Weddings are emotional roller coaster ride to both of the families; the groom’s side and the bride’s side. Weddings in Newar communities are filled with rituals and traditions that carries cultural, religious, logical and emotional values. This collection named “Newari Wedding series” has four different oil painting and acrylic paintings by artists “Kesar Man chitrakar” and “krishna bajracharya”. These Paintings of Kesar Man Chitrakar, and Krishna Bajracharya depicts few of the traditions that has been carried along in newari wedding rituals. 

These paintings are of different sizes and carries it’s own specific values.

Newari Wedding rituals performed.

The painting by Krishna Bajracharya (in the first) is mixture of three main rituals of the wedding.The painting shows the janti arrived by the door of the groom’s house, the ritual of welcoming the bride inside of home after the puja and offering her key of the home, and  rice wine serving to the relatives.

1. The newly wed along with the Janti has arrived by the entrance of home after marriage ceremony is done in the bride’s home.
2. The Groom’s family (most specifically groom’s mother) performs a small puja at the door to protect the newly wed from negativities and then welcomes the bride in home by offering her the key of the door.
3. Another scene in the same shows the rice wine serving ceremony where the new bride offers and serves rice wine to the relatives and guests.

During pujas, first the holy water are sprinkled, followed by Arati and Tika; logically the holy water helps wash away the dirts, Arati are cotton balls or cloths lit in fire which helps kills the bacterias and traditionally Tikas were made up of ingredients like saffron, red sandal powder, turmeric, lime etcs which promotes healthy hormones in an individuals body, thus presenting health and happiness. Mother-in-law offering the key represents that the bride is now counted as new member of the family having her right in that particular home, Bride offering to share the key represents her respect and appreciation towards new family members, Both of them entering the home holding the key together represents that they will equally share all the happiness and sadness of the home from on wards.

Newari Wedding Ritual

In the third painting, the bride and the groom is being worshipped by groom’s mother as a part of welcoming the bride into the new home. The main highlight of this painting is, the bride and the groom’s heads are asked to be joined and the prayers are done in the hopes that the bride and groom continues to live together through every happiness and sadness. Performing this ritual have believes that doing so, the two people connect spiritually and emotionally which helps them understand each other deeply. While performing this ritual; flowers petals, potay coins, golchamari and such other auspicious items are filled in the mana, then the mana is taken to touch the knees and shoulders of both the bride and groom and then the fillings are poured above the couple’s head and it is done three times. The sayapatri flower’s smells helps in hormonal balance, coins and the mana helps the body attract good energies from the metals and potay and gochamari helps in blocking the negative energies from the same. The painting also shows, sukunda; one of most needed metal item while performing any pujas, and “NAKHAYA SINAMU” which means mirror and Sindur box of the bride.

Newari Bride serving rice wine.

In the fourth painting, a group of guests are being served with meal, this feast is mainly called “laptey voi” in newari community. “laptey voi” is a feast served to people where the people are seated on sukul and food is served on banana leaves made plates. The newari meal has foods like chiura (beaten rice), vatmas sadheko (black-soybean with spices and garlic), tama-bodi tarkari (beans and dried bamboo curry), newari achar (sesame dressing garden salad), green spinach, and many more veg and non veg items. The meal is served along with rice wine and curd at the end to make the meal filled with a balanced diet. In this painting, the bride is serving rice wine to the guests, also known as “aila” in newari language. Rice wine is served as a drink and also as a sagun in newar communities as it contains fibers, 10 amino acids, probiotics and anti-oxidants. Aila or rice wine is served in mud cups which promotes earthly energies within the body. Serving rice wine is considered as wishing for happy balanced meal and life. This painting shows the people adoring the new bride and happily accepting foods served by her. Alongside, other men and women are also seen serving and helping with the feast to the guests.

