Monday, July 14, 2014

Gupha , Bahra ceremony बराह तयेगु or बराह चुयेगु

Newar girls are married thrice in their lives. The first  marriage is called Ihi or Bel bibaha”. It is performed when a girl reaches her 7th year. She is married to bel “apple fruit” as it signifies immortality. And then they are married to the Sun which is called “Bara Tayegu” (Newari) or “Gufa Rakhne” (Nepali). When they get into human conjugal relationship its actually their marriage. These marriage ceremonies are conducted both among Buddhist Newars and Hindu Newars.


Bara Tayegu: It is conducted before girls strait menstruation. Girls in a group or alone are kept in a room with windows draped with thick clothes and door always locked so that not a single ray of sun can enter the room. She can’t see boys nor hear their voice. Twelve days- she lives a solitary life as if she were a prisoner in solitary consignment. This is how we or I, not belonging to newar clan think or may think. But for Newars it’s a time for celebration. A step taken by woman towards her womanhood.
is a coming of age ritual in newar community of Nepal in which girls between the ages of 7 to 13 are married to the sun god in a 12 day ceremony. Bahra tayegu is a second marriage of a newari girl, the first one being ihi;the marriage with the bael fruit. In Nepal Bhasa bahra means a 'cave' and teyegu or chuyegu mean 'to put', thus Bahra tayegu is the ceremony where newari girls are put in a cave for 12 days.For the first 11 days the girl is kept in darkens away from sun light and any male contact. This is done to symbolize the purification of the girl before her marriage to the sun god on the 12th day. The final day is marked with a bhoj (a traditional party) and celebrations.

The ceremony is conducted before the first mensuration. Generally accepted age is 5, 7, 9, 11, and 13 year old. When the girl is chosen for the ceremony the priest is consulted for a suitable date and place for ceremony. The first day of the ceremony starts with a usual puja conducted either by the eldest woman of the lineage or the prist. The ritual food, Samaybaji which consists of 9 dishes is offered to the sun god to show obedience. Then the seclusion starts. A voodoo doll representing the bahra Khayak, the cave ghost, is prepared and put at one corner of the room. It is believed that for the 12 days the girl is possessed in some way by the bahra khayak and thus as homage the girls regularly conducts puja to the khayak.For the first 5 days she is not allowed to clean herself or eat salted food. After the 6th day her female relatives come to visit her with variety of food delicacies. Also from this day onward the girls has to put on a special facial called Kaoo to make her beautiful.
On the 12th day the girls wakes up before the sunrise to take a complete bath. Then she is dressed up in traditional wedding dress with red sari and heavy gold jewelry as if it were an actual wedding.Finally in an elaborate ritual the priest weds the bride with the sun. The girl is veiled all the time during the ceremony and at the end she lifts her veil and looks at the reflection of the sun on water .The completion of the 12 day ceremony is celebrated with a traditional party.


Story of a girl about Gupha 
Dipita Shrestha-a 10 years old girl just made her walk out of her room which was the only place for her to live since 12 days. Draped in Red saree and gold jewelery, she looked like a bride and yes, she was a bride, walking to a Mandap to get married to the SUN. Looking beautiful outside but what must be she feeling looking at her male counterparts after so long and The SUN-her groom. Dipita is now a goddess-as she marries the GOD. But for this she was imprisoned. Was it worth it? Dipita answers with a shy-smile, “Its our tradition, my mom did it, even my grandma did it and I want my daughter to do it”.
Sangita Shrestha, now in her 30s, is proud that her daughter loves this tradition. Being a mother, she was always on her side when she had to enter the dark room- she slept beside her-played carom and ludo with her so that she wouldn’t miss her friends who were in school preparing for their exam as she was grounded. Sangita is a modern-educated woman and understand the psychology of a girl. Educating daughter’s about pubescent and menstruation is the duty of a mother. During Dipita’s gupha-she made sure that when she gets out of the room than she would understand her womanhood and won’t hide herself from others. But it wasn’t same for her. She remembers how she fought to come out of the room and see the light. How her grandmother scolded her for doing so. She says, “its much easier for today’s generation as they have full access to entertainment in the room, which we didn’t have in our times. Sure, even my mom was with me but she always felt hesitant to talk to me about menstruation and my changes in my body. I don’t want that to happen to my daughter, she should be proud of her body and there is no shame in menstruation.”
Ganesh Maya Shrestha, in her 78th years, smiles as she remembers her gufa ceremony. “I wanted to see the airplane flying above my room, I tried to pick through the window, but unfortunately was caught by my aunty, she hit me and said that by looking at the sun I was breaking the God’s rule. I cried and I didn’t get the point why I was locked in a room and as I’d hear my brothers playing Gucha (marbles) outside”.
Even though Ganesh maya hated sitting inside the dark room, she wanted her own granddaughter to go through it. WHY? In the name of preserving what was started long long back. Noone knows who started the tradition of Gupha and nor why it is done. All they know is it is a part of Newari culture and they don’t want it to disappear.

Ihi, Ehee or Bel Marriage (Nepal Bhasa:ईही)

 (Bel bibaha) is a ceremony in the Newar community in Nepal in which pre-adolescent girls are 'married' to the bel fruit (wood apple), which is a symbol of the god Vishnu, ensuring that the girl becomes and remains fertile. It is believed that if the girl's husband dies later in her life, she is not considered a widow because she is married to Vishnu, and so already has a husband that is believed to be still alive.
This ritual is in practice since hundreds of years. It is very sacred ritual and a real kanyaadaan as a virgin girl is handed over to the God. Actually, in Ihee girl is married to a golden statue of lord Vishnu known as Suvarna Kumar and Bel fruit is given as its witness. As bel fruit (wood apple) has a peculiar quality of not getting rotten and remaining fresh forever, it is sometimes considered as Dibya Purush (divine male) or incarnation of the god. This ceremony lasts for two days. All the rituals of a Hindu marriage are performed in this ceremony. So, these rituals need not be performed again while getting married with a man. that's why in Newars it is not necessary for a Groom to go in wedding procession [janti (nep) Baaraat (Hindi)]. The family members and friends bring the bride to groom's house where few rituals are performed. But nowadays newar grooms take part in their wedding procession hence the wedding in this community has become a bit lengthy as compared before.

Story of a girl about her IHI 

I am writing about the first marriage in Newar girl’s life which is called ‘Ihi’. “Ihi’ is also known as Bel Bibaha in Nepali. It is performed before a girl turns 13 years old. It is a compulsory ceremony every girl has to go through in most Newar community.
I too had the ceremony held for me but I can’t remember a lot about that day. I was quite small, I think 7 or so years old when the ‘Ihi’ was held for me.
In ‘Ihi’ ceremony, the girl is married to Lord Vishnu with the bel fruit (wood apple) as a witness. This ceremony is performed to save the girl from evil and malicious spirits but the most important reason is to protect the girl from unpleasant humiliation of widowhood. It is really hard for the women in Nepal when they become widows. They had to take part in ‘Sati’ process in the old days, so in order to save their daughters from ‘becoming Sati’, Newars started a tradition in which they married their daughters to Lord Vishnu first. So even if her human husband dies in the course of her life, she doesn’t need to take part in ‘Sati’ ritual since her first husband, Lord Vishnu is still alive.
Some also believed this tradition allowed women to be more independent of their husbands. They can divorce or become widows without losing reputation.
Ihi is performed in mass over two days. It is normally organised by priests in their own house or backyard or someone can choose to host it in their house.

The first day is called Dusala Kriya. On this day, young girls have to bathe with pure water and are dressed like a bride in ankle length skirt, blouse and shawl. These days, you will see them as mini versions of traditional Nepali brides. Then all the girls will gather in the priest’s house. They sit on the floor in a long line with their mothers. Then the Puja begins where these girls go through sequences of ritual actions of purification. They have to worship images of Suvarna Kumara, the golden Bachelor which is an aspect of Lord Vishnu. It normally takes 5-6 hours for this ceremony to be over.

The second day is the most important day of the ritual  ‘Kanyadan’ (giving away of the daughter by the father) is performed on this day. For this day as well, the young girls are dressed as brides and taken for the Puja. On this day, they wear some special ornaments as well.

There will be a special person who cut toe nails for all the girls  and then paint the feet with red colour called ‘Alah’. Also at the end of the day, ‘Thaa bu’ , a plate which had eggs, yogurt, wine, fruits, Roti, meat, fish and much more for the girls to eat is served like in the real wedding.
There will be more Puja performed and the day will end by the father doing a ‘Kanyadan’ and giving away his daughter to Lord Vishnu in marriage with the Bel fruit as a witness.
‘Ihi’ is one of the many tradition the Newar community in Nepal follow and is unique to them.

Friday, June 13, 2014

The real-life goddesses whose feet don't touch the ground: Inside the bizarre world of Nepalese child deities who live in temples and are forbidden from WALKING until they reach puberty


The 'living goddesses' are chosen as infants and adored by thousands of Hindus and Buddhists until menstruation
  • The Kumaris are an incarnation of the goddess Kali and are seen as protectors from evil and a bestower of good luck 
  • The young girls are sheltered away - and cannot go to school - until they are required at festivals and processions


In most communities around the world, goddesses are symbolic of a spiritual world. But in Nepal, these sacred females live and breathe. 
Handpicked from birth, these pre-pubescent girls are known as Kumaris and are believed to be incarnations of the Hindu Goddess of Power, Kali.
From the moment they are chosen for their role, and pass a rigorous 32-stage test, these living goddesses are propelled to immortal-like status, deemed to be protectors from evil by thousands of adoring Hindus and Buddhists. 
But for these girls, it is not just a name and status that they are given - their whole life changes.
Kumaris - which means virgin in Nepalese - are forced to leave their homes and are hidden away in temples as a living deity, only able to leave when they are required at festivals and processions as the subject of worship.
These Kumaris are even considered too special to walk, instead being carried in chariots, thrones and other people's arms - sometimes meaning they do not learn to walk until they retire. 
And the girls are banned from going to school or taking part in day-to-day society, only appearing outside their homes or temples up to 13 times a year.  
But once they reach puberty, everything changes for these Kumaris. After menstruation starts, the girls are put through a 12-day 'Gufa' ritual, after which their life as a Kumari ends - and they return to an ordinary life that they have never known.
Kumari Samita Bajracharya is worshipped by a devotee during a festival in Patan. Kumari, the living goddess, appears outside of her residence during different jatras for nine times a year as a guest. Kumari, or Kumari Devi, is a living goddessí. The word literally means virgin in Nepali. The Living Goddesses are young pre-pubescent girls that are considered to be incarnations of the Hindu Goddess of Power, Kali. The Kumari retires when she reaches puberty
Kumaris are chosen as infants in Nepal to become living goddesses, who are then worshipped by thousands of Hindus and Buddhists until they reach puberty.  Here, one Kumari, Samita Bajracharya, is worshipped by a devotee at a festival during one of her nine public appearances throughout the year
Kumari Samita Bajracharya washes her third eye at Bagmati river in Patan, Nepal, 07 March 2014. After completing 12 days of 'Gufa' ritual, the following day Kumari goes to the nearby river and unties her hair and washes the painted third eye made on her forehead. This ritual represents the end of Samita as a Kumari
Once the Kumaris start menstruating, they retire from their goddess-like status. After a 12-day 'Gufa' ritual, the Kumari will go to a nearby river, untie her hair and wash off a third eye which has been painted on her forehead. She then returns to normal life, just as shown here with Kumari Samita Bajracharya 
Mother Purna Shova, left, unties the hair of Kumari Samita Bajracharya, centre, after completing 12 days of 'Gufa' ritual, at Bagmati river in Patan, Nepal, 07 March 2014
The Gufu ceremony is a grand occasion and marks the start of a time when the child can go to school, return to their families and live in public, after years of being unable to do all those things. Here, Purna Shova, left, unties the hair of her daughter, Kumari Samita Bajracharya, at Bagmati river in Patan, Nepal 
Samita Bajracharya in her home prior taking part in a procession at Kumari Ghar in Patan, Nepal. Kumari, the living goddess, appears outside of her residence during different jatras for nine times a year as a guest
The goddesses live in temples and other enclosed areas and cannot be seen in public, apart from during ceremonies and festivities. Here, Kumari Samita Bajracharya prepares to take part in a procession at Kumari Ghar in Patan, Nepal. She appears outside of her residence during different jatras nine times a year 
Kumari Samita Bajracharya visits the white monastry with her family in Kahmandu, Nepal, 29 March 2014. Samita could not walk properly after she retired as Kumari because she had been carried all the time as the Kumari's feet can never touch the ground. It took almost one month transition to gain confidence interacting with people and to get used to a normal daily life
Kumaris, which means virgin in Nepalese, are carried their entire lives because they are considered too special for their feet to touch the ground. Samita Bajracharya, shown here with her family in Kathmandu, Nepal, was so accustomed to be carried that she could not walk properly after she retired
Samita Bajracharya plays an Indian classic music instrument called Sarod in her room in Patan, Nepal, 24 April 2014, after she retired from post of Living goddess
Once she retired, Samita Bajracharya was able to go back to everyday life. She started playing an Indian classic music instrument called Sarod in her room in Patan, Nepal, although it took several months for her to be able to find the confidence to interact
Purna Shova (L) unties the hair of her daughter Kumari Samita Bajracharya (R) after completing 12 days of 'Gufa' ritual, at Bagmati river in Patan, Nepal, 07 March 2014
Samita Bajracharya looks ahead as her mother loosens her hair, to mark the end of her 12-day 'Gufa' ritual at Bagmati river in Patan, Nepal
Mother Purna Shova Bajracharya (R) and nephew sister of Samita Bajracharya (C) hold her as she is brought outside with her face covered with a cloth and wearing a traditional wedding dress to worship the Sun during a 'Gufa' ceremony at Ratnakar Mahavihar in Patan, Nepal
Purna Shova Bajracharya and her daughter cover Samita Bajracharya's face with a cloth as she is brought outside wearing a traditional wedding dress to worship the Sun during the 'Gufa' ceremony
Kumari Samita Bajracharya (2-L) sits with his father Kul Ratna Bajracharya (L), Mother Purna Shova (R) and elder brother Sabin at Kumari Ghar in Ratnakar Mahavihar in Patan, Nepal
After the Gufa, Kumari Samita Bajracharya's life with her father Kul Ratna Bajracharya, left, mother Purna Shova, far right, and elder brother Sabin, right, will revert to the life of any other ordinary young girl - a life she has never known 
Kumari Samita Bajracharya receives a private class from a teacher of St. Xavior School at her home in Patan, Nepal, 31 March 2011. St. Xavier School provides a full scholarship to educate the Living goddess Kumari sending a teacher to their home
During her time as a Kumari, Samita Bajrachary could not go to school as she was not allowed to be seen in public. Here, she is tutored by a teacher from St. Xavior School at her home in Patan, Nepal, a school which provides a full scholarship to educate the living goddess during her reign 
Kumari Samita Bajracharya sits in front of devotees offers during a special puja at Kumari Ghar in Patan, Nepal, 09 April 2011
The Kumaris spend their public appearances sitting in front of devotees or their offering. This ceremony was a special puja at Kumari Ghar in Patan, Nepal 
Kumari Samita Bajracharya looks outside her window room at the Kumari Ghar residence in Patan, Nepal, 03 October 2012. After becoming a Kumari, Samita was restricted of going out from her residence appearing outside only during different jatras for nine times a year as a guest and banning her to go to school
After becoming a Kumari, Samita was restricted from going out from her residence, only appearing outside when she was required for worship 
Kumari Samita Bajracharya sits on the traditional throne of Kumari as participants of Matya fesival pass on at Ratnakar Mahavihar in Patan, Nepal, 04 August 2012
During the year, the Kumaris are placed on traditional thrones as worshippers take part in festivals to pay their respects to the living goddesses 
Kumari Samita Bajracharya (C) plays with her friends at Kumari Ghar in Patan City, Nepa
After life as a Kumari stopped, she was able to play with her friends and attend school. She had to pass a 32-stage test before she was permitted to be a Kumari
Purna Shova Bajracharya (R), mother of Kumari Samita Bajracharya (C), putting on makeup on her daughter's face for a festival procession at Kumari Ghar in Patan, Nepal
Kumaris are painted in traditional artwork before they are worshipped at different events and processions throughout the year
Sandals of female friends and relatives visiting sit outside a closed room where Kumari Samita Bajracharya is kept for 12 days while attending a 'Gufa' ceremony at her home in Ratnakar Mahavihar in Patan, Nepal
During the 12-day 'Gufa' ceremony, the Kumari will be kept in a closed room, where female friends and relatives are allowed to visit, as shown above
Purna Shova Bajracharya (2-L), mother of Kumari Samita Bajracharya (2-R), as she carries her daughter to a festival procession in Patan, Nepal
The Kumaris are carried by their families to the different ceremonies but are never allowed to walk themselves - often leading to them having weak legs when they retire
Samita Bajracharya sitting on the traditional throne of Kumari as she waits for visitors during a traditional Matya festival
Samita Bajracharya, a Kumari, is shown sitting on the traditional throne as she waits for visitors during a traditional Matya festival
Kumari Samita Bajracharya (R) sharing a light moment with her mother Purna Shova Bajracharya
Kumari Samita Bajracharya is dressed in traditional attire for her appearances and is often dressed by her family as a sign of respect
Samita Bajracharya (C) attends a class at Xavier school in Patan, Nepal, 24 April 2014. Samita used to be the Kumari or 'Living Goddess'
Samita Bajracharya, a former Kumari, can now attend classes after retiring from her goddess life

Thursday, May 22, 2014

Things You Should Do Before You Die

1. Visit places you won’t find on the Internet.
2. Volunteer in a children's hospital.
3. Do an open mic at a stand up comedy club.
4. Overcome the fear of rejection by asking out a stranger.
5. Learn to play the guitar.
6. Experience the joy of playing a completely new sport.
7. Go on a spontaneous holiday with the first five people you can think of.
8. Go back to your school and meet your teachers.
9. Call up the people you've had fights with and sort out your differences.
10. Run a marathon and finish it.
11. Learn a new language.
12. Adopt a pet.


13. Do some gardening.


14. Move to a different city and start all over again.
15. Visit religious institutions outside of yours.
16. Make a difference to another person by sponsoring a child's education.
17. Meet all your Facebook friends in person.
18. Try every cuisine in the world.
 Learn to cook one dish & do it well.
 Sing a solo at a karaoke event.
 Get inked.
 Learn how to ride a horse.
 Start your own business.
 Sleep beneath a starry sky.
Go to a country less developed than yours.

Go to a country more developed than yours.

Try writing a book.

Take a gap year.

Try sushi.

Learn to eat with chopsticks.

Know the lyrics to your favourite song to the T.

Tell your parents how much you love them.

Switch off your phone for a month.







Tuesday, May 13, 2014

8 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Google Drive

Thanks to  mashable.com

Here are eight tip and tricks to maximize your Google usage.

Friday, March 21, 2014

Android App [beta] version for Ncit CE2009 frens..

You can download apk clicking NCITCE09.

This is first phase of my android app development so , Good sugestions are warm welcomed in comment below.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

How to Recover Deleted Photos from Samsung Galaxy Series

In terms of smart phone technology, besides the basic features of calling, texting, and even e-mail, smart phone provides new experience for taking photos and videos with a brilliant screen, a processor fast enough for a great camera. Samsung Galaxy smart phones, feature some of the best cameras available right now, are capable of actually replacing your standalone camera. When you are engaging in taking photos with your Samsung Galaxy, tragedy happened: accidently deleted your baby's photos, or lost your vacation photos when your mobile phone crashed.
If these kinds of things happened, don't panic. Android Phone stores the photos on a type of storage which is friendlier than iPhone . The deleted photos are not permanently erased. Deletion only flagged the storage of the deleted files as being available for overwritten. Hence you can recover deleted photos from Samsung Galaxy unless the space is re-occupied or overwritten.
Samsung Galaxy Photo Recovery is a smart, easy, quick solution for you to recover deleted photos from Samsung Galaxy, as well as other media content: contacts, audio, video, and etc. Samsung Galaxy Photo Recovery for Mac will help you if you are using Mac OS X.
Well, follow me to see how it works to retrieve deleted photos from Samsung Galaxy.
Download Android Data Recovery Software:
Size:21.51MB
Secure Download Windows

Part 1: How to Recover Deleted Photos from Samsung Galaxy in Windows?

Step 1: Connect Your Samsung Galaxy Device

Launch Samsung Galaxy Photo Recovery tool and you will get the interface like below. Then connect device to PC.
samsung galaxy photo recovery

Step 2: Enable USB Debugging and Turn on USB Storage

Before scanning, you should enable USB debugging and turn on USB storage. The steps for different Android vary, so follow the instruction correctly shown on the software screen.
samsung galaxy phone recovery
samsung galaxy file recovery

Step 3: Start Scanning Samsung Galaxy Photos

After PC detects your device, click "Next". Click "Allow" on your Samsung Galaxy to allow the program super user authorization. Then click "Start" on the software screen to start scanning.
recover deleted files samsung galaxy s

Step 4: Recover Samsung Galaxy Photos

All the photos will be listed after scanning. Select the photos you need to recover by ticking the boxes before file names. Then click "Recover". Done, you have recovered deleted photos from Samsung Galaxy already.
recover photos from samsung galaxy

Part 2: How to Recover Deleted Photos from Samsung Galaxy on Mac?

Go for how to recover deleted photos from Samsung Galaxy on Mac if you are using Mac. This Samsung Photo Recovery works perfectly on Mac OS X 10.9, 10.8. 10.7, etc.
samsung galaxy photo recovery mac

Part 3: Photo Recovery for all Samsung Galaxy phone models:

Samsung Galaxy Reverb (SPH-M950)Samsung Galaxy XCover (S5690)Samsung Galaxy S DuosSamsung Galaxy K
Samsung Galaxy Note IISamsung StratosphereSamsung Galaxy Victory 4G LTE (SPH-L300)Samsung Galaxy Ace (GT-S5830i)
Samsung Galaxy Rush (SPH-M830)Samsung Galaxy NoteSamsung Exhibit 4GSamsung Galaxy Fit (S5670)
Samsung Galaxy Express (SGH-I437)Samsung Galaxy Nexus (i9250)Samsung Galaxy ZSamsung Galaxy SL (GT-I9003)
Samsung Galaxy Rugby Pro (SGH-I547)Samsung Galaxy Y Pro DuosSamsung Galaxy S Plus (GT-i9001)Samsung Galaxy Gio (GT-S5660)
Samsung Galaxy S III Mini (GT-I8190)Samsung Galaxy Ace PlusSamsung Galaxy R (I9103)Samsung Galaxy Mini (GT-S5570)
Samsung Galaxy S II Plus (GT-I9105)Samsung Galaxy Ace 2Samsung Galaxy W (I8150)Samsung Galaxy Prevail (SPH-M820
Samsung Galaxy Grand (GT-I9080)Samsung Galaxy Mini 2Samsung Galaxy MSamsung Galaxy Pro
Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2 (GT-S7710)Samsung Galaxy Beam (i8520)Samsung Galaxy Y (GT-S5360)Samsung Galaxy Neo
Samsung Galaxy S4 (GT-I9500)Samsung Galaxy PocketSamsung Galaxy PrecedentSamsung Galaxy S II (GT-I9100)
Samsung Galaxy Fame (GT-S6810)Samsung Galaxy S AdvanceSamsung Galaxy USamsung i7500
Samsung Galaxy Mega 5.8Samsung Galaxy S III (GT-I9300)Samsung Galaxy 551Samsung i5700
Samsung Galaxy Mega 6.3Samsung Galaxy Appeal (SGH-I827)Samsung Galaxy 3 (i5800)
Samsung Galaxy Grand QuattroSamsung Galaxy Ch@t (GT-B5330)Samsung Galaxy 5 (i5500)
Samsung Galaxy Core (GT-S8262)Samsung Galaxy Stellar (SCH-I200)Samsung Galaxy S (GT-I9000)