Rabaniya Naaach ( Lanka Naach) of Rajbanshi Community

Tirsula Bir- a gaint in Rabaniya Nach of Rajbanshi Community

Actor of Rabaniya Nach Posed in Character of Rawan

Actors possed in Character of Ram and Sita in  Rawaniya Nach ( Lanka Nach) of Rajbanshi Community

Rawaniya Naach ( Lanka Naach)

This is a traditional drama played by peoples of Rajbanshi Community on the occasion of Ram Nawami but sometimes the Lanka Naach is being called to show in their village if they had promised God (as manti or vakal) to do so if their prayers are answered. All the actors of drama play the role of different characters of Ramayana- a holy epic of Hindus.

RABANIYA NACH also called Lanka Nach  is a dramatic folk re-enactment of the life of Lord Ram, ending up in ten day battle between Lord Ram and Ravan, as described in the Hindu religious epic, the Ramayana.^. A tradition that originates from the Indian subcontinent, the play is staged by Rajbanshi community Peoples during some occasion if their wishes are being fulfilled which they had promised to provide to God (Manti) and it is played often over ten or more successive nights, during the auspicious period of 'Sharad Navratras', which marks the commencement of the Autumn festive period.. Usually the performances are timed to culminate on the festival of Vijayadashami day, that commemorates the victory of Lord Ram over demon king Ravana, when the actors are taken out in a procession through the city, leading up to a mela ground or town square, where the enactment of the final battle takes place, before giant effigies of Ravana, his brother Kumbhakaran and son Meghanath are set fire, and coronation or abhisheka of Rama at Ayodhya takes place, marking the culmination of festivities and restoration of the divine order.
Rama is the 7th incarnation of Vishnu and central figure of the Ramayana. The Ramayana is based on the life, times and values of Lord Rama. Lord Rama is called the Maryada Purushottam or 'The best among the dignified'. The story of Lord Rama and his comrades is so popular in India that it has actually amalgamated the psyche of the Indian mainstream irrespective of their religion. The very story of Ramayana injects ethics to the Indian mainstream.
Most RABANIYA NACHs played are based on the 16th century Avadhi version of Ramayana, Ramcharitmanas, written by Gosvami Tulsidas entirely in verse, thus used as dialogues in most traditional versions, where open-air productions are staged by local RABANIYA NACHs committees, 'Samitis', and funded entirely by the local population, the audience. It is close to the similar form of folk theatre, Rasa lila, which depicts the life of Krishna, popular in Uttar Pradesh, especially Braja regions of Mathura, Vrindavan, and amongst followers of Gaudiya Vaishnavism and Vaishnavism in Manipur, with some similarity with Pandavlila of Garhwal, based on life of Pandavas of Mahabharat and Yakshagana of Karnataka, based on various epic and puranas
RABANIYA NACHs has received considerable global attention, especially due to its diverse representation throughout the globe, especially amongst regions where Hinduism has spread over the centuries, like Africa and several South East Asian countries. UNESCO proclaimed the tradition of RABANIYA NACHs a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity in 2005.

HistoryHistorically it is believed that first RABANIYA NACHs  shows were staged by Megha Bhagat, one of the disciples of Tulsidas, the author of Ramacharitamanas in about 1625 AD, though there are some evidence of its existence in some form before the creation of this version as well. Some scholars believe its first appearance somewhere between 1200 and 1500 AD. Later during in the time of Mughal emperor Akbar, according to some, Akbar is said to have watched a performance. Krishna Das Kaviraj mentions in his 16th century hagiography of saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu (1486–1533), Chaitanya Charitamrita, that once he got carried away while performing the character of Hanuman at a play in Puri, thus proving the existence of Ramayana plays, before the Ramcharitamanas appeared.^[4] Though it would safe to conclude that its implosion into the Hindi heartland, happened only after Tulsidas created his version in people's language of the time, the Avadhi, unlike the original written by Valmiki, in Sanskrit, the language only spoken by Brahmins by then, which excluded much of masses from experiencing the inspirational saga, which is essentially the victory of good over evil.

Read More

Dadhhi Kada Festival in Ghailadubba (Mantribari)

