Description
The Art and Practice of Ritual Offerings on the Newars in Nepal presents a variety of urban, life cycle and domestic rituals with an emphasis on Bhaktapur, where the author documented rituals since 1970.
The rituals covered in this publication have been published in detail elsewhere. The focus here is on the artful arrangement of gifts and offerings not only dedicated to deities and spirits, called by Robert Levy collectively the Supernaturals.
Likewise, the priests – Brahmins, Karmacaryas, Vajracaryas and ritual specialists such as Sivacaryas, Bhas, Jugis and even Pvah, Nau and Nauni receive gifts (dăna) for their services. The blood of sacrifices is dedicated to the chthonic deities, the Mother Goddesses, Ganesa and Bhairava to confirm the transition from one stage of life to the next and to ensure the wellbeing of the community.
The ritual arenas and the baskets, trays and plates with edibles are presented with cropped photographs against a coloured background. Artful presentations, based on an agelong practice and guided by a compelling sense of aesthetics, are often part of everyday life.
