Matya मत्या:

A typical Buddhist festival of Nepal celebrated on the third day of the dark fortnight of Shrawan (August), Matya begins early in the morning and although the word Matya means ‘the festival of lights’, it is quite different from the festival of Deepawali or Tihar.

Matya is unique to Patan and is one of the most important festival of the city about 1400year old tradition. Matya festival in Lalitpur is one of the festival celebrated in the Newar community with lots of joy and enthusiam. It is celebrated tomorrow of Gai Jatra. Those who have demise thourgh out the whole year. The relatives and their family member remember them and pray for their departed soul. People also participate in this Jatra to be a part of it and to preserve the culture and tradition and to enjoy.

In this Jatra people visit more than 1300 stupas ie all the buddha stupas in the Patan and offer something like some people published their beloved family members photo along with different prays and other offers coins, rupees, sweets as according to their desire as gift .

This Jatra starts way too early at 4 A.M on morning and concludes at the evening around 7P.M. The participates has to walk all those painful hours and cover the distance as taken by guwaju(head priest of the jatra).

It is believed that offering the lamps in particular to the Buddha on this day signifies great enlightenment obtained by overcoming the Maras (temptations). 

On the day, the special routes of the city open up and lead to all sacred places. 

In this festival, people who have lost their family members or relatives, participate and walk to all the four Ashok pillars located in different part of Patan.  It depends upon the different time for different locations to start the Matya Festival. People wearing joker dresses and others also participated. They walk, joke and dance the whole day….. It’s one of the many wonderful cultures we have in Nepal.

According to the legend, once a Sakya Muni Gautam was in deep penance to attain Nirvana when the jealous Maras came to distract him. They disguised themselves in various forms and some were in the form of fierce-looking demons while some in form of beautiful damsels. They tried a lot to tempt the muni but he overcame the maras and became Buddha, the enlightened one. It is also believed that the Maras later came to Lord Buddha and confessed their sins and worshiped the lord with great honor which marked the origin of this festival.
On this day, during the parade, people disguise themselves as devil dancers, damsels and other funny mask-wearers who are said to represent the Maras. The parade is accompanied by several groups of musicians playing various kinds of tradition musical instruments and the parade moves in an unbroken chain. The seven to eight hours long parade is guided by the musicians at the front.
In every ten years, one neighborhood gets the responsibility of organizing the parade and for that the sponsoring tole of the parade must train a team of traditional drummers to play on this day. The team of the drummers is known as Naubaja Khalah and they perform the show in a very special way only at the member toles which celebrated the festival.
Also, the funny and devil dancers try to scare the kids away whenever they come across those curious ones, some kids are scared away while others join the group and tease them instead. The festival holds great significance for the Buddhists as it represents the day when the Maras surrendered to Lord Buddha, a greatest achievement according to the Buddhist religion.

After 4 days celebrates Ganesh puja

  

  

You can find Short video of Matya 

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.

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.

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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

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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 

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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 

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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 

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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 

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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 

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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 

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After becoming a Kumari, Samita was restricted from going out from her residence, only appearing outside when she was required for worship 

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During the year, the Kumaris are placed on traditional thrones as worshippers take part in festivals to pay their respects to the living goddesses 

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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

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Kumaris are painted in traditional artwork before they are worshipped at different events and processions throughout the year

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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

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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

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Samita Bajracharya, a Kumari, is shown sitting on the traditional throne as she waits for visitors during a traditional Matya festival

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Kumari Samita Bajracharya is dressed in traditional attire for her appearances and is often dressed by her family as a sign of respect

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Samita Bajracharya, a former Kumari, can now attend classes after retiring from her goddess life

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.

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.

• 

  1. Crop photos

  There are several kinds of photo cropping options in Google Drive. Aside from the typical square or rectangle, you can also crop your pics into different shapes, such as hearts and smiley faces.

  Open an image, then click on it and select the Crop icon in the toolbar to mess around with the feature.

  IMAGE: GOOGLE

• 2. Experiment with add-ons

  For documents and spreadsheets, try out one of the many available add-ons. They include EasyBib (which creates a quick bibliography), Twitter curator (which lets you search and save tweets to your doc) or Translate (which translates text into other languages).

  You can find add-ons in the toolbar when you open a doc or spreadsheet.

  VIDEO: YOUTUBE, GOOGLE

• 

  3. Check out your Drive activity

  Want to track all of the changes you or someone else has made to your Drive? Open Drive and click on the small "i" icon in the righthand corner. All of your activity will pop up.

  IMAGE: GOOGLE

• 

  4. Look at your revision history

  Speaking of activity, here's a tip that's hiding in plain sight. You can see up to 100 revisions made on any of your documents by clicking "File" and "See revision history."

  IMAGE: GOOGLE

• 5. Use spreadsheets offline

  If you're a spreadsheet fanatic, this feature is going to change your life. It received a number of upgrades last December, such as new functions like averageif (which gives you the average of specified cells), and unlimited cells, formulas and columns.

  You can also use it without an Internet connection. Any spreadsheet you edit while you're offline will simply update once you're connected to the web.

  VIDEO: YOUTUBE, GOOGLE

• 

  6. Shortcut to keyboard shortcuts

  Want to know all the keyboard shortcuts for super fast access to everything? Hit "shift" and "?" and Drive will pull up a list of all keyboard shortcuts – a shortcut for your shortcuts.

  IMAGE: GOOGLE

• 7. Customize who sees what

  If you're sharing something on Drive with someone else, you can customize the settings for what type of access each person gets. For example, you can allow or forbid someone from making comments or edits.

  VIDEO: YOUTUBE, GOOGLE HELP

• 

  8. Make your email life easier

  Gmail limits the size of email attachments to 25MB, but you can bypass that by sending an attachment via your Drive. When you compose an email, click on the small Drive icon, and from there pick what you want to add.

  When someone sends you any attachment via email, you can save it straight to your Drive. Hover over the attachment and you'll see the Drive icon. Click on it and place it where you like.