Folklore: A Tale of Dhami (Shaman)
Compilation: Kishor Subba (Limbu)
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| A random Paint of the Potters Art by Arjun Khaling (Chumlunghim Lalitpur) |
There was no motor road access in the village previously, a long time ago.People had to carry Dhakar (Bambo basket) and walk up and down foothills trails for 4 to 5 days that day to bring salt from Dharan.Porters carry the heavy load of salt and logistics like rice, curry, and cooking utensils into the Dhakar. They sing songs in the streets, play radios, and wear elephant-mark slippers on their feet. There was only a small foot trail on the Akkar ko Vir (Rockcliffe of the Akkar). When the troops of the potters came, the traveller had to stand by on the safe side. The heavily loaded Dhakar would otherwise be pushed and fall into the Koshi River.
Once upon a time, the porters were going to Dharan. They brought salt and loaded it on their way to Dakar and back.They walk an uphill trail in the foothills of the "Sanguri Vanjyang." The sun was going down in the dusk. The potters had to travel a long way to reach their destination, where they would stay for the night. Bagbire was the senior-most member of the group. Bagbire looked for an easy place and took a short rest with his tokma (the wooden "T"). Then he took a deep breath, swiping sweat from the bamboo circle. And look down at the boys. Someone was blowing the whistle, and someone was singing a line from the song, such as "Meih Mattika Gutta...""Well, guys, We are already late. We have to pass the uphill quickly to reach our destination. because the sun is going down. Bagbire warned his friends. "Ok, ok, go ahead and cook the rice, Bagbire brother," saying that the boys took a short rest with their Tokma. "If we had to move fast in the morning, we wouldn't be late." "You lazy people are killing time in the morning, and now you see we are already late to reach the destination where we have tonight's stay," Bagbire murmured. It was sunset and dark, but potters still had to pass to get to their night stay.They made it past the uphill and noticed a house nearby on the way.The house was under the road. The potters were looking at the house with the hope of a night's stay. They saw a fire burning inside the bamboo cane. Then Bagbire went to that home to arrange the shelter.
"How are you, house lady?" Who are you at home with? Please give us shelter for tonight. We, travellers, are in trouble. "Please help us, house lady!" but no one responded from the house. Then Bagbire went to the door and looked inside. In the dim light of the fire, Bagbire saw a woman feeding her baby. "Hello, house lady; we potters have a problem this night; please assist us in providing shelter for one night."Tomorrow morning we'll leave early. "We have to go far away." Bagbire requested the house lady. "Well, I know your problem. It is used to say that the guest of the evening is God." But the thing is, there is no male member in the house, and my daughter is sick. "So, you have to search somewhere else for your night settlement." The house lady answered.
Now, what to do? How is it possible to move forward with a heavy load in the dark? Instead, Bagbire thought of some tricks for the settlement with the house lady. "Well, house lady, could you please get me a glass of drinking water?"
"We have to go far to fetch water. "I couldn't go fetch water because my child was sick."The housekeeper says as she hands the stranger a glass of water.Bagbire had an idea after drinking the water, um... that Ambot Maila is always imitating his grandfather's Dhami (Shaman) practices.He does the same as his grandfather. So Bagbire thought it was the ultimate trick tonight settlement and asked the house lady, "Well, house lady, can you tell me what happens to your child and when she is sick?"
"It is your greatness, stranger brother, to pay attention to my child. After midday, she began vomiting and developing a fever.It was so critical, but I am alone in the house. Her father is going to wage-labour in the next village, so I couldn't call the Dhami. "Then I have just given her some herbs, and she is going to sleep now."
"Well, house lady, our Ambot Maila is a Dhami, but I have to ask him first whether he will practise or not his shamanism in this strange place," said Baghbire.
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| A random Pic of Carrying a Dhakar Fieldwork 2019, Okhaldunga. |
Then Bagbire came to the place where his friends were waiting for him. Then he explained the situation and asked Ambot Maila, "Could you please do it as a favour for her?" Ambot Maila was confused with the situation—what to do and what not to do? Teasing the god in a strange place might be dangerous if the god becomes angry with him. He looks at Bagbire, who has a tired and worried face. "Well, come with me, Bagbire brother; I'll perform shamanism for the sake of the girl," Ambot Maila said.Then Ambot Maila asked for a handful of rice on a bronze plate, and Sunpati and Bhairungpati for the sandalwood. When the house lady told him that she didn't have Sunpati or Bhairungpati, Ambot Maila asked Bagbire to go get some Titepati leaves.Then Ambote Maila touched the patient's forehead and touched her from head to toe. Then he began to perform, reciting lines such as:
Oh, God...
You are the richest man in the world.
Sometimes you do wander towards Madhes.
Sometimes you do walk toward Mount Kailash.
Sometimes I go hunting in the jungle or along the river.
Having a golden bow and arrow
You are the king of the hunters, and you are the queen of the hunters.
When you are playing in your universe of freedom
Your shadow has fallen on this milky face, child.
We offer you a golden rooster.
I served you with the pleasant aromas of Sunapati and Bhairungpati...
I do ask that you
Please leave this innocent child and go your own way.
with laughter, playing
Please, God, let this child be free of your shadow.
Please return the brightness of her face.
Make her as luminous as the sun.
brighter as the moon
Oh god...
..........................
Then Ambot Maila said his Jokhana:
"This child is in a secluded place today." It looks like a forest. I have offered a black rooster to the King of the Hunters. When this child wakes up, please give her some rice seeds to eat, and now you can put this portion of the rice under her pillow. When the child recovers, you have to call a well-known Dhami and worship the Sikari (the hunters' king). There's nothing to be concerned about now.She'll be weak and fresh by midnight.
House lady, offer homemade beer to all of the potters. Then she apologised because she could not organise a night's stay for the potters. It is because she is alone in the house. If it is possible to shelter with some adjustments in the front yards, please manage yourself.
"It is your kind-hearted house lady; if we had a place to spend a night in the courtyard, that would be enough for us. We have rice and curry, but we need to borrow some firewood." Where is the water? We would go to fetch the water. Then Bagbire asked his friends to go for water, and if it is possible, please bring it for a cane for the house lady.
Baghbire set hearthstones in the corner of the courtyard. Everyone was asked to take their portion of rice into the cooking pot. After the rice was cooked, the potters ate hot rice. The starving potters ate their delicious dinner with Akbare's chilli and the soup of the Gundruk.
"Wasn't it such delicious food?"Chheughare said while licking the plate.
"Yes... Bagbire brother is a fantastic cook, and his wife is extremely fortunate."
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| A Random Pic of the Potters Photo Source: Social Media |
"What do you tell?" "Who cooks rice while there is a woman at home?" Rice is not sweet, boys. Hunger is sweet. ..." said Bagbire. And everyone laughed.After eating the rice and washing the dishes, everyone took out a handful of salt and gave it to the lady. The house lady didn't want to take it. Bagbire kept it inside.
The porters were well covered by plastic on their Dhakar, and all of them slept in the line on the Sikuwa (front terrace). Tired porters fell asleep one by one. Ambot Maila's mind was racing with fear as he called out to the Bagbire, "Bother."What if the child is having ups and downs tomorrow? What if the god became enraged and something terrible occurred?so we have to leave tomorrow morning as soon as possible."
"Don't panic, my boy. Nothing will happen; don't be afraid." Instead, we should walk early in the morning. If we passed the uphill before the rising sun, it would be easier to move tomorrow. said Bagbire, and he fell asleep.
"Oh, Chheughare...; Ambote Maila...; Dhane... gets up."It is already late. See, this is already late. "It will be hard to pass uphill in the hot sun," Bagbire called to everyone. Dhane was still spinning and sleeping. The cheetah pulled the blanket up and picked it up. Then he turned to the other side and began to snore. It was then Bagbire's turn to pour some water into the Dhane.
"What the fuck is this?" Dhane murmured and got up.
At the same time, the house lady came out from inside and said, "Where are you going, brothers?" You couldn't go right now. How could I do it alone? The porters' lips were dry because of the calamity that had befallen them. All the porters were facing the eldest Bagbire, and then Bagbire asked innocently,
"No, please, house lady, do understand us." We must travel a long distance."This is already late, so we must leave as soon as possible, so please let us go."
Then the house lady said, "No way; you must help with this." How could you leave this for a lonely woman? Where to go to find people "You have to do it yourself." Oh god, what the hell is this? Ambote Maila sat on the ground, stunned, as he wondered if the child might have passed away. Then he took off his hat, put both hands on his cheeks, and cursed himself. Then Bagbire tried to understand the situation and what was wrong with the house lady. Then innocently ask the house lady,
"Well, what should we do now for you?" Please tell us. "We will, of course, do that for you if the matter is within our access."
At that point, the child emerged and said, "Mother, I'll go get the water and return soon."
Then the house lady explained the situation,
"This man is a mighty shaman." My child got up in the middle of the night and ate rice. And she slept after talking for a long time. She was so thankful to the stranger shaman. She wants to have the rooster offering worshipped by the same shaman who did it for her last night. So you must perform this before leaving. So please sit in comfort when the child comes back; she will make homemade beer for you all, and after worship, you have to have lunch, then you can leave for your destination.
All in all, sitting on the pedestal, Bagbire sniffed the tobacco on the leaves. Ambot Maila also asks, "Baghbire bother." "Could you please lend me a cigarette?"
In the morning sun, Ambot Maila performed the ritual of worshipping the black rooster. Bagbire butchered a chicken, and after enjoying lunch with the meat, the porters carried a heavy load of salt and left happily.
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(This story is a popular folk tale in the hills around East No. 6 Chainpur. Nepal.)
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