Gufa Culture गुफा|| Barha बाह्रा||

Gufa and Surya Darshan is a traditional ritual practiced by the Newar community. Here, a Newari girl aged between 10 and 14-years is married to Sun, the god of eternity and protector from all evils in life. Gufa in Nepali language means a den or a cave. Replicating the cave, the girls practising this ceremony live in a dark room for 12-days without exposure to sunlight and preferably no artificial light as well.
With first hand-experience, this narrator shares similar experiences from other young girls that the days, one to four, are the toughest to subsist. Bland food with no additional salt or processed food, lack of a mirror or light to look at oneself, avoiding makeup and no contact with male members of the family including their father, brothers, uncles, and grandfather as well as a prohibition to exit the room to play and socialize with anyone outside are the biggest challenges during this seclusive life. Harsh as it may sound, this practice encourages the girls to enter a meditative phase to enhance their awareness towards their own body, thoughts and feelings, an inspiration from Vipassana meditation practice.
Day Five onwards, the girls are exuberant with visits from female friends to splurge on quality time together. Board games, chit-chat and other fun-filled activities enhance their senses during the day. Female relatives: young and old arrive with snacks such as popcorn, fried beans, chips, and fruits to satiate their taste buds. Early mornings focus on learning the art of enhancing their beauty and health including a traditional facial scrub called `Kowh.’ Later, they make `Bahra Khyaa`, a doll representing a ghost and traditionally believed to possess these girls during this ritual. It is indeed a female ONLY zone where the girls enrich their lives with joy, beauty of friendship and transition into adolescence while learning important cultural and life skills from female members of their extended family.
`Surya Darshan’ on the 12th day, is the Crescendo of this ceremony reminding us that every action in our life should lead us from darkness to light. Imitating childbirth, the blindfolded girls step out from their Gufa room to experience the first glimpse of Sunlight ushering in the arrival of adolescence. The special hand gesture made here to observe the light is reminiscent of Tantra practice enshrined in Kathmandu Valley. Wearing a traditional outfit, the girl is symbolically married to Sun as the bridegroom. The ceremony concludes with the girl`s forehead blushed with Sindhoor, a sign of being married. All members of the family and guests bless the new bride with their presence and gifts. Later every one revels in a traditional Newari feast called ‘Bhoj.’
Gufa and Surya Darshan - a unique Newari tradition mastered over 2000 years within Nepal displays the significance of ever-changing life. It marks a girl’s transition from childhood to adolescence. Our nearest star, Sun signifies longevity in this eternal universe and a girl’s symbolic marriage to him commemorates an exceptional idea. A girl who has undertaken Gufa ritual will never become a widow. This time-tested social engineering concept ensures an honourable life within the society for remainder of her life. As a protector of all evils from the darkness, the marriage to Sun alleviates the evils of society and celebrates womanhood.
Walking on the footprints of this distinct tradition, it is time for Aagya and Aastha, our adorable girls to embrace Longevity with Gufa and Surya Darshan to enter adolescence with everyone`s love and blessings………
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[@motoji01db100d]

Congratulations, Aagya and Aastha! It's a very interesting ritual. I sincerely hope the Sun would protect both of you forever.😊

[@madhusudanpokhrel8562]

#woww.....

[@indrashyamballa72]

Aagya Aastha Congratulations!

[@rubinarajthala1942]

My baby ❤️❤️

[@arjunghimire6907]

Newar Culture

[@valentinali215]

❤❤

[@narendrachaisir5806]

Nepali culture hits different

[@user-cl2rn6qp3y]

Interesting. No salt in food.

[@SamAudioVideoEvents]

Nice work Anps

[@mewomeowbiralo]

Thank you so much 😀

[@user-dy9uk9hs7z]

Proud to be Newar❤

[@narayanpadhikari9878]

♥♥

[@user-jf7cp5wk3b]

Sun

[@narendrachaisir5806]

Cave

[@kiranbista-jx2lo]