Bratabandha
ceremony is one of the important Hindu ceremony in the life of a Nepali. This
ceremony is performed only for the boys. When the boys reach between 7 to 12,
this ceremony is performed. However, nowadays, people perform Bratabandha a day
before marriage as well. This ceremony take the first steps in learning
the traditional laws, ceremonial roles and rituals of their caste. It is about
passing on tradition and culture to a younger generation. Bratabandha is a
considered the beginning of manhood and those boys who have not performed their
Bratabandha cannot marry.
Red,
white, yellow markings, Swasti, were made around the fire for protection and as
an elaborate place setting, indicating where each god should sit when they
joined the ceremony.
The
boy’s heads were shaved for purification by his uncle. All the hair is
collected with precision to protect the boys from anyone who may wish to use it
for harm. It will later be disposed of in the Baghmati River. When each of the
boys finished their mothers, aunts and sisters rushed forward to carefully
rinse any hair from their skinny necks and warm them in their shawls. Even at a
Bratabandha, boys are never men in the eyes of the women who raise them.
The
boys are Brahmin and therefore were dressed in orange and given a deer skin bag
to signify the traditional roles of Brahmins as priests. At the Bratabandha of
boys belonging to other castes different objects are used, for example Chhettri
people often carry a bow and arrow.
The
priests (the Guru or teacher) gives his students a sacred string to wear and a mantra
which they are to keep private. If the mantra is said every day, while holding
the string, it will promote prosperity, well-being and protection from everyday
mishaps.” The mantras are taken from the sacred Hindu text, Ved (Holi book).
 |
| Add caption |
){kind=link}
0 comments:
Post a Comment