Sagun is a Nepalese ceremony in which auspicious food is ritually presented to a person in order to invoke good fortune and show respect. It is a highly revered ceremony in Newari society of Kathmandu Valley. Tantric concepts are represented by boiled egg (khen), smoked fish (sa-nya), meat (hakhu chyola), lentil cake (wo), and rice wine (aayla).
The Sagan is a symbol for best wishes and prosperity to a person on special occasions such as baby showers, birthdays, weddings, and old-age rites. The Sagan is also presented at the Mha Puja ceremony on Nhu Daya (Nepal Era New Year’ Day). Mha puja is performed by praying to a mandala and offering Sagan for self-purification and strength. Before embarking on a long journey and after returning from one, travellers are given the Sagan.
The Sagan is offered to people who have accomplished a special feat, such as being promoted at work, passing an exam, or surviving a life-threatening accident. The Sagan is a practice that is part of the ancient culture, and it still involves the simple idea of praying for an individual’s safety and good fortune. This ritual is performed by both Hindu and Buddhist Newars.
Sagan and Tantric concept
In Newari culture, the five food items served in Sagan represent the Tantric concept which is also known as Panchamakara. These five concepts, as well as various rituals associated with them, are linked to religious practice in order to achieve salvation in Tantric traditions. Panchamakara is also referred to as the Five Ms. It is a Tantric term that refers to the five substances that are used in Tantric practice.
· Madhya (alcohol)
· Mamsa (meat)
· Matsya (fish)
· Mudra (parched grain)
· Maