New Jharana School: 2016

Wednesday, November 16, 2016

“Pani Ghatta” (traditional water mill )

The “Pani Ghatta” traditional water mill has been used over the ages to grind flour. A traditional ghatta: The wooden ‘turbines’ are fashioned by local carpenters, which drive the grinding stone are used to grind corn, wheat, and other grains for the local agricultural community.

The fundamentals of a ghatta are fairly basic. Water is diverted from a stream or river and flows down a chute towards the ghatta’s turbine. The vertical shaft of the turbine runs up through the floor of the ghatta house and turns the top stone of a pair of grinding stones. Grain is stored above the stone in a suspended woven basket. It slowly falls out through a feeder mechanism at the bottom of the basket. The top stone has a hole carved in its center all the way through it. Grain from the feeder mechanism falls down through this hole, and is then ground between the pair of stones.

Ghattas are made from local materials, so naturally each is to some extent unique. Although they have the features outlined above, the sizes or materials can significantly vary from location to location. The grinding stones can come in many different sizes, for example. Their diameters generally range from 24 to 34 inches, and the thickness can range from 3 to 10 inches (although we’ve heard of stones

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Bada Dashain 2016

This is the longest Hindu festival in Nepal, traditionally celebrated for two weeks with prayers and offerings to Durga, the Universal Mother Goddess. The great harvest festival of Nepal, Dashain is a time for family reunions, exchange of gifts and blessings, elaborate pujas, ritual bathing and animal sacrifices. Dashain honors the Goddess Durga, who was created out of the shakti or energy of all the gods, armed with weapons from each of them. Goddess Durga, symbolizing valor and prowess, is worshipped and offered sacrifices to ensure the devotees’ progress and prosperity. During the first ten days, pilgrims flock to various river confluences early in the morning and sacred shrines in the evening. Ghatasthapana, Phool Pati, Mahaastami, Nawami and Vijaya Dashami are the series of the events under Dashain each marked with a different set of rituals. During Dashain, men and women in their fineries visit their elders to seek tika (a dab of red vermilion mixed with yogurt and rice) accompanied by blessings. Sword precessions (Paayaa) are also held in various part of the Kathmandu Valley.

A large number of animals are officially sacrificed at Hanuman Dhoka during Nawami which is attended by officials, invitees and visitors. During the ninth day, the Taleju Temple which is normally out of bounds is also open to the public. The last day, known as Kojagrat Purnima, is the full moon. New clothes, home visits, grand feasts, kite flying and village swings are the highlights of Dashain.

Around this time the population of Kathmandu is greatly reduced as many head home to various parts of the country. On the tenth day known as Tika, people are seen moving around with their foreheads covered with rice tika, wearing new clothes. There is much feasting as people visit relatives’ homes to receive tika and blessings.