In the lives of the Sherpas in the High Himmalayas, many traditional festivals were held. One of the most important festivals was Losar, known to us as New Years. Losar was celebrated at different times in different towns. On the twenty-ninth day of the lunar callender the Sherpas did spring cleaning to symbolize removal of pollution. That evening they made a special porridge that was shared with the family. On New Years Eve, everyone stayed at home and helped to prepare food and decorate the house. There were many other actions that also happened during New Years Day. Other festivals held were Dumchi (Big Prayer), Phagnyi (Day of the Pig), Yarchang (Summer Festival), Losar Pulu (Harvest Festival), Nyunge (Fasting Retreat), and Mani Mindup (Masked Dance Festival). All of these festivals had meaning to the Sherpa and were celebrated to honor their culture. Many ceremonial actions would be performed while celebrating these festivals.
Hats and Jewelry
(Skyla) During the 1970s many Sherpa men wore hats. Tsezha were ceremonial hats for monks. This hat was a yellow felt hat and was used mainly during ceremonies. Pering was the abbot’s hat that was worn during major religious ceremonies. Ri-nga was ceremonial gear of dankini goddesses. This hat signified that the five Buddhas are held inside the body of the wearer. Shanag was a black priest hat worn by tantric priests or usually worn by monk dancers during festivals like Dumchi. Seshing was a yellow baret, a traditional men’s hat that was rarely worn except for ceremonies. Sogsha was a Mongolian hat worn during a marriage ceremony. Washa is a fox fur hat that was used mainly during the winter to keep warm. Lastly, Phingsha was a felt hat that provided shade from the sun. Jewelry was very common such as Khau, which was an amulet charm box women wore. Chhuruk was coral and Zi was patterned stone or ceramic used in jewelry. Tiktik was a gold necklace worn for special occasions. Women wore earings called Serki Mendok.Alung were men's earrings that were gold and heavy. Sortup was a gold finger ring. Lastly Mantil were women’s bracelets.
Three modern day Sherpa women wearing the hat Tsering Kinkhap
Men and Women's Clothing (Kiana) In the 1970s, Sherpa men wore robes called chhuba and women wore half sleeved robes called engi. A chhuba was a robe worn by hitching it up at the waist and tying it with a sash called a kara, creating a pouch used for storing items such as babies. The margins of a chhuba were decorated with colorful cloth. Chhubas could also be untied and used as a blanket. Engi was a sleeveless robe designed as a summer wear, worn with a light full sleeved blouse called a raatuk inside. This was a popular form of women’s dress in the warmer regions. Women also wore tongkok. That is a chhuba that was worn to the floor. Some other things that Sherpa wore were tetung (a jacket), kanam (trouser), and meti/gewe (front and back apron). One of the shoes they wore was kosil. They were felt boots molded with hide. One other type of shoes was kacha. They were leather moccasins worn normally for work. Those were clothing that men and women wore in the 1970s. Questions
1. Ask: Any adult.
What clothes do you wear during festivals?
2. Ask: Any student of age 11 to 12.
Do you celebrate Losar, Phagnyi, Dumchi, and Yarchang? If so, which is your favorite, and why?
3. Ask: Any adult.
What are your clothes made out of?
Interview with Dawa Yangii Sherpa explaining what cloths are made of.
From this video we learn that Sherpa people used to have clothes made of animal skin and fur. Now it is made in a factory and bought in Katmandu.
In this section of Sherpa Times you will learn about the festivals and dress of traditional 1970s Sherpa life, as well as the modern day festivals and dress. The information about traditional Sherpa life is from "Through a Sherpa Window" by Lhakpa Norbu Sherpa © by Lakhpa Norbu Sherpa 2008
Traditional Life
Festivals
(Sabina)
In the lives of the Sherpas in the High Himmalayas, many traditional festivals were held. One of the most important festivals was Losar, known to us as New Years. Losar was celebrated at different times in different towns. On the twenty-ninth day of the lunar callender the Sherpas did spring cleaning to symbolize removal of pollution. That evening they made a special porridge that was shared with the family. On New Years Eve, everyone stayed at home and helped to prepare food and decorate the house. There were many other actions that also happened during New Years Day. Other festivals held were Dumchi (Big Prayer), Phagnyi (Day of the Pig), Yarchang (Summer Festival), Losar Pulu (Harvest Festival), Nyunge (Fasting Retreat), and Mani Mindup (Masked Dance Festival). All of these festivals had meaning to the Sherpa and were celebrated to honor their culture. Many ceremonial actions would be performed while celebrating these festivals.Hats and Jewelry
(Skyla) During the 1970s many Sherpa men wore hats. Tsezha were ceremonial hats for monks. This hat was a yellow felt hat and was used mainly during ceremonies. Pering was the abbot’s hat that was worn during major religious ceremonies. Ri-nga was ceremonial gear of dankini goddesses. This hat signified that the five Buddhas are held inside the body of the wearer. Shanag was a black priest hat worn by tantric priests or usually worn by monk dancers during festivals like Dumchi. Seshing was a yellow baret, a traditional men’s hat that was rarely worn except for ceremonies. Sogsha was a Mongolian hat worn during a marriage ceremony. Washa is a fox fur hat that was used mainly during the winter to keep warm. Lastly, Phingsha was a felt hat that provided shade from the sun. Jewelry was very common such as Khau, which was an amulet charm box women wore. Chhuruk was coral and Zi was patterned stone or ceramic used in jewelry. Tiktik was a gold necklace worn for special occasions. Women wore earings called Serki Mendok. Alung were men's earrings that were gold and heavy. Sortup was a gold finger ring. Lastly Mantil were women’s bracelets.Men and Women's Clothing
(Kiana) In the 1970s, Sherpa men wore robes called chhuba and women wore half sleeved robes called engi. A chhuba was a robe worn by hitching it up at the waist and tying it with a sash called a kara, creating a pouch used for storing items such as babies. The margins of a chhuba were decorated with colorful cloth. Chhubas could also be untied and used as a blanket. Engi was a sleeveless robe designed as a summer wear, worn with a light full sleeved blouse called a raatuk inside. This was a popular form of women’s dress in the warmer regions. Women also wore tongkok. That is a chhuba that was worn to the floor. Some other things that Sherpa wore were tetung (a jacket), kanam (trouser), and meti/gewe (front and back apron). One of the shoes they wore was kosil. They were felt boots molded with hide. One other type of shoes was kacha. They were leather moccasins worn normally for work. Those were clothing that men and women wore in the 1970s.
Questions
1. Ask: Any adult.
What clothes do you wear during festivals?
2. Ask: Any student of age 11 to 12.
Do you celebrate Losar, Phagnyi, Dumchi, and Yarchang? If so, which is your favorite, and why?
3. Ask: Any adult.
What are your clothes made out of?
Dawa Yangii Sherpa Interview: Clothing materials and trade from Dream Flag Project on Vimeo.
Clothing materialInterview with Dawa Yangii Sherpa explaining what cloths are made of.
From this video we learn that Sherpa people used to have clothes made of animal skin and fur. Now it is made in a factory and bought in Katmandu.