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Art in simple word is any kind of skill or talent whether inborn or learned throughout the lifetime that can be showcased in front of others through various kinds of forms. In general terms, consideration of art is limited within two types of Arts: Performance Arts like: martial arts, dancing, singing, acting, and visual arts like: drawings, paintings, sculptures, architecture etc. but Art isn’t just limited to that there’s more to it like public speaking, writing, poetry and many more.

How I feel about Arts.

While these general terms are further divided into broader terms, I personally belief every or any medium that helps express feelings, philosophies, perspectives and opinions that somehow affects the viewer or audience to feel it in any way is Art.

Also the reason why whenever people feel empty or depressed they are suggested to go participate to perform any kind of art be it physical like arts of dancing, singing, martial arts etc or get involved with philosophical forms of arts like poetry, writings etc. Art plays with people’s mind and feelings. Don’t you think so? If your answer is No, try it someday or just simply visit some art museums or Art Galleries.

Definition of Visual Arts

Although Visual Arts is a recent vague umbrella term for a comprehensive kind of art which includes a number of artistic disciplines from various sub-categories, to put it in simpler words the arts performed mostly for visual observation, like drawing, graphics, a modern digital art form, painting, sculpture, interesting photography which suggests a story within and the decorative arts which provides a value to the audience in the room are a few example of visual arts. Any form of arts that can be associated by the audience by is visual arts.

Visual arts is a form of language, a visual communication. It helps connect your opinion with other’s opinion. It had been in presence from the very early evolution stage.

What I feel About Visual Arts

They say Art is supposed to give comfort to discomforted and discomfort to comforted, I feel Visual Arts completely supports this saying as it leave people wanting more, more information or stories or sequences about the art. It doesn’t give exact answers to what audience wants, rather it gives philosophies of what the artist thought of while making the sculpture or the painting, what relation or what purposes was within it, what feelings were the artist dealing with or what did they wanted to spill. It leaves audience with their own conclusions that might or might not be true to details, but does leave them with some sort of connection.

Future of art and visual arts

Future of art is advanced and digital. Artists and techno-logicians predict that the future of arts will be commercial, and globally cost friendly which will surely provide access to every people. The paintings and drawings has already started being digital where replicas of masterpieces can be printed a hundred times furthermore, they predict that in the near future 3d holographic sculptures can be made to print a thousand or more sculptures and architectures. Imagination of human kind is infinite, working on it does take time, but it isn’t impossible.

Despite all these advancement, however the traditional form of art will always be of great importance, people will still visit Louvre to watch iconic painting of Mona Lisa from within the crowd rather than touch the replica prints of it. Individuals will still visit Rome, rather than visit replica parks of same. Plays and Dramas will still be valued regardless of holographic theatres.

Art overall will never lose its importance, because art is a way of life, a culture, a tradition that had been and will be used for expressionism.

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Artist: Keshar Man Chitrakar

These paintings will forever help incline the importance to protect, value and pratice our traditions alongside introduce our artistry among the world. It is not only pleasure for eyes, or a decorative, but is as precious as any asset.

Painted in 32”X 48” sized Canvas, this lively painting delightfully depicts the (devi pykhan part) celebration of Indra Jatra. Dancers wearing masks of various gods & goddesses namely Bhairav, Kumari, Chandi, Daitya, Kawan, Beta, & Khya, makes its rounds along the festival route, stopping at major street squares to perform and receive offerings from devotees. Pulu Kisi (elephant)  is believed to be the carrier of Indra himself, people view the masked creature with a roar of excitement. It is mischievous and runs through the street knocking anyone that comes in its path and swings its tail in an amazing manner. The Lakhey alongside Pulukisi helps in crowd control before chariot procession through the streets and crowds spreading the festive mood. The dancers consist of Bhairava (in blue) holding a sword and his two attendants (in red). Khyāh Pyākhan (ख्याः प्याखं) features dancers dressed in a costume representing the Khyah, a fat, hairy ape-like creature. Their dance is marked by antics and a lot of tumbling. Masks of Bhairava are displayed at various places in the heart of Kathmandu throughout the eight days of the festival. Bhairava is known to be a terrifying aspect of Shiva. The largest ones are of Sweta Bhairava at Durbar Square, and of Akash Bhairava at Indra Chok. A pipe sticking out of the mouth of Sweta Bhairava dispenses alcohol and rice beer on different days.

