Newar And Their Festivals
Friday, July 20, 2007
I was born in a small city in Nepal called Hetauda but I was raised in the capital Kathmandu. My forefathers were from Tankeshwor, Kathmandu. I am from a Newar family and we have a saying in our country. "Baun bigrancha moj le, Newar bigrancha voj le!" Baun is a type of caste, a group of people, who has higher values in the community, and who has the main role of praying and giving offerings to god for the community. Newar are another group of people who have lots of difference than the Baun with ordinary and way of living and have different values and customs as do the other different castes. The proverb can be translated as Baun enjoys a lot and get their life wasted in enjoyment while Newar enjoys life partying a lot, having lots of feasts and get their life wasted in enjoyment. Sounds funny but it is so very true in case of Newars.
When the season of our festival come we have feasts like everyday. I think we have one month or so in a year where we don't feast everyday. Rest of the months, we have it like once a week for at least. With the seasonal fruits and foods available, we have lots of festivals organized and have a great feasts were all of the relatives are invited and a grand party is organized. The main item of the feast will be a buffalo, meaning one buffalo can be served in so many ways that even I get confused with the varieties of foods provided to us and the name of the foods are so numerous. You have to be here to have the taste of the food we have. I had written a post couple of months ago about the Newari foods as well and once again I again stress that ordinary people wont be able to digest our regular food. We have a lot of spicy and chili foods with a whole varieties of foods. Some might find it weird for having a lot of festivals and wasting money in it but I don't know may be it is because I am a Newar too that I find it too fascinating and full of enjoyment to be a part in the festivals we have. I really am proud to be called as a Newar with all the fun I am having. :)
When the season of our festival come we have feasts like everyday. I think we have one month or so in a year where we don't feast everyday. Rest of the months, we have it like once a week for at least. With the seasonal fruits and foods available, we have lots of festivals organized and have a great feasts were all of the relatives are invited and a grand party is organized. The main item of the feast will be a buffalo, meaning one buffalo can be served in so many ways that even I get confused with the varieties of foods provided to us and the name of the foods are so numerous. You have to be here to have the taste of the food we have. I had written a post couple of months ago about the Newari foods as well and once again I again stress that ordinary people wont be able to digest our regular food. We have a lot of spicy and chili foods with a whole varieties of foods. Some might find it weird for having a lot of festivals and wasting money in it but I don't know may be it is because I am a Newar too that I find it too fascinating and full of enjoyment to be a part in the festivals we have. I really am proud to be called as a Newar with all the fun I am having. :)
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