Bhume or sakela puja in Maldel
The bhume or sakela puja is an agricultural ritual performed for the fertility of the ground. It is performed in ubhauli (the rising season when the birds fly north, roughly around Aril-May, the sowing) and in many regions also during udhauli (the falling season when the birds fly south, roughly around November-December, the harvest). It consists of offerings that among the Dumi Rai include crops (rice, maize, ginger) and animals (cocks, chicken, sometimes a pig). The offerings are accompanied by recitations and ritual performances by a ritual specialist (nagire noakcho or kubimi) clad in a special ritual gear including a turban of white cotton decorated with feathers and a band of porcupine needles. In Maldel village, the ritual specialist in charge of the sakela puja was Prem Bahadur Rai (nickname Salghare) at the time of the research.
The offerings are given to the sakela deity, a female deity that is represented in special stones. Among the Dumi Rai these stones are mostly round, smooth, and of the size of a small potato. Sakela deities can reveal themselves to a ritual specialist who retrieves them from the ground in a special ritual (cinta). They are then ritually installed to their new dwelling place, mostly underneath a large banyan tree. During the year they are dug into the ground. In the sakela puja they are unearthed and shown to the participants. At the end of the day they are again dug underground where they stay until the next sakela puja.
A characteristic feature of the sakea puja is a communal dance, the sakela dance that is performed in circles around a center marked by the leafy branch of an isilim tree when outside, or around the fire place insice the houses. The units of of movements of the dance (sili) include the imitation of agricultural techniques, the craft of weaving, and the movements of animals most of which are of importance in the mythology of the (Dumi) Rai.
group:Rai>sub-group:Dumi Rai
researcher:Alban von Stockhausen
researcher:Chatur Bhakta Rai
researcher:Marion Wettstein
ritual-type:agrarian-cycle>festival:ubhauli
ritual-type:agrarian-cycle>ritual:bhume>event-step:worship
ritual-type:ancestral
ritual-type:ancestral>ritual:sakela dance
ritual-type:animist>ritual:bhume>deity:Sakela
Bhume Puja Maldel (Bad image quality)
Bhume Puja Maldel (Bad image quality)
Bhume Puja Maldel (Bad image quality)
Bhume Puja Maldel (Bad image quality)
Bhume Puja Maldel (Bad image quality)
Bhume Puja Maldel (Bad image quality)
Bhume Puja Maldel (Bad image quality)
Bhume Puja Maldel
Bhume Puja Maldel (Bad image quality)
Bhume Puja Maldel (Bad image quality)
Bhume Puja Maldel (Bad image quality)
Sakela Dance Maldel (Bad image quality)
Man carving wood
Man carving wood
Man carving wood
Anaïs von Stockhausen in front of Prem Bahadur's House
Anaïs von Stockhausen in front of Prem Bahadur's House
Prem Bahdur (Salghare) at his fireplace
Prem Bahdur (Salghare) at his fireplace
Prem Bahdur (Salghare) at his fireplace
Prem Bahdur (Salghare) at his fireplace
Inside Prem Bahadur's (Salghare's) house
Inside Prem Bahadur's (Salghare's) house
Inside Prem Bahadur's (Salghare's) house
Villagers are cleaning the bhume than (sakela than) from overgrowth
Villagers are cleaning the bhume than (sakela than) from overgrowth
Prem Bahadur (Salghare)
Ritual Assistant
Ritual Assistant
Prem Bahadur shows a fish a trap fabricated by Patar Mani
Prem Bahadur shows a fish a trap fabricated by Patar Mani
Prem Bahadur shows a fish a trap fabricated by Patar Mani
Fireplaces in Prem Bahadur's house
Fireplaces in Prem Bahadur's house
Bamboo strips for basket weaving 'choya' drying above the fire
Rai woman inside Prem bahadur's house (Salghare)
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) with his granddaughter
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) with his granddaughter
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) with his granddaughter
Woman grinding flour
Woman grinding flour
Woman grinding flour
Woman grinding flour
Woman grinding flour
Woman grinding flour
Woman grinding flour
Woman grinding flour
Anaïs von Stockhausen dancing around the Bhume tree
Inside of a Dumi Rai house
Boys preparing the drums in the Sakela circle
Boys preparing the drums in the Sakela circle
Marion Wettstein and Anaïs von Stockhausen
People gathering for dancing sakela
People gathering for dancing sakela
Men dancing sakela
Men dancing sakela
Men dancing sakela
Fish traps and baskets outside a house
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) preparing for the ritual
Elders dancing sakela in the courtyard
Elders dancing sakela in the courtyard
Elders dancing sakela in the courtyard
Elders dancing sakela in the courtyard
The ritual specialist and his assitants proceeds to the next house
Sakela drum are being prepared or the dance
Sakela drum are being prepared or the dance