Nepalese ancient cultures and traditions have formed and developed alongside our glorious civilization. The greatest jatra of Nepal, Indra Jatra is celebrated not as a compulsion, but as an identification of the proud Newars along with all the adibasis of Kathmandu.

इंद्र जात्रा उत्सव, काल भैरव हनुमान ढोका

चित्रकार: केशर मान चित्रकार

यी चित्रहरूले सधैँ हाम्रो कलात्मकतालाई विश्वको बीचमा प्रस्तुत गर्न,हाम्रो परम्परालाई रक्षा गर्न पर्ने महत्त्वलाई उत्प्रेरित गर्न मद्दत गर्नेछ। आँखा को सन्तुष्टी र सजावट साथै सम्पत्ति को रूपमा बहुमूल्य छ।

32 “X 48” को क्यान्भासमा चित्रित गरिएको यो निक्कै जिवित देखिने चित्रकलाले इंद्र जात्रा उत्स (देवी पखन भाग) मनाइरहेको प्रस्तुत गर्दछ। विभिन्न देवताहरू र देवीहरूको मास्क लगाएर नृत्यकारहरू भैरव, कुमारी, चँदी, दैत्य, बिता र ख्याक को रूपमा प्रमुख मार्गहरूमा उत्सव मनाउँदै जात्रा गर्छन्, र प्रमुख सडक तथा चोक वर्गहरूमा रोक लगाई भेद प्राप्त गर्छन ।पुंलुकिसी (हात्ती) आफैं इंद्रको अवतार मानिएको, मानिसहरूले यो मुखुट राखेको प्राणीलाई उत्साहका साथ देख्छन्। यो निक्कै भ्रामक प्राणी मानिन्छ र आफ्नो बाटोमा जो आउँछ उस्लाई धकेल्दै हिँड्छ र आफ्नो पुच्छर अचम्मको तरिकामा झल्काउँछ। पुंलुकिसी का साथ लाक्खे ले रथ जुलुसलाई सडकमार्फत भीड नियन्त्रणमा ल्याउन मद्दत गर्दछ र भीडको मनोभावमा रमाइलोपन फैलाउँछ ।अरू नृत्यकार ; भैरव (निलोमा) तर्वार लिएर र उनीहरूको दुई सहकर्मीहरू (रातोमा) नाच्दै हिँड्छ। ख्या: प्याखं खहानी, एक प्राणी को पोशाक मा विशेष नृत्य गर्छ। तिनीहरूको नृत्य एन्टिटिक्स द्वारा चिन्हित छ । जात्रामा भैरवका मास्क काठमाडौंका विभिन्न ठाउँमा आठौं दिन सम्म प्रदर्शन गरिन्छ। सबै भन्दा ठूलो भैरव मुकुट दरबार स्क्वायर मा र इंद्र चोक मा अाकाशे भैरव मा राखिन्छ, स्वते भैरवको मुखबाट शराब र चावल बियर खुवाइन्छ । नेपाली पुरातन संस्कृति र परम्पराहरूले हाम्रो महिमा सभ्यताको साथमा गठित र विकसित छन्। नेपालको सबैभन्दा ठूलो जात्रा इंद्रजात्रा नेवार समुदाय र सबै आदिवाशी जनजातीले गर्वको पहिचानको रूपमा मनाउँ छ ।

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बेहुली भित्र्याउनु ।

Artist: Keshar Man Chitrakar.

