‘We can live anywhere but can’t forget our culture’

By Razen Manandhar

KATHMANDU, Feb 4 - One hundred and five boys from Shakya and Bajracharya families, belonging to Mahayana sect of Buddhism, Itumbahal were given a ritual "monkhood" today, after a 14 years interval.

On the courtyard of the fifth-century monastery of Bhashkar Dev Sanskarit Keshchandra Krit Paravarta Mahavihar, under the teutelage of the Buddhist priests, hundreds of parents attired in traditional dress held their sons while the boys’ maternal uncles tonsure them and their paternal aunts collecting the hair as a part of the ritual.

After every 12 years, male children up to 14 years old are brought to the monastery for induction to monkhood, called Prabajyabhishek, at least for four consecutive days, reminding the children of their glorious past that they belong to the family in which Lord Buddha was born.

"But this year, we were delayed by two years because we did not have the total number of priests, or Thapajus, who should direct this event," said Pragya Ratna Shakya, 40, the co-organiser of this ceremony.

He said that the tradition of Prabajyabhishek is as old as Buddhism itself. When Lord Buddha taught people the importance of being a monk and all followed him, leaving nobody to continue the family linage. "So, later it was changed into a four-day ceremony," he added.

No matter where one resides today, if he belongs to Itumbahal tradition, he ought to join this ceremony for "spiritual purification" of their male children. This time, Shakyas from Nepalgunj, Sindhuli, Biratnagar, Birgunj and Hetauda have come to participate in the event.

Seventy-four years old Dan Kaji Shakya of Jhongajhuli Ward-1, Sindhuli is here after many decades to have his grandson made monk. He said, "We can live anywhere but we just can’t forget our culture. We believe that a boy can’t live a decent life till he goes through the most important social duty as a Buddhist male."

For him everything in the event is the same, except the money. When his son’s Prabajyabhishek was performed he paid Rs 35 only and now for his grandson, he has to pay Rs 1200.

Traditionally, it is the chief priest’s duty to grant monkhood to all the children of the locality and also to offer the relatives a sound dinner too. But now, as the guthi property all but gone, and the population growing, the system has gradually begun to change.

Earlier, the candidates "applied" to participate in the ceremony, at the chief priest with bettlenuts on Thursdays and the organizers offered a small snacks party to the approved candidates on Fridays. A special dhuswaa puja was held yesterday to ready for today’s ceremony. For four days, the children have to live a very strict and disciplined life as a monk.

The organisers said that after today’s ritual, the new monks would go door to door seeking alms, at least to seven houses everyday and finally on the last day, they would go to Swayambhunath Stupa to revert back to normal life, the organisers said.

Rajendra Shakya, one among the organisers group, said that the whole event is organised traditionally by two groups — Chhasanga and Basanga. There are eleven Thapajus, the chief priests to conduct different religious activities, including that of Pravajyavishek.

"The priests used to be very wealthy with over 500 ropanis of land, which was more than enough to conduct such religious and social activities but with time, the land too has disappeared," he said.

Itumbahal is known as one among the three most ancient and beautiful Mahayana Buddhist monasteries in Kathmandu. The legends have it, when the Muslim emperor Samasuddin Iliyas attacked the valley and demolished all the religious shrines, he left this shrine intact because of its matchless beauty.

Leprosy yet to be eradicated

BIRATNAGAR, Feb. 4(RSS)- Leprosy is yet to be eradicated from 11 countries of the world and Nepal is the fourth among them.

The largest number of lepers are in Biratnagar Submetropolis Ward No. 22 in the eastern region of Nepal.

The ward has 26 lepers per ten thousand of population, the regional director of the Eastern Regional Leprosy Eradication Project Biratnagar,
Dr. K. P. Dhakal, informed at a press meet.

In 1979 when the Leprosy Eradication Programme began, there was a target of reducing to one per 10,000 and of running eradication campaigns, regional coordinator Kedar Parajuli said.

It is hard to find out lepers as there is a tendency of concealing the disease and that lepers also come from India for treatment, but success has been achieved to lower to five percent from 40/42 percent of physical malformations.

Trends have changed as leprosy was seen a grave disease in the past but now it is regarded as a common skin disease and the old tradition of treating as an out-cast is changing.

‘World can’t imagine how we live in Dolpa’

When on January 30, the government announced that it would bear the medical expenses of the 37-years old son of Thinley Londup Lama, 60, of Caravan fame, it finally cheered the heart of the Caravan hero. He had the major role in Eric Vally’s film ‘Caravan’ the first ever film on Nepal nominated to the Oscars. Thinlay is battered by the hard lifestyle he leads in his Far Western mountainous district.

