Mithila paintings in Kathmandu

His paintings cast soothing and sweet effect on the eyes of onlookers and observers. He is an artist par excellence in creating such impression on the beholders of his art. His work also bears aesthetic values. One can find the impact of Tharu, Maithili and Madhubani paintings in his exhibition. Similar colour combination can also be seen.

An exhibition of paintings named ‘Synthesis of Terai Art’ by S.C. Suman was held at the Indigo Art Gallery, Naxal from April 13th to April 5th 2002. Mithila art is becoming very popular not in Kathmandu only but all over the world. Mithila has a long tradition of folk art. Especially the woman folk of Mithila do traditional painting on their mud houses, on the threshold of their houses, court-yards and on the floor.

Artist Suman was born into the cultural fabric of Mithila in Siraha district in 1968. He learnt this art from his grandmother. He knows the minds and moods of Maithil people. So he tries his level best to reflect the long tradition of Mithila in his paintings. He tries to depict the glorious religious tradition of Mithila in his paintings. There is a good mixture of tradition and modern elements. Mithila painting style is now capable of catching any and every expression of human life cycle. It also shows natural landscape in its own particular way. Though traditional paintings are an assemblage of symbolic images of lotus, plants, the bamboo groves, fishes, birds, elephants, peacocks and snakes in union and represent fertility and the proliferation of life. These traditional motifs of Mithila art can easily be seen in Suman’s recent paintings.

He takes themes of his paintings from Puranas and other religious Hindu scriptures. He has especial attraction for Hindu religion.

He is also fond of cultural heritage of Mithila which is very rich and renowned. Highly influenced and impressed by this cultural legacy he has painted Gautam Buddha, the light of Asia, Shiva, Lord of destruction, benevolent Nilkantha (Shiva), Krishna Lila (dance drama), Kebat Milan (Ramayana episode), Saraswati goddess of lore, Matsya Krishna, Radha and Krishna, Ganesh, Lord of good luck, Krishna, Lord of Shringar Ras, Om ( the eternal sound) with natural pigment. He loves to use water colours and poster colours in his paintings.

His unique especiality of using natural colours is very appreciable and impressive. He makes his paintings bright and beautiful by using different natural colours. These colours were frequently used in the traditional Mithila art by Suman who also uses these natural colours in his modern arts. He used juices of carious green leaves, flowers fruits, glues, clay, cowdung, oil and mits etc.

So his paintings cast soothing and sweet effect on the eyes of onlookers and observers. He is an artist par excellence in creating such impression on the beholders of his arts. His work also bears aesthetic values. One can find the impact of Tharu, Maithili and Madhubani paintings in his exhibition. Similar colour combination can be seen in his arts.

He depicts traditional art items like Godana Design (Tatoo) and Airpana geometrically drawn diagrams by women on the floor plastered with mud and cowdung with their fingers dipped in the rice-water mixed paste. But Suman has painted Airpan on the art paper using natural pigments made of cowdung, turmeric, different green leaves of flowers and herbs and creepers. Tatooing is very traditional art, done on the different parts of body with the help of needles. But he has painted this age-old human living art tradition on the paper.

Kohbar is very interesting marriage ritual in the Maithil community. It is tastefully decorated on the occasion of honey-moon on which the bride and groom spend three nights without indulging in sexual intercourse but on the fourth day which is called chaturthi they celebrate their real honeymoon. Suman is well acquainted with this tradition. So he has depicted this interesting marriage ritual in his paintings. In short it can be said that all his paintings are pretty.

Heritage tour 
Bhimsen temple

By Razen Manandhar

Kathmandu is a centre of business and the people of the city have been famous as sincere and hardworking tradesman. The secret of their success in trade is their devotion to Lord Bhimsen who can work miraculously for the labourious people. The most adorned temple of Bhimsen lies a hundred metre west of Hanumandhoka Durbar Square, by Bishnumati river.

The at least 350-years old temple was a must visit for the merchants who used to go to Lhasa or Patna for business. Apart from that, the locals do not miss to offer special poojas, rooster sacrifices during the Dashain, the Pahan-Chaarhe and birthdays.

The three-storeyed rectangular temple has well-carved struts and decorative windows of wood around the temple. It has three copper roofs. Unlike common pagodas, the deities resides in the garbha-griha of the first floor, while the ground floor is left unused. Oblique lattice windows circulate the temple, keeping the inside room dark.

The oldest evidence of renovation of the Bhimsent temple is of 1655 AD and major renovations followed in 1818 and 1960.The credit of making the temple might go to Thakuri Kings, who preceded the Mallas in ruling (around 789-1200 AD). And King Pratap Malla, under the influence of the Indian version of Bhimsena, added one more idol of Bhimsena, his consort Draupadi and two humpbacks. And along with this, people began to take "Bhimsen" as one of the five Pandavas.

