Kumha Pyakhan (

Devanagari Devanagari ( ; in script: , , ) is an Indic script used in the Indian subcontinent. It is a left-to-right abugida (a type of segmental Writing systems#Segmental systems: alphabets, writing system), based on the ancient ''Brāhmī script, Brā ...

: , also known as Kumar Pyakhan) is a sacred dance of the

Tuladhar Tulādhar (Devanagari: तुलाधर) is a Nepali/Nepalese caste from the Newar community of the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. The name Tuladhar is derived from the Sanskrit words "tula" (weighing scale) and "dhar" (possessor), thus meaning scal ...

and Kansakar caste groups of the

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 ...

s of

Kathmandu Kathmandu () is the capital and largest city of Nepal, situated in the central part of the country within the Kathmandu Valley. As per the 2021 Nepal census, it has a population of 845,767 residing in 105,649 households, with approximately 4 mi ...

. The dance is performed in temple and market squares during religious festivals. Page 192.

The dancer

A young boy impersonating the god Kumha performs the dance accompanied by a musical band consisting of drum and ponga (पोंगा) trumpet players. The dancer, who carries a bow and arrow, symbolically protects the image of the goddess Taleju when it is brought out of her temple at

Kathmandu Durbar Square Kathmandu Durbar Square (Nepal Bhasa: येँ लायकु/𑐥𑐾𑑄 𑐮𑐵𑐫𑐎𑐹, Nepali: हनुमानढोका दरबार; ''Basantapur Durbar Kshetra'') is a historically and culturally significant site in Kathma ...

. Performances are held on the seventh and tenth days of the

Mohani Mohani (Nepal Bhasa: or ; from Classical Newar: , ''mahani''), also known as Moni or Mohni is annual religious festival celebrated by the Newar people of Nepal. It is analogous to Dashain, a Hindu festival celebrated in South Asia, although ...

festival (

Dashain Dashain or Bada'dashain, also known as Vijaya Dashami in Sanskrit, is a Hindu religious festival in Nepal, Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, South India, and Sri Lanka. It is also celebrated by other religions in Nepal and elsewhere, including the Lho ...

) which takes place in October. The dance is also performed on the stone platform at

Asan, Kathmandu Asan (; , ) (alternative names: Asan Tol असन टोल , Asan Twāh असं त्वाः) is a ceremonial, market and residential square in central Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal. It is one of the most well-known historical locati ...

Selection

The dancer is chosen by lot from among the Tuladhars of Asan and Kansakars of Jana Baha. He receives training from a Gubhaju or

Bajracharya A vajrācārya (vajra + acharya, Tibetan: རྡོ་རྗེ་སློབ་དཔོན་, ''dorje lopön'', Wyl. ''rdo rje slob dpon,'' Chinese: 金剛阿闍梨, pinyin: ''jīngāng āshélì''; rōmanji: ''kongō ajari'') (alternativel ...

priest. The dancer's term lasts around five years when he has to adhere to the rules of his office, which include daily worship of Nasadyah, the god of dance, and eating restrictions. The Kumha Pyakhan has not been performed since 1998 for lack of funding and candidates when Dibesh Kaji Tuladhar played the part of the deity.''Bhintuna Guthi Lumanti Pau'' (2003). Kathmandu: Bhintuna Guthi. Page 43.

References

Ritual dances Dance in Nepal Newar Sacred dance Nepalese folk dances Culture of Bagmati {{Nepal-dance-stub