Different life

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

Worldwide | Friday, September 17, 2010 | 5 photos

I am doing Masters in Media Technology and I love Photography. I have learned photography from my college and from the Beginners training provided by NEFEJ (Environment Jounalist Federation of Nepal) in collaboration with International Institute of Journalism- Berlin.

I haven't my own cameras and I use DSLRs and compact cameras of friends. I enjoy photography especially of environment and cultures. Sometime I missed a lot as I haven't the camera.

These photos are of the Sikali Festival in Khokana village which is inside the kathmandu valley.

Sikali jatra is one of the traditional cultures of Nepal, which is celebrated in khokana village- 6km far from patan city. The jatra consist of dance called "Rudrayani Pyakhan" (Rudrayeni- a goddess, dance). The dance is performed by senior local peoples who were over 60. This is performed with all the rites and rituals.

The traditional musicians were in the white dress and the performers were in colourful dress. They wear the masks of different goddess and perform the energetic dance.

This festival is celebratd instead of Dashain in Khokana village only. Dashain is the main festivalof hindu. It is celebrated throughout the Nepal but people of Khokana celebrate sikali jatra instead of dashain. People of khokana enjoy the festival and share the happiness with their friends and relatives.

This festival was established by king Ananda Dev, approximately 800years before.

Khokana is the place also famous for mustard oil. The oil mills here are of the 17th century.