle length skirt, blouse and shawl. They put on more ornaments and red tika on their foreheads to give a bridal look. The day begins with purifica­tion rituals and proceeds to Kanyadan. The father gives the girl's hand to Suvarna Kumara Kanyadan concludes with the giving of a set of clothes worn by married women to the girl by her parents.

So far there is no satisfactory explanation why Ihi is performed. Some simple explanation is that it is from various dangers, in particular the possibility of attack from malicious spirits. But by far the most commonly given reason is to protect the girl from the awful stigma of widowhood. Ihi links the girl in an eternal marriage with a God. Therefore the death of a mortal human spouse cannot deprive her of her married status thus freeing her from the custom of having to burn on one's husband's funeral pyre which was prevalent among Hindu communi­ties a few centuries ago. Ihi rite also enforces the right of a widow's remarriage in the Newar community, thus liberating the women from the Hindu orthodox viewpoint of one life one marriage system for women. Though the original rite seems to have been lost with the cultural invasion in KathmanduValley, Ihi is still performed among Newars with compulsion.

Text courtesy: The Nepal Traveller May-June 2006 issue-ed