Festival at the pilgrimage site of Tuwachung-Jayajum
In 2011, the site of Tuwachung Jayajum was visited on the occasion of a seasonal festival. The hill ridge - hardly known a few years before - had been turned into a temporary festival ground. Several thousand people gathered to watch traditional dances performed by various delegations of near and far villages. Representatives of the organising committee discussed plans to build a motorable road, parking lots, hotels and a conference and recreation centre. Their proposed goal was to promote Tuwachung-Jayajum as a heritage site of national or even international importance. At the side of the festivities, a local ritual specialist searched for a hitherto undiscovered Kirat land deity (bhume). The deity was found on the far western part of the hill ridge, on land not yet formally belonging to the site. After the presence of a Kirat deity had been assured, the non-Kirat owner of this western plot agreed to sell it to the Tuwachung-Jayajum site.
group:Rai
group:Rai>sub-group:Chamling Rai
group:Rai>sub-group:Dumi Rai
mythology:Creation Story>sub-story:Story of Toma Khema and Kakcilipu
researcher:Alban von Stockhausen
researcher:Chatur Bhakta Rai
researcher:Marion Wettstein
ritual-type:ancestral
ritual-type:hinduist
Rai woman placing offerings in front of the weaving stone of Toma during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Rai woman placing offerings in front of the weaving stone of Toma during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Rai woman placing offerings in front of the weaving stone of Toma during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Rai woman placing offerings in front of the weaving stone of Toma during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Rear view of the resting stone of Toma during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
The ritual specialist in charge of the bhume ritual at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival arrives at the festival ground
The ritual specialist in charge of the bhume ritual at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival is assisted with fixing his turban
The ritual specialist in charge of the bhume ritual at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival is assisted with fixing his turban
A group of people, among them the ritual specialist, talking together at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival.
Portrait of a participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
A group of people, among them the president of Kirat Rai Yayokkha, talking together at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Close-up of a pendant fixed at Toma's place at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
View of Khema hill at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
People giving offerings at the place of worship for Khema at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
People giving offerings at the place of worship for Khema at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
People giving offerings at the place of worship for Khema at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Offerings at the place of worship for Khema at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
A woman giving offerings at the place of worship for Khema at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
A woman giving offerings at the place of worship for Khema at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
A woman lighting incense as offering at the place of worship for Khema at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
A woman lighting incense as offering at the place of worship for Khema at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Ritual offerings at the place of worship for Khema at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
A person lighting incense as offering at the place of worship for Khema at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
A person lighting incense as offering at the place of worship for Khema at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Marion Wettstein looking at the offerings at the place of worship for Khema at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
View of Toma hill and bhume than hill of Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
Participants of Tuwachung-Jayajum festival winding white cotton thread around the stones of the place of worship for Khema
Participants of Tuwachung-Jayajum festival winding white cotton thread around the stones of the place of worship for Khema
Participants of Tuwachung-Jayajum festival winding white cotton thread around the stones of the place of worship for Khema
Participants of Tuwachung-Jayajum festival winding white cotton thread around the stones of the place of worship for Khema
Participants of Tuwachung-Jayajum festival winding white cotton thread around the stones of the place of worship for Khema
Participants of Tuwachung-Jayajum festival winding white cotton thread around the stones of the place of worship for Khema
Participants of Tuwachung-Jayajum festival winding white cotton thread around the stones of the place of worship for Khema
Double-sided dhol drum used during Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Participants of a dance group at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Worship place of an unknown devi (goddess) at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
Participant of the festival worshiping an unknown devi (goddess) at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
Chatur Bhakta Rai, president of Kirat Rai Yayokkha, at the place of worship for Khema
Chatur Bhakta Rai, president of Kirat Rai Yayokkha, at the place of worship for Khema
Participants of Tuwachung-Jayajum festival winding white cotton thread around the stones of Khema weaving stones
Participants of Tuwachung-Jayajum festival winding white cotton thread around the stones of Khema weaving stones
Double-sided dhol drum used during Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
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One of the two khema stones at the place of worship for Khema
One of the two khema stones at the place of worship for Khema
Reijakhule stones near the place of worship for Khema
Reijakhule stones near the place of worship for Khema
Bishnu Bahadur Chamling explaining the reijakhule stones near the place of worship for Khema
Bishnu Bahadur Chamling explaining the reijakhule stones near the place of worship for Khema
Bishnu Bahadur Chamling explaining the reijakhule stones near the place of worship for Khema
The maiti chilli stones within the group of the reijakhule stones near the place of worship for Khema
Bishnu Bahadur Chamling explaining the reijakhule stones near the place of worship for Khema
Bishnu Bahadur Chamling explaining the reijakhule stones near the place of worship for Khema
Bishnu Bahadur Chamling explaining the reijakhule stones near the place of worship for Khema
Chatur Bhakta Rai, president of Kirat Rai Yayokkha, poses for local photographers at the reijakhule stones near the place of worship for Khema
Devi (goddesss) stone below rejakhule stones
Portrait of Jaruman Rai, the ritual specialist in charge of the bhume ritual at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
A group of young festival participants arriving at the festival site
A group of young festival participants arriving at the festival site
View onto Chichinga village
Participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival dancing at the worship place for Toma
Participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival dancing at the worship place for Toma
Portrait of the official silimama of Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of the official silimama of Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of the official silimama of Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival dancing at the worship place for Toma
Participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival dancing at the worship place for Toma
Worship of the stones representing Kakcilipu and his wife Nagelum
Participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival dancing at the worship place for Toma
Weaving stone of Toma during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Weaving stone of Toma during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Weaving stone of Toma during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Stone pillar representing Toma during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Stone pillar representing Toma during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Stone to dry and beat cloth, part of the Toma weaving place at the Tuwachung-Jayajum site
Stone to dry and beat cloth, part of the Toma weaving place at the Tuwachung-Jayajum site
resting place, part of the Toma weaving place at the Tuwachung-Jayajum site
Resting place, part of the Toma weaving place at the Tuwachung-Jayajum site
Weaving stone of Toma during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers and drummers during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Drummer during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Drummer during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Drummer during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Drummer during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Drummer during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Drummer during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Drummer during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Drummers and dancers during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Drummers and dancers during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Participant of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival wearing a sword at the back
Participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival presenting an old shield
Participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival presenting an old shield
Dance group performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dance group performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dumi Rai dance group from Rudalung village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dumi Rai dance group from Rudalung village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Ram Thami with Anaïs von Stockhausen
Dance group performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dance group performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dance group performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with dancers and ritual specialist in the foreground
Dancers during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festiv
Dancers during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dance group performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dance group performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival, ritual specialist blessing the dance ground
Dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Close-up of the feet of dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Close-up of a cymbal player among dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Spectators at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Participant of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival watching the dance goups
Dance group performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Close-up of drummers of a dance group performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Meat being sold at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Meat being sold at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Meat being sold at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival sharing a cigarett
Participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of an elder male participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of an elder female participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of an elder female participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of an elder female participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of an elder female participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of an elder female participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of an elder female participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of an elder male participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of a young male participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of an elder male participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of an elder male participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival, surrounded by other participants
Portrait of an elder male participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of an elder male participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Participant of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival watching the dance goups
Participants at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Young dancers at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Portrait of an elder female participants of the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Baby placed in a basket and carried on the back of her mother at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Baby placed in a basket and carried on the back of her mother at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dance group performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Two men discussing during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival, crowd of people
Two men discussing during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival, crowd of people
Two men discussing during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival, crowd of people
Two men discussing during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival, crowd of people
Two men discussing during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival, crowd of people
Two men discussing during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival, crowd of people
Two men discussing during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival, crowd of people
Official ground for dance circles at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Chamling Rai dance group from Khatamcha village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Chamling Rai dance group from Khatamcha village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Chamling Rai dance group from Khatamcha village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Chamling Rai dance group from Khatamcha village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Chamling Rai dance group from Khatamcha village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Chamling Rai dance group from Khatamcha village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Chamling Rai dance group from Khatamcha village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Dancers and ritual speicalists at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival entering the place of worship for Toma
Information for the record
Chamling Rai dance group from Khatamcha village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Chamling Rai dance group from Khatamcha village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Chamling Rai dance group from Nuntala village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Chamling Rai dance group from Nuntala village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Chamling Rai dance group from Nuntala village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Information for the record
Portrait of a young male participant at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Dancers during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
Chamling Rai dance group from Nuntala village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Dumi Rai dance group from Rudalung village performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Chamling Rai dance group performing sakela sili dance steps at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival with watching crowd in the background
Crowd of dancers during sakela dance at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
View towards bhume than hill at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
Group of people assembling at the bhume than hill
View towards the festival ground at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
A group of sakela dancers and singers arriving at the place of the new bhume or sakela deity during the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival
The ritual specialist arriving at the new bhume than
Portrait of the ritual specialist in charge of the bhume deity.
Portrait of an assitant of the ritual specialist in charge of the bhume deity.
Portrait of an assitant of the ritual specialist in charge of the bhume deity.
Portrait of an assitant of the ritual specialist in charge of the bhume deity.
Portrait of an assitant of the ritual specialist in charge of the bhume deity.
Portrait of an assitant of the ritual specialist in charge of the bhume deity.
Portrait of an assitant of the ritual specialist in charge of the bhume deity.
Portrait of an assitant of the ritual specialist in charge of the bhume deity.
Participants of the bhume ritual to install a new bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
Installation of a new bhume or sakela deity on a hill next to the festival ground of Tuwachung-Jayajum
Participants of the bhume ritual to install a new bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
Installation of a new bhume or sakela deity on a hill next to the festival ground of Tuwachung-Jayajum
Participants of the bhume ritual to install a new bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
The stone of the new bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
Participants of the bhume ritual to install a new bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
Participants of the bhume ritual to install a new bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
Muddhum (ritual recitation) of the installment of a new bhume or sakela deity at Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
First ritual worship of the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka village celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site by dancing sakela sili
Drummer celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
Drummer celebrating the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
Place of worship of the newly installed bhume or sakela goddess at the Tuwachung-Jayajum festival site
View onto Tuwachung-Jayajum hill
View onto Tuwachung-Jayajum hill
View onto Tuwachung-Jayajum hill
View onto Tuwachung-Jayajum hill
Road below Tuwachung-Jayajum
Official dance group of Rudalung village (Dumi Rai)
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka posing as a group
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka posing as a group
Dancers from Rudalung and Aiselukharka posing as a group