Even 24 hours after the government’s announcement, the septuagenarian Dolpali man hadn’t received the news at his rented room in Boudha. Thinley is here in the capital for the treatment of his 37 years old son who is suffering from tuberculosis an ailment any government hospital or dispensary is supposed to treat free of cost.

Shraddha Shrestha of The Kathmandu Post had a long chat with Thinley recently. Excerpts:

SS: What do you want to ask to the Government ?

Thinley:I do not have any personal appeal. All I want is that the government should pay attention to the hardships of the people of Upper Dolpa. Upper Dolpa could see development if a link road to the existing route to Tibet is constructed. If the road is constructed, then it will take only 2-3 hours from Nepal’s border to reach Tibet. At present, it takes one day to cover the same distance.

Further, I really don’t like the hefty government charges imposed on the tourists who come to our land and enjoy what the God has given to us. If the government lessened the charge on the foreigners (currently US Dollars 70 per head), upper Dolpa could benefit by the arrival of more foreigners and help in the development of Dolpa.

SS: Which is the happiest moment in your life ?

Thinlay: For me, the happiest moment was when I presented an award to an actress. Even after so many international recognition for the film I acted in, I felt that being invited to present an award to an important showbiz person was great moment for me. For the first time in my life I felt the importance of my presence among the masses. I still recollect, the Ramri Nani (beautiful girl) Niruta Singh, who smiled at me while receiving the award.

SS: How much donations did you get so far?

Thinley:It is bashful to tell about the total amount. More than the amount, it’s the love of the people from whom I got such a help. And I think, I got a lot more than expected.

SS: Who is the person with whom you are most grateful ?

Thinley: I reiterate my gratitude to the News Editor of Kantipur daily, Narayan Wagle for bringing my suffering to the knowledge of the public.

And I cannot forget the name of Eric Valli who supported me in my hard days. He is a very nice man and the favour that he has done to me could not be weight in terms of money. He is my true friend and my Godfather too.

SS: Are you the same man who is seen on the advertisement of Caravan liquor?

Thinley: No, it wasn’t me. After I saw the picture on the advertisement, I went directly to Nir Shah for conformation. He explained it to me that it was not me but just a copy made from my photograph.

SS: What is the difference in your life now and before you acted in Caravan ?

Thinley: It is something I cannot express. I was an unknown person in this world. Now, when I walk down the streets every body recognises me and even a small kid points his finger towards me.

SS:How would you have felt if you had got this popularity 30 years ago?

Thinley: If so, then it would have been a different story. I was a young and tough man in those days and obviously, working in films in those days would have given me a different enjoyment. Time is something which waits for nobody.

SS: Have you been signed for any other movie?

Thinlay: No, and I don’t think I would go in front of the camera again. You see, I am already 60 and no more physically strong to meet the demands of the directors. But, if someone comes again with a role to satisfy me, then I will think about it.

SS: What kind of life would you prefer — city life or the life in your village ?

Thinley: Living at Upper Dolpa is really a tough thing. People here (in Kathmandu) can’t even imagine what we live can also be called a life. Still, I love my village and the surroundings there. I prefer staying there rather than here in this crowded Kathmandu.

Nepali art show to be held in Austria

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Feb 4 - A mega exhibition of Nepali art, ethnic identity and cultural objects will be organised in Austria in 2003, organisers said.

"The Exhibition on Nepali History, Culture and Art, scheduled to be held in July-October of 2003, will be the first of its kind," said Sheela Steiner, the organiser and vice president of Austria Nepali Association "Sagarmatha" here today.

The exhibition is to be held in the Historical Museum of Vienna and Austrian Federal Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Cultural Department is supporting her project.

She has a vision to include almost everything which tells something about this sacred country and its people.

"If only I could, I would take away ancient kings royal throne and exhibit it in Austria," she said.

She said that the exhibition would include traditional ornaments, utensils, ritual objects of the Buddhists and the Hindus, agricultural equipments and musical instruments. Further, there would be the most ancient possible traditional paintings like paubha and thanka as well as wood, stone and metal sculptures of 2nd Century and so on.

The organiser wanted that the exhibition would represent the ethnic groups of the highlands, mountains, the Kathmandu Valley and the Terai.

However, Stainer is yet to determine how many art objects would be there and what wold the total cost for that four-month exhibition which is to include transportation of thousands of years old sculpture, probably from the local museums, their insurance and their return in good condition.

She said the Austrian experts would visit Nepal in March to decide what kinds of objects would be interesting and impressive to the people of that country.

"This will help the whole European world to understand Nepal better and also to polish the Himalayan Kingdom’s image, which has been undergone so many misfortunes in the past decade," she added.