केशर मान चित्रकार

The painting beautifully portraits one of newari wedding rituals, where the newly wed along with the Janti has arrived by the entrance of home after marriage ceremony is done in the bride’s home. The Groom’s family (most specifically groom’s mother) performs a small puja at the door to protect the newly wed from negativities and then welcomes the bride in home by offering her the key of the door, the bride where as offers to share the key with the mother-in-law, then they happily enter the home with both women holding the key.

During pujas, first the holy water are sprinkled, followed by Arati and Tika; logically the holy water helps wash away the dirts, Arati are cotton balls or cloths lit in fire which helps kills the bacterias and traditionally Tikas were made up of ingredients like saffron, red sandal powder, turmeric, lime etcs which promotes healthy hormones in an individuals body, thus presenting health and happiness. Mother-in-law offering the key represnts that the bride is now counted as new member of the family having her right in that particular home, Bride offering to share the key represents her respect and appreciation towards new family members, Both of them entering the home holding the key together represents that they will equally share all the happiness and sadness of the home from on wards.

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Oil Painting of Rajamati (played by Hisila Maharjan)

राजमाती को चित्र (हिसला महर्जन द्वारा खेलेका)

Artist: Mishri Man Chitrakar

चित्राकर: मिश्री मण चित्राकर

The movie and specially the song “Rajamati” is one of the most popular songs of the Newars. It also gained fame because it was played by a guard of honor during the state visit of Prime Minister Jung Bahadur to England in 1850. In the song, a love-struck man tells how much he desires Rajamati, and that he will go to Kashi (Varanasi) and become an ascetic if he doesn’t get to marry her. Then he describes her curly hair, long eyes, fair complexion and moles on the cheek. The song then mentions three sunken waterspouts in Kathmandu, Thanhiti uptown, Kwahiti at the southern end and Maruhiti in the center (near Kathmandu Durbar Square); and how Rajamati, who had gone to Maruhiti to fetch water, tripped on a large stone and fell flat on her back. The singer then laments how Rajamati was given away in marriage over her protestations because of a devious matchmaker, and how she ended up in a house without a decorative window.

चलचित्र र विशेष रूपमा गीत “राजमाति” नेवारी समूदायमा सबै भन्दा लोकप्रिय गीतहरु मध्ये एक हो।यो  प्रसिद्धि प्राप्त हुनु को कारण 1850 मा प्रधान मंत्री जंगबहादुर को इङ्गल्याण्ड को भ्रमण को समयमा सम्मान स्वरुपमा एक गार्ड द्वारा बजाएको थियो | गीतमा, माया मा परेका व्यक्तिले बताउँछ कि उनी राजमतीलाई कति कति चाहन्छन्, र उ काशी (वाराणसी) मा जानेछ यदि उनको विवाह राजमती संग हुन नपाएमा ।त्यसपछि उसले उसको घुमाउरो कपाल, लामो आँखा, गोरो मुहार र गलाको कोठी को वर्णन गर्दछ।गीतले दक्षिणी अन्तमा काठमांडू, थन्टिटी अप्टटाउन, क्वाहाइटमा गरि तीनवटा उल्लेखनीय जलस्पतिहरू उल्लेख गर्दछ र केन्द्रमा (मंगलबार डरबारी स्क्वायर नजिक) मा मारुइती; र कसरी राजामती, मरुहाइटमा पानी ल्याउन जान्थिन, र एक दिन ठूलो चट्टानमा अल्झेर लडिन । तेस्पच्यात उसले गीतमा उल्लेख गर्छ कि कसरि राजमती लै उनको एच्या बिपरित विवाह गरि पठाइअन्तात्याहा सजावटी सञ्झ्याल बिना घरमा उनि पुग्छिन ।

Source: rajamati; wikipedia.

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Investing in Decoratives and Arts consistently adds up so much of values to you memories, to your necessities, to your lifestyles and most of all to your creativities.

The blank spaces are always opportunities to play with your creativities.

Crafted ? Painted ? Unique ? Readymades ? Fancy ? Classy ? Cultural ? Gift ables ? Valuables ?
Come visit us you’ll find it all.

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