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Dettaglio
| Autore | Scarduelli Pietro |
| Titolo | Una celebrazione della regalit? divina. La festa dell'Indra Jatra a Katmandu (Nepal) |
| Rivista | Humanitas |
| Annata | 67 |
| Fasc. | 5-6 |
| Anno | 2012 |
| Pagine | 852-874 |
| Campo Tematico | Interreligiositą e Interculturalitą |
| Parole Chiave | |
| Abstract | The Indra Jatra is one of the most important festivals of Kathmandu.It is a complex, polisemic festival made of three different series of rituals: Indra Jatra, Bahirava Jatra and Kumari Jatra, each one focused on a different god. This festival may be envisaged as the output of a long historical stratification. First of all Indra Jatra recalls a foundation myth: the descent of the god Indra on the earth, his capture, his rescue and his ascent to the sky. Secondly this festival encompasses the cult of Bahirava, the most popular hindu god among the Newar of the Kathmandu Valley. Thirdly a distinct ritual event takes place during this festival: the procession on a ritual carriage of Kumari, a baby-girl worshipped as a living goddess because she embodies Taleju, who is both the goddess-patroness of the aga dyah, the royal lineage and the personal patroness of the ruling king. The Kumari Jatra is a spectacular ritual, established by the last king of the Malla dynasty in 1757 and its aim is to legitimize the royal power. Although the monarchy has been abolished few years ago, the ritual is still alive. This paper argues that there is a deep symbolic relationship between the celebration of Indra and the ritual procession of Kumari, as the first is aimed to strengthen the natural order, the second to legitimize the political order after the cosmic and social chaos staged during the first days of the festival when demons dance in the Kathmandu streets. |
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