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BOOK REVIEW |
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BOOK REVIEW |
On Water and Culture Dr. Safalya Amatya
discusses the relations between water and culture By A CORRESSPONDENT Many books have been written regarding the
evolution of Nepalese culture and religion through various phases but only a few books are
available, which exclusively deals with the role of water in shaping culture. Water plays a determining role in the
culture and lifestyle of Kathmandu valley. Most of the festivals and rituals quite simply
cannot be performed without offering water. Naturally, valley's major festivals and
religious rituals are mostly celebrated within the span of four months of monsoon period.
Traditionally, a farming field, the valley also inherits the festivals from the farmers. Water is the essence of life. Human lives
cannot sustain without the availability of adequate rainfall. From planting major crops to
producing good harvest what is required is abundant water. So, farmers perform their festivals
coinciding with the cycle of the plantation of their major crops like paddy. Farmers have
many gods and goddesses linked with the rainfall. From serpents to frogs, farmers respect and
worship them regarding them as harbingers of rainfall. Like the physical life, the
cultural and religious practices also demand the purity of water. People offer purified
water to bath the gods and later drink it as an Amrit. Being a renowned archeologist and culture
expert, Dr. Amatya has written a number of books highlighting the cultural, religious and
other aspects of life of residents of the Kathmandu valley. Having served for more than
three decades at the Department of Archeology, Dr. Amatya has practical as well as
theoretical knowledge about the evolution of culture and rituals of Nepal. In his new book, Dr. Amatya discusses those
religious and cultural practices linked to the water. According to him, the riverbanks are
major sites to perform the cultural and religious rituals here. Even the world-renowned
Hindu Temple of Pashupatinath, along with other shrines of gods and goddesses, lie along
the bank of major rivers. Most of festivals of the valley are
performed near ponds and rivers. Farmers feel happy when they have abundant rainfall in
the monsoon season. So, they praise the god of water Lord Indra, Lord Machhindranath and
so on. The major chariot festival Lord
Machhindranath, a god of rain, begins just a month before the onset of rainy season and
concludes when the rain approaches.
In between three months of rainy
season, farmers perform more than 80 percent of the valley's festivals and some of the
festivals are even celebrated literally in the middle of the pond. Taking dips in the
rivers and ponds are some of the fundamental manners of purification. The water related
festivals are mostly related to Lord Shiva and Nagas or serpent gods. At a time when many books are written
focusing foreigners, Dr. Amatya has written book in Nepali language keeping Nepalese
readers in mind. He also shows how important role the water plays in setting our culture. Water and Culture On Nepal Red Cross Dr. Maskay explains the
challenges and possibilities of Nepal Red Cross History of Nepal Red Cross has many ups and
downs. Like many other organizations, Nepal Red Cross Society is also confined to certain
individuals in leadership level and its role is limited to carry out the rehabilitation
work during the period of natural disaster and calamities. Being an organization with district offices
in all 75 districts, Nepal Red Cross Society is yet to lure large number of people in its
fold. Although membership of the Nepal Red Cross Society is open to all, very few people
have shown the interest to join it. According to data, the Nepal Red Cross has total
general membership of 51,813 till 2001. Having spent more than three decades in
Nepal Red Cross movement, Dr. Maskay knows the organization inside out. In his new book
Challenges and Opportunities of Nepal Red Cross, Dr. Maskay tries to bring into light what
is hampering its growth. Dr. Maskey highlights how Nepal Red Cross
transformed from a small organization to the one with nationwide network with programs in
different areas. From store-houses to buildings, Nepal Red Cross Society has all kinds of
infrastructures extending from east to west. In the first phase, Nepal Red Cross Society
has spent most of its time to expand the organization and build the infrastructures but
now the time has come to use all these infrastructures to benefit large number of
population. Red Cross Movement in Nepal |
Send your feedback to the
editor: spotligh@mos.com.np |