There are two gigantic images of Bhimsen, some seven-feet tall, in warrior’s assets and in attacking positions. They are given unnaturally heavy crown or helmets with dozens of silver "feathers" (called Kikimpas in Newari). Their heads are made of gilt brass and all the rest of the bodies are covered with red clothes. With popping eyes and rising mustache, they are dreadful figures in the gloomy room. Some say the right hand side is Arjun others say he is another Bhimsen.

Between the two, there stands a petite-looking yellow-faced idol of Draupadi, the consort of Bhimsen. It is unique in the sense that she bears a phooli, the noze ornament that has always been a "no-no" for Newar women. A female deity with the noze ornament is a rare phenomenon in the Kathmandu Valley.

Two human figures in humpback position are kneeling there in both sides, commonly known as Dhusi Aju and Dhusi Ajima (that is, Hump grandfather, Hump Grandmother in Newari language).

The group of five idols have one thing in common. They are all "bandaged" with red clothes except the heads. Even the faces of the humps are covered. The caretaker say they are so horrific that one can’t stand watching them or they have power to destroy whoever stares them.

According to cultural expert Baldev Juju, the Bhimsen of the valley originally was not the brave character of Mahabharata but a heroic character, and a god of trade, grain and physical care, whom people also pay homage as an incarnation of Vishnu, Shiva and Bhairav. As a legend says, once upon a time, Bhimsen came to Kathmandu Valley as a servant to a bride from Dolkha. After a presenting himself as a lazybone, he one day turned a dry land into a green paddy field in a wink of time. The master realised that he was a divine character and offered him a temple by Bishnumati river.

Once in a 12 years period, the giant idols are taken out of the temple breaking out the windows (that was done last year). This is also related with the secret asylum of the Pandavas. For a month, they are kept secretaly in a sattal nearby and offered secret poojas. By this time, the priests take off the clothes covering and repaint the clay idols. They are kept open for four days in the temple and then covers them up for the rest of 12 years.

The descendant of the Malla Kings, Durga Mansingh Malla believes that the temple used to have over 360 ropani of land. According to the Guthi register, the government now possesses almost 182 ropani of land from the temple, but Guthi Sansthan’s annual allwoence of arond Rs 44,000 (for half a dozen temples) does not meet the one thenth of the rituals needs. So the temple now stands as a shopping mall, with shops of utensils, grocery and chocolates.

To add this, a local body has turned the temple’s backyard sattal into a grand concrete party palace. Anybody can throw a party there and play rock-n-roll music at night behind the monument site. The age-old carved wood-pieces are now decaying on the terrace. An open sattal at the right hand side of the temple have fallen down to the earth. If the government remains indifferent, a concrete shop will certainly be there very soon.

Chefs Corner
MAY 2002 at Hyatt

Enjoy Ice creams & Sorbets the entire months of May & June at the Café.

Single, double or triple scoops of choicest ice creams and sorbets in pinacolada, orange nougatine, chocolate chips, morello cherry, passion

fruit and blueberry or simply cooling lemon mint flavours and more. Caribbean Connection, Chocoholics Anonymous, Berry Mania, Tequila Sunrise, Nuttilicious and the all time favourite All-American Banana Split areother cool combo choices to make.

The ever popular Saturday Brunch at the Café ? sumptuous buffet, free flow of beer, an array of lip smacking desserts, outdoor activities for kids below 12 years of age and complimentary use of the swimming pools and outdoor jacuzzi. Adults : 1050 (plus taxes), Children below 12 : 50% discount.

Ayurvedic Massage : more than just a massage ? a deep sense of well being and rejuvenation using traditional Himalayan herbal oils. Select from a choice of 25 different varieties of massage.

Sweet tooth anyone ?. Let our pastry selections meet your sweet cravings. Tennis nites : Enjoy a game of tennis late evenings at our astro turf, flood lit tennis courts even as you enjoy the cool summer breeze.

Ice Teas and melt in the mouth sandwiches for those in between hours : got a few hours on your hand and want it all to yourself, enjoy it in the comfort of the Lounge being indulged in the delight of comfort food and spectacular views of the Boudhanath stupa.

Down Memory Lane on Wednesday nites with TEESTA : music from the pat. Old haunting favourites at the most popular bar in town - ROX at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu. Its Friday Nite ? and all roads lead to the most happening night spot in town? Rox Bar at Hyatt Regency Kathmandu. Live music with Abhaya & the Red Sky Walkers, sensational cocktails and tempting snacks .

