Worship of nature and karma

My ears are eager to hear the sound of khenal (madal), degrees, cymbals. The body and legs begin to sway to the beat of the bird. In the evening of Karam Puja, Magmag Basna of Gorgor (Malpuwa), Thakuwa Asma (Puri) is scattered throughout the village. The Karam Puja method itself is not complete until the green branches of the Karam tree and the kankado poom (gangto flower) are brought.

That evening my Dauntris were also fasting in the name of Karam Puja. There were as many girls as there were boys in fasting. It is customary for three to three or five to five unmarried children to fast. In the evening, the men go to cut the branches of the Karam tree with tools, while the women go to pick the kankado pods with tools.

Karam Puja is a big festival of Oran community. It is celebrated from Bhadra Shukla Purnima day to Dasain. There are various karmas during this period as well. It ends with Nijja (Neng) Karam, Jonkh Karam, Gachhua Karam, Jitiya Karam and reaching Dase Karam. Nijja Karam is celebrated on the first day. The people of Nepal and other countries celebrate this festival with great pomp. In villages where there is a Neng (community leader), only he does the burial. Among the different gotras, only some gotras are allowed to bury Karam. Neng should bury Karam for three years or five years continuously.

The women's bagagaza team who went to pick flowers and the men's team who went to cut the branches of Karam have to meet at the canal outside the village. That too by covering the mouth with a veil. From there, Neng takes the branches of Karam and Kankado Poom brought from both groups and places them on the roof of his house.

It is mandatory to keep Jowa in Karam Puja. For that, a week before, the villagers gather and fix the day of Jamra. On the day of Jamra, all the villagers cover their courtyards and celebrate. Sand is brought by going to the river or canal with a vessel to keep jamra and washing it. All the sand is piled up in the squared area. By mixing wheat, corn, barley and paddy with sand, the ritual is performed by burning incense. And everyone goes home with their share. From that day onwards, the villagers start waking up the akhada in the evening and engage in dancing. After taking the Karam branch and Kankado Poom to Neng's house, everyone prepares a delicious dish in their own house. It is eaten together with family, friends and relatives. Those who are fasting, it is customary for them to eat Neng's home-made dishes.

People come out of the house with Asma (Malpuwa), Kankdo Poom, Jamra, Akshata, Dhup, Jand, Amkhora water and a lamp in the center of the decorated plate. Their faces lit up in the light of the lamp showed great excitement. With this enthusiasm, they rush to the arena. In the akhada, puja materials and jamra are kept. Jamra, made from different grains, is also a symbol of collectivity. Just as people from different castes, religions and communities live together in society, Jamra also looks beautiful in one pot.

The Kangaroo Poom is considered important because it is associated with the origin myth of the tigers. No matter how many elements of worship there are, not everyone misses it. It is also worshiped with the understanding of its natural significance, which is intrinsic to human existence. The Karam tree is also believed to ward off wild animals. Plants are very necessary for our life. It is the responsibility of all communities to worship and protect them. In the

arena, the elderly grow old. But the worship starts from the hands of the men and only the women get their turn. Isn't it ironic to put women in the second position even in the festival of nature? We can also see from here, how men have been thinking of women behind them.

When Karam is buried, men and women present sing songs and go around the arena.

Neganige negani vale negani

Engha Karam Ganday chiyo, vale Negani...

An old man or dhami who sits in the Akhad crying from the time the Karam was buried until it was dug up, tells the importance of Karampuja and why Karampuja was started as a 'story'. They stay awake all night while listening to the story and dance. Depending on the place, there are different stories about Karam Puja in the Oran community. Especially Oranvas are nature lovers, who enjoy farming in villages. They are said to have peace of mind because they believe in karma.

The women of the Oran community wear a long white khadar cloth, under which they wear a sari with a bed-sized red pada (boder). They wear panida on their feet, pith on their arms, pitoji, gagla pun, chadwa, hasli and katser on their neck, nakbuni on their nose and bidi on their ears. Jamra is sewn by tying a juro on the head. Men wear a white dhoti, a white shirt or vest, a red or white feta tied around their head, and jamara sewn into their ears. However, the current marketization and modernity have affected the new designs of clothes.

Karam dance has three levels – Karam Ventina (dance), Kanabarna (going back and forth) and Jhumar dance.

Karam Vendita: Karam Vendita is danced after reading the story. Karam is sung and danced in groups based on the story of why, how and on which day Karam is celebrated. The pace of this dance is moderate.

Kanabarna : Kanabarna is the dance after the Karam dance. Where women and men meet each other, the order of coming and going is presented through song and dance.

Jhumar dance: After the Kanabarna dance is over and the chickens crow, the Jhumar dance starts. Jhumar started in the morning is played till the end of the evening by picking up the Karam and immersing it in the river, river, canal or pond. Its song and dance moves fast.

The previous day Jojo fasts, all gather at Karam's burial place. Neng and Buzruk old men also live there. Karam should be bathed in every house in the village and immersed in a river or canal.

The gifts received from each household are distributed among all the fasting and bazagaza playing groups. The money collected is allocated to buy more tools or clothes. Whatever is needed in the community is taken care of. Nature has given us many things. Karampuja is the worship of nature and karma. We are nature worshippers.