Khyāh (

Nepal Bhasa Newar (; , ) is a Sino-Tibetan language spoken by the Newar people, the indigenous inhabitants of Nepal Mandala, which consists of the Kathmandu Valley and surrounding regions in Nepal. The language is known officially in Nepal as Nepal Bhas ...

:) (alternative spellings Khyā, Khyāk) (ख्याक) is a mythical humanoid creature in

Newari The Newar people are an ethnic group of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. Newar may also refer to: * Newar language, their Sino-Tibetan language ** Newar script Newari scripts (Pracalit script, Nepal Lipi: 𑐣𑐾𑐥𑐵𑐮 𑐁𑐏𑐮, Devan ...

folklore. It is depicted as a fat, hairy and short ape-like creature. Khyahs appear in children's stories popular in Newar society. A friendly Khyah fills the home with goodness while bad ones bring trouble. A white Khyah is believed to bring good luck while a black one can create problems. Encountering a Khyah can make one ill. Khyahs are said to tickle their victims to death. In Newar culture, Khyahs attend to

Lakshmi Lakshmi (; , , sometimes spelled Laxmi, ), also known as Shri (, , ), is one of the principal goddesses in Hinduism, revered as the goddess of wealth, fortune, prosperity, beauty, fertility, sovereignty, and abundance. She along with Parvat ...

, the goddess of wealth, and pictures of the deity show them guarding overflowing bags of coins. Household Khyahs usually dwell in the attic and dark storerooms. They are said to fear electric lighting. The

antithesis Antithesis (: antitheses; Greek for "setting opposite", from "against" and "placing") is used in writing or speech either as a proposition that contrasts with or reverses some previously mentioned proposition, or when two opposites are introd ...

of the Khyah is the Kawanchā, a skeleton. Khyahs and Kawanchas appear as

supporting character A supporting character is a character in a narrative that is not the focus of the primary storyline, but is important to the plot/protagonist, and appears or is mentioned in the story enough to be more than just a minor character or a cameo a ...

s in sacred dance dramas of the Newars. Images of Khyahs and Kawanchas are also placed at temples as guardians of the shrine.

Khyah dance

During the

Yenya Indra Jātrā, also known as Yenyā Punhi is the biggest religious street festival in Kathmandu, Nepal. "Ye" means the old Newari name for "Kathmandu", "Ya" means “Celebration”, and "Puhni" means full moon so together means the birthday of ...

festival in Kathmandu, dance performances are held at market squares and the Durbar Square where actors dressed in Khyah costumes give dance performances. The dances, known as Khyāh Pyākhan (ख्याः प्याखं), consist of antics and tumbling.

Types of Khyah

* Bārāy Khyāh (बाराय् ख्याः) appears in rooms where girls are kept in seclusion during their rite of passage. * Bhakun Gwārā Khyāh (भकुं ग्वारा ख्याः), literally football, rolls on the ground to move around.Dietrich, Angela (1998). ''Tantric healing in the Kathmandu Valley: A comparative study of Hindu and Buddhist spiritual healing traditions in urban Nepalese society.'' Book Faith India. , 9788173031779. Page 47. * Dhāpalān Khyāh (धापलां ख्याः) is a very hairy Khyah. * Lanpan Khyāh (लँपं ख्याः) blocks people's way on dark streets. *Bun Khyāh : is the one who lives at crop field

In popular culture

This is a traditional children's song in

Newar Newar (; , endonym: Newa; , Pracalit script: ), or Nepami, are primarily inhabitants in Kathmandu Valley of Nepal and its surrounding areas, and the creators of its historic heritage and civilisation. Page 15. Newars are a distinct linguisti ...

about Dhāpalān Khyāh used in a

singing game A singing game is an activity based on a particular verse or rhyme, usually associated with a set of actions and movements. As a collection, they have been studied by folklorists, ethnologists, and psychologists and are seen as important part o ...

: :Kune su wala? :Dhāpalān Khyāh. :Chhu yāh wala? :Bhoy nah wala. :Chhu bhoy? :Lākhāmari bhoy. :Ulin gāh lā? :Magāh. :कुने सु वल ? :धापलां ख्या: :छु या: वल ? :भोय् न: वल :छु भोय् ? :लाखामरि भोय् :उलिं गा: ला ? :मगा: :Who's there downstairs? :Dhāpalān Khyāh. :What has he come for? :To eat a feast. :What feast? :A sugar cookie feast. :Is that enough? :Not enough.

References

{{Reflist Nepalese legendary creatures Newar Mythic humanoids Asian demons