Children come out for child rights

Deusi in Tihar and cultural show in Dashain have been regular annual activities of our clubs, says Tilottam. "The respective clubs in the western districts also organise folk song competitions and street dramas," he adds. To add to their initiatives - they have constructed public toilets in Deurali VDC of Gorkha district.

By Tilak Pokharel

Last year, on August 9, children celebrated with jubilation when the Supreme Court granted legal recognition to their club after nine years of struggle for identity. And, the group of children-turned-child activists were further exhilarated after they were able to erect their own office at the crux of the capital on the New Year Day (Baishak 1).

And now the children belonging to the Jagriti Child Club (JCC) abetted by some of the seniors are raising their own voice through various in-house and street programmes.

Established with the name of Nava Prabhat Club in Pragatinagar of Nawalparasi district in 1992, the club after four years changed its name to Jagriti Child Club. The promising children did not find it easy to carry out their activities on a wide scale without getting registered with the district administration. But the problem was with the citizenship certificate. Since they were minors and not entitled to acquire the citizenship certificate, their application to get registered in the district authority was rejected.

But they had an alternative weapon - the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which was already signed and ratified by His Majesty’s Government of Nepal. With the help of Child Workers in Nepal - Concerned Centre (CWIN), president of the JCC Tilottam Paudel filed a case against the Home Ministry, the District Administration Office Nawalparasi and the Chief District Officer in the Supreme Court in 1999, as per Clause 15 (1 and 2) of the CRC.

Finally, the Supreme Court made the decision in favour of the JCC and now they are freely working and advocating for child rights. And, the overwhelmed children also decided to celebrate August 9 as Child Freedom Day.

Now the JCC has spread its tentacles over 16 districts with its 20 branch offices with over 3,500 member children below 18 years of age. The children have been engaged in various national and international programmes.

Secretary of the club, Goma Pandey, now studying in the I. Com. First Year in the Padma Kanya Campus, says that she is very much enjoying working with the club for the rights of the children. Goma had joined the club two years ago while studying in the tenth grade in Tarun secondary school, Balaju and she has special interest in giving health related training to the interested children.

"I have conducted a host of such training and workshops for the children," says Goma. After her club got legal recognition, she has conducted such training not only in the capital but also in the remotest districts. It was possible only because she received training on CHW (Community Health Working) from the Public Health Development Centre immediately after completing her School Leaving Certificate examinations.

Apart from Goma, it is Sushil Pant of the club, who is currently serving as the vice-chairman of the club. Sushil had joined the club when he was studying in the tenth grade in Janabodh Higher Secondary School, Bale Taxar, Gulmi. "Before joining hand with the club, I had heard about the Jagriti Child Club through radio, newspapers and various locally published child related periodicals," says Sushil.

The backbone of the JCC for its current status is Tilottam Paudel, now also working with CWIN. "Even if we get 25 per cent of the total fund a Nepalese non-governmental organisation working for the children gets, we will be able to change the plight of the children," proudly says Tilottam. "Only we are waiting for such a chance."

According to Tilottam, each of total 20 child clubs is publishing wall poster called Bal Indreni. "Though every club has its own library, we have maintained the standard of three such clubs," says Tilottam. "It is all because of lack of resources." Inside the libraries are child magazines such as Sunkesra, INSEC Abhiyaan, Bal Adhikar, Bal Sarokar, Muna, Kopila, among others.

Besides, the JCC has also been conducting various creative activities such as quiz contest, cultural show, spelling contest and sports competition.

"Planning is under way to open up an orphanage at Laxmipur village of Kanchanpur," says Goma. "But, it is possible only if we get support from others."

Deusi in Tihar festival and cultural show in Dashain have been regular annual activities of our clubs, says Tilottam. "The respective clubs in the western districts also organise folk song competitions and street dramas," he adds.

To add to their initiatives - they have constructed public toilets in Deurali VDC of Gorkha district and another group of the children in Chitwan recently led a campaign to plant over 1,000 tree saplings.

With moral, technical and the material support from CWIN and INSEC (Informal Sector Service Centre), they have also conducted child rights training for the club members of 18 out of 20 clubs. All the clubs distribute clothes to the poor thrice a year - Dashain, November 20 (International Child Rights Day) and Bhadra 4 (Bal Diwas).

It was just last year, the children at the central level published an issue of Bal Adhikar quarterly on the occasion of the Dashain festival. "But we were forced to close it due to financial crisis," laments Tilottam who wants to become a human rights activist after reaching adolescence and adulthood.

JCC has set up an exemplary branch club in Katunje village of Bhaktapur district. All members of this club belong to the so-called dalits. Likewise, they have another unique club at Lamatar of Lalitpur district with all its members from the Tamang community. "They don’t understand Nepali language and we need an interpreter while giving training to them," says Tilottam.

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