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and making offerings during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and making offerings during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and making offerings during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and making offerings during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and making offerings during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and making offerings during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and making offerings during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and making offerings during sakela or bhume puja
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard
Boy beats the drum while villagers are dancing sakela in the courtyard
Boy beats the drum while villagers are dancing sakela in the courtyard
Boy beats the drum while villagers are dancing sakela in the courtyard
Boy beats the drum while villagers are dancing sakela in the courtyard
Boy beats the drum while villagers are dancing sakela in the courtyard
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Ritual speer during sakela or bhume puja
Villagers dancing in the courtyard during bhume or sakela puja
Villagers dancing in the courtyard during bhume or sakela puja
Villagers dancing in the courtyard during bhume or sakela puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Sakela dancer
Drummers in the courtyard accompanying the sakela dance
Prem Bahadur (Salghare) reciting and dancing in the courtyard during sakela or bhume puja
Children watching the sakela dancing
Children watching the sakela dancing
Villagers dancing in the courtyard during bhume or sakela puja
Close-up of drum played during sakela dancing
Close-up of drum played during sakela dancing
Close-up of drum played during sakela dancing
Close-up of drum played during sakela dancing
Ritual spear in the centre of the courtyard
Preparations for the jalim or bali puja (maize offering)
Women drinking rice beer and discussing
Women drinking rice beer and discussing
Participant at the sakela or bhume puja
Participant at the sakela or bhume puja
Participant at the sakela or bhume puja
Participant at the sakela or bhume puja
Participant at the sakela or bhume puja drinking rice beer
Participant at the sakela or bhume puja drinking rice beer
Participant at the sakela or bhume puja
Villagers dancing in the courtyard during sakea puja
Villagers dancing in the courtyard during sakea puja
Villagers dancing in the courtyard during sakea puja
Prem Bahadur (Salghare)
Prem Bahadur (Salghare)
Prem Bahadur (Salghare)
Partiipant at the sakela puja
Villagers dancing in the courtyard during sakea puja
Dancers inside the house
Dancers inside the house
Chicken breeding in a house niche
Procession to the village dancing ground (school yard)
Procession to the village dancing ground (school yard)
Procession to the village dancing ground (school yard)
The ritual specialist Prem Bahadur (Salghare) leads the procession to the bhume or sakela than
The ritual specialist Prem Bahadur (Salghare) leads the procession to the bhume or sakela than
The ritual specialist Prem Bahadur (Salghare) arrives at the bhume or sakela than
The ritual specialist Prem Bahadur (Salghare) arrives at the bhume or sakela than
The ritual specialist Prem Bahadur (Salghare) arrives at the bhume or sakela than
The ritual specialist Prem Bahadur (Salghare) starts the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
The ritual specialist Prem Bahadur (Salghare) starts the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
A ritual assistant digs out the stone that represents the sakela deity at the sakhela or bhume than
A cock is kept ready as an offering to the sakela deity
Close-up of the band of porcupine needles bound around the turban of the ritual specialist
A ritual assistant digs out the stone that represents the sakela deity at the sakhela or bhume than
A ritual assistant digs out the stone that represents the sakela deity at the sakhela or bhume than
A ritual assistant presents the sakela stones
A ritual assistant presents the sakela stones
A ritual assistant presents the sakela stones
A ritual assistant presents the sakela stones
A ritual assistant presents the sakela stones
A ritual assistant presents the sakela stones
A ritual assistant presents the sakela stones
A cock is prepared as an offering to the sakela deity
A cock is prepared as an offering to the sakela deity
A cock is prepared as an offering to the sakela deity
A cock is prepared as an offering to the sakela deity
A cock is prepared as an offering to the sakela deity
A chicken is prepared as an offering to the sakela deity
A chicken is prepared as an offering to the sakela deity
A chicken is prepared as an offering to the sakela deity
A chicken is prepared as an offering to the sakela deity
A chicken is prepared as an offering to the sakela deity
A chicken is prepared as an offering to the sakela deity
A chicken is prepared as an offering to the sakela deity
Rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Cock offering at the bhume or sakela than
