Search results

Title: Bhai Puja (Brother Worship)
Date: 1969
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Diwali or the festival of lights, celebrating the victory of light over darkness and good over evil, occurs in the fall (between mid-October and mid-November). Here we see a sister worshipping her real and adopted brothers with flowers and tikkas (paint on the forehead). The brothers in return bless her with gifts of money. Bhai Puja is the fifth and most important day of Diwali.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0029
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2941
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Cremation
Date: 1970
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Cremation is the typical burial ceremony among Hindus from Kathmandu in the central mountains, where I have seen bodies surrounded by straw smolder for days, to the Indian border and south through India. High mountain families will sometimes tie the body to a small raft and send it down one of the fast moving mountain rivers, hoping it will end up eventually in the Ganges River in India. Before the fire is set to consume the body, the oldest son has the responsibility of cracking his father’s skull to release his spirit. Here we see a cremation on the banks of Dhanusa Sagar, one of the holy lakes in Janakpur. Family members are sitting and standing nearby. The ashes will most likely be scattered in the lake with the hope that they will be carried underground to the Ganges River.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0047
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2959
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Durga Puja 1
Date: 1969
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Durga, also referred to as Shakti and Kali, is the consort of the “destroyer god” Shiva. While Durga Puja is a time of homecoming and feasting, the most visible aspect of Durga worship is the sacrifice of animals, especially goats, to satisfy her thirst for blood. Here a goat is being sacrificed with a Nepalese knife. The goat’s head is in the man’s hand. The goat must agree to the sacrifice, and the head must come off with one blow. Agreement is assured by sprinkling water on the goat’s forehead.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0032
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2944
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Durga Puja 2
Date: 1969
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: The executioner takes a break.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0033
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2945
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Ganga Sagar (Ganges Lake)
Date: 1970
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Two small lakes in Jankpur are believed to be connected by underground channels to the holy Ganges River. Here we see a building and platform with steps leading down to the lake (Ganga Sagar). The people of Janakpur come here to bathe in the holy water, especially during festivals. The lakes are also a popular site for cremations. If the family can afford to travel, they might choose to ride the train to Varanasi (Banaras), south in Bihar Province, India, and scatter the ashes on the Ganges as it flows through that city.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0048
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2960
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Guy Puja (Cow Worship)
Date: 1969
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: The third day of Diwali is reserved for cow and ox worship. The crow is worshiped the first day, the dog on the second, and the fourth day is celebrated as the beginning of the New Year. In cow worship, the oldest woman in the household gives the cow a tikka, offers food, hugs the cow’s hindquarters, touches the cow’s vagina, and rubs that hand over her head and chest.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0030
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2942
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Hanuman Puja 1
Date: 1971
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Hanuman is the monkey god described in the Ramayana who built the bridge between India and Lanka (Ceylon) so Rama could rescue his consort Sika from the evil Rakshasa. He is always displayed as red, although he could change his shape and color at any time.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0034
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2946
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Hanuman Puja 2
Date: 1971
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Hanuman worship is very active. As part of the celebration these dancers with sticks leaped high in the air. The dance was very physically demanding.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0035
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2947
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Hanuman Puja 3
Date: 1971
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Here is the bottom section of a portable pagoda honoring Hanuman. A small statue of Hanuman can be seen on the platform.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0036
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2948
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Hanuman Puja 4
Date: 1971
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: The top part of the pagoda features flags and a picture of Krishna, the “sustainer” god. Rama is a reincarnation of Krishna and Krishna is thereby connected to the Hanuman. Krishna worship seems to be predominant in India’s Bihar province and neighboring southern Nepal. He is often depicted with cows.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0037
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2949
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Hanuman Puja 5
Date: 1971
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: This crowd was gathered to watch and participate in this celebration honoring Hanuman. The man in orange is one of the dancers.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0038
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2950
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Holi Celebration
Date: 1969
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Holi, a celebration of the end of winter and beginning of spring, is usually enjoyed in February or March. The root of the celebration goes back to Krishna coloring the face of his consort Radha. For one or sometimes two days men color each other’s faces with either colored water or colored (tempera) powder.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0031
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2943
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Janaki Temple 1
Date: 1969
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Janaki Temple in Janakpur is the center of worship for Maithili Brahmans and many others from southern Nepal and northern Bihar Province, India. It was built around 1900 by an Indian queen to commemorate the marriage place of Rama, a reincarnation of Krishna, to his consort, Sita, the daughter of King Janak.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0051
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2963
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Janaki Temple 2
Date: 1969
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Janaki Temple often served as a gathering place, and one of the largest open air bazaars in the city was located here. The temple priests kept billy goats so that the people of Janakpur could bring their nanny goats here to be bred.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0052
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2964
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Janeu Puja
Date: 1970
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Here a boy of Indian origin, age 8, has just received his janeu or holy cords. Relatives have joined him in this highly decorated house made special for the celebrations. This is a coming of age event when a boy is ready to enter formal studies under a Hindu “guru” or teacher. These ceremonies often took place on or around the time of Holi (late January through February).
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0039
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2951
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Marriage 4
Date: 1970
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Following the marriage agreement at Saurat Saba both families travel to the bride’s home. Here the agreed price is paid to the groom’s family and a large number of relatives are fed and housed. We see the groom in his pink hat receiving gifts of money from guests. This village will be known as the groom’s “marriage place”.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0043
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2955
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Marriage 5
Date: 1970
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: The men of both families sit together and wait for the wedding feast being prepared. Insults, all in fun, are often exchanged between male members of the two families. The groom is once again seen wearing the pink hat.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0044
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2956
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Marriage 6
Date: 1970
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Wedding gifts are on display. Again, the featured color is pink.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0045
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2957
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Marriage 7
Date: 1970
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: The bride, perhaps 15 or 16 year old, is put on display and also, at this time, has an opportunity to receive cash gifts from guests. It may be 3-4 months before the bride goes to live permanently at the groom’s home.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0046
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2958
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

Title: Meghraul Mela 1
Date: 1980
Creator: Rude, Ronald
Description: Once each year most villages had a festival or “mela” which included many makeshift shops and at night a dance or some other staged event. These were sometimes associated with a religious festival. Locals put on their finest clothes, enjoyed shopping, and generally had a good time. Here we can see in the background one group arriving by elephant.
Subject: Hindu ceremonies
Country: Nepal
Local Identifier: PCCA_Rude_0054
Type: photographs
Collection: Ronald Rude collection
URI/handle: http://hdl.handle.net/1961/peacecorps:2966
mods_typeOfResource_mt: still image

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