                   Only Peoples from Rajbanshi Community in the world celebrate Dadhi Kado Festival on the occasion of Krishna Janma Asthami- the birthday of Lord Krishna. During this celebration many games items are played like wrestling in Clay along with Coconut Shell, Tradition Pole Vault in Bamboo Stick, climbing banana tree in reverse posture i.e head down and legs up to get the coconut above the banana tree having approximate height 8 ft. The word Dadhi means Curd, Yoghart and Kad0 Means Clay. As a belief Lord Krishna during his childhood he used to play various games and sports and was fond of Curd. He used to play Dadhi Kado with clay coconut and Curd, so from time immemorial Rajbanshi's Started this celebration as they believe that on the very day lord Krishna himself comes to see the event and shower the blessing to the players. There is also a belief that the impotent couples can get a baby child as a blessings so they take fasting on the day, similarly the game itself represents the courageous and brave act of Koch peoples as they were kings and in order to keep their warriors strong and healthy like Lord Krishna the rulers at that time used to call every youths and children from his territory to participate in the event and the youth winner of the game was nominated as commander in chief of the army and the child winner was sent for special training to make them future warrior. According to holy books it is believed that lord Krishna birth was for the great cause in order to eradicate evil powers from the earth by killing king of evil Kansha who was his own maternal uncle. So  the peoples celebrate this festival remembering the joy and happiness of people at that time due to his birth. They also believe that Lord krishna is the savior of earth and as a sign of happiness Rajbanshi peoples celebrate this festival playing Dadhi Kada and some calls it only nariyol khel. In this festivals the youths make an arena full of clay and place one newly plucked coconut in the centre and a resemblence of temple of lord Krishna is kept in one end of the arena. The participants of nariyol khel (coconut game) tries to put the coconut inside the temple and other tries to oppose them from entering the coconut into the temple. Crows of hundreds of people gathers to see the dadhi kadda festival. The participant who becames able to put the coconut into the temple is declared winner and is awarded with suitable gifts and cash prize. The participants believes that if they wins the game then they are able to get rain of blessing from Lord Krishna through out their life and every desires will be fulfilled without any hinderence.

Here we have clicked some photoes of todays dadhi kada (Nariyol Khel) held in one of the remote village of Jhapa district of eastern Nepal. A game held in Village Ghailadubba  (Mantribari). According to history the tradition of celebrating Dadhi kada started from the reign of Naranarayan, the great Koch King (15th century).

Winner of todays Dadhi kada praying God after his victory

Resemblence of Krishna Temple buit in the arena of the Dadhikada game

dadhi kada game temple of lord krishna

Participants struggling to put coconut inside the temple

Dadhi kada Particpants playing with coconut

Finally one of participant able to put it inside the temple

struggling to put coconut inside the temple

Nariyol Khel ( Dadhi kada)

struggling to win

After the game is over the next game to reach top of the Dhaja (Bamboo)

After the game is over the next game to reach top of the Dhaja (Bamboo)

After the game is over the next game to reach top of the Dhaja (Bamboo)

After the game is over the next game to reach top of the Dhaja (Bamboo)

struggling for the game

After the game is over the next game to reach top of the Dhaja (Bamboo)

After the game is over the next game to reach top of the Dhaja (Bamboo)

Participants carrying the opponent along with coconut

Dadhi kada Arena and few players

Rajbanshi Samaj Bikash Samiti President after inagurating the Dadhi kada game in Ghailadubba

Read More

Jhapa Celebrated 18th World Indeginous Day

18th World Indigenous Day

Know about world Indigenous Day

In December 1994, the U.N. General Assembly ended centuries of international indifference to native peoples around the world by declaring August 9 the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People.
Aiming to promote and protect the rights of indigenous people, the new international observance featured educational forums and classroom activities designed to encourage public awareness of indigenous cultures and the modern challenges they face. Since the establishment of this observance and the first two “International Decades” for indigenous people, numerous groups advancing indigenous cultures and interests have popped up around the world.
This year’s theme, “Indigenous Media, Empowering Indigenous Voices,” strives to promote indigenous media’s role in challenging cultural stereotypes, influencing national agendas and solidifying cultural identity.
Though many indigenous groups exist, indigenous peoples struggle with a variety of social and economic problems. Poverty, unemployment, high incarceration rates, high infant mortality rates and gender-based violence plague many indigenous communities. Furthermore, expanded communications between once-isolated indigenous groups and modern society has led to the loss of some cultural practices and languages. Many indigenous people also live in or depend on food from places that are vulnerable to climate change. In the high-altitude regions of the Himalayas, for example, glacial melting is reducing the amount of seasonal water flow that will be available to rural mountain dwellers in the future.

18th World Indigenous Day

18th World Indigenous Day

18th World Indigenous Day

18th World Indigenous Day

18th World Indigenous Day

http://www.ekantipur.com/2012/08/09/top-story/janjati-leaders-announce-proposed-name-of-new-party/358513.html

Miss Rewati Rajbanshi - Member of NEFIN Mechinagar posing for photo along with Rajbanshi Samaj Bikash Samiti 

Team

Rajbanshi Samaj Bikash Samiti in World Indigenous Day

18th World Indigenous Day

18th World Indigenous Day

Janjati leaders announced the formation of proposed new party Social Democratic Pluri-National Party (Samajik Loktantrik Bahul Rastriya Party) on Thursday. Though the formal announcement of the party was to be announced on Thursday, marking the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, the decision was withdrawn at the request of some influential political leaders.
The announcement was made amidst a press conference at World Trade Center, Tripureshwor, in the Capital on Thursday. Leaders of the new party have claimed that the announcement of the proposed party signals the ‘rise of a new force’ in the country.
Speaking at the conference, Coordinator of the proposed party Chaitanya Subba said, “This is the rise of a new force in the country to address the majority of the people in the country. The party would be directed by social democracy and issues of indigenous communities.
The party is likely to be “completed” only after some influential Janajati leaders of UCPN (Maoist), Nepali Congress and CPN-UML formally quit from their parties.
The meetings that went late into Wednesday night had decided to form a 200-member committee to collect public opinion on the formation of the party. Leaders involved in the meetings said the new force is likely to get complete shape within three months.

                       18th World Indigenous Day Celebration In Jhapa
Thousands of people from indigenous community from villages around Jhapa district gathered around Birtamode Muktichowk. The crowds of people adorned with their cultural outfits and carrying playcards, banners including women, children, disabled, handicapped, peoples of old age more than forty thousand in number headed towards Eastern Bus Stand the venue of the program. The president of NEFIN Mr. Rajkumar Lekhi inagurated the celebration program by playing Chyabrung (a musical instrument of Indeginious people living in mountain region of Nepal as a symbol of Terai and Mountain indigenous peoples are united in Nepal). Maximum numbers of Rajbanshi youths were in their cultural outfits Dhuti and Gamcha (Dhuti- a white cloths used by Rajbanshi males around the waist, Gamcha- a towel specially worn by Rajbanshi males during special ceremonies) , Patani and Barhati ( Patani- a colourful cloth used by Rajbanshi females around the chest till foot and Barhati- a long cloth worn around waist to keep the under cloth tight). They were Chanting Slogans in Rajbanshi language demanding Autonomous federal State, Special rights with compensation. The program was the historic program done by NEFIN Jhapa- says NEFIN Jhapa President Mr. Prem Ghising. Similarly the Speaker on the stage politician from TMLP Mr. Trinarayan Rajbanshi said " At any cost Jhapa, Morang and Sunsari must be declared Kochila State, otherwise the Indigenous people of these districts will loss everything and these people are ready to sacrifice their life for their rights".
Rajbanshi Samaj Bikas Samiti President Jhapa Mr. Tom Rajbanshi Said there no other option except Kochila Autonomous State with self decisive rights and appealed everyone to support the non-violence movements of Koch Peoples for their rights.
The chief guest Mr. Lekhi said " top political parties have made our country their private property and they are the prime factors to deceive indigenous people by not providing their rights and they have deceived whole nation by dropping the constitutional assembly". He further appealed peoples to protest against those leaders by showing black flags. NEFIN Jhapa President thanked the crowd and added Indigenous movement had never stopped, is never stopping and will never stop in future till we get our rights and our movement will continue till last of our breadth and declared the end of the program.

18th World Indigenous Day Celebration in Birtamode Jhapa

USUN PRESS RELEASE
August 9, 2011
Statement by Ambassador Susan E. Rice, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations, on International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, August 9, 2011
The United States is proud to commemorate the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. Just eight months ago, President Obama announced the support of the United States for the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. On this day, we celebrate the aspirations of the Declaration and recognize its moral and political force.
In announcing the U.S. decision in December, President Obama stressed that what matters more than “any resolution or declaration…are actions to match those words.” The United States is working steadfastly within the framework of our laws and Constitution to foster real change in Native communities — from investing in high-speed broadband infrastructure to expanding access to health care to strengthening public safety. As we celebrate the rich heritage and contributions of indigenous people, the United States renews our commitment to achieving a brighter future for Native Americans and calls upon all nations to work together with indigenous communities to meet our common challenges.

Read more: http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/english/texttrans/2011/08/20110809141359su0.6779858.html#ixzz23Dw9EY8j

Eighteenth world Indegenous Day Celebrated in Birtamode, Jhapa among huge crowds of 40000 indegenous community people and the attendent of the meet were peoples of all age including peoples of old age, females, Childrens, disabled, and they

were in their own cultural attire. The slogans were chanted demanding the rights of indegenous people for autonomous federal state, special rights with compansation, protection of their culture, language, tradition from the government etc.

Read More

Falicitation Program 2069 B.S shrawan 16th Tuesday

Kalsa- a brass pot filled with water and mango leaves kept during the Falicitation program, Which is seen during important functions amongs Rajbanshi Community

SORA President DR. Gautam Rajbanshi along with Chief Guest Mr. Laxmi Pd. Bhattarai (DEO, Jhapa) and NPABSON Jhapa President Mr. Jay Bd. Shrestha during Falicitation Program held on 2069 shrawan 16th.

SLC Jhapa Topper's father being falicitated by SORA and hading over the certificate through DEO, Jhapa

Read More