Cock offering at the bhume or sakela than
Cock offering at the bhume or sakela than
Cock offering at the bhume or sakela than
Cock offering at the bhume or sakela than
Cock offering at the bhume or sakela than
Cock offering at the bhume or sakela than
Rituas at the bhume or sakela than
Rituas at the bhume or sakela than
Rituas at the bhume or sakela than
Rituas at the bhume or sakela than
Rituas at the bhume or sakela than
Rituas at the bhume or sakela than
Rituas at the bhume or sakela than
Rituas at the bhume or sakela than
Rituas at the bhume or sakela than
Rituas at the bhume or sakela than
Procession back from the bhume or sakela than to the village
Bhume or sakela than after the rituals there are finished
Villagers dancing sakela in the school yard after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the school yard after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the school yard after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the school yard after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the school yard after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the school yard after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the school yard after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the school yard after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the school yard after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the school yard after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Preparations for the jalim or bali puja
Preparations for the jalim or bali puja
Preparations for the jalim or bali puja
Preparations for the jalim or bali puja
Preparations for the jalim or bali puja
Preparations for the jalim or bali puja
Preparations for the jalim or bali puja
Preparations for the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
Performance of the jalim or bali puja
End of the jalim or bali puja
Ritual specialists taking a rest inside a house after the bali or jalim puja
Ritual specialists taking a rest inside a house after the bali or jalim puja
Ritual specialists taking a rest inside a house after the bali or jalim puja
Ritual specialists taking a rest inside a house after the bali or jalim puja
Ritual specialists taking a rest inside a house after the bali or jalim puja
Ritual specialists taking a rest inside a house after the bali or jalim puja
Gambling stall during the sakela or bhume puja
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard of a house after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard of a house after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard of a house after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard of a house after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard of a house after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard of a house after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard of a house after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard of a house after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Children watching the sakela dance
Children watching the sakela dance
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard of a house after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Participants of the sakela or bhume puja
Discussing while resting inside a house at the fire place consiting of three stones
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard of a house after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
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The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard of a house after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard of a house after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
Villagers dancing sakela in the courtyard of a house after the rituals at the bhume or sakela than
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), with his granddaughter inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), with his granddaughter inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), with his granddaughter inside a house after the rituals are finished
Participants of the sakela or bhume puja
Participants of the sakela or bhume puja
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
The ritual specialist, Prem Bahadur Rai (Salghare), and his crew are discussing while resting inside a house after the rituals are finished
Group photo of the ritual specialist's household and crew
Group photo of the ritual specialist's household and crew
Group photo of the ritual specialist's household and crew
Group photo of the ritual specialist's household and crew
Paraphernalia of ritual specialist (nagire nakcho or kubimi) in charge of the village's bhume/sakela deity, Prem Bahadur Rai (nickname Salghare)
Old woman with her nephew (and Marion Wettstein)
Old woman with her nephew (and Marion Wettstein)
Old woman with her nephew
Bhume puja recitation by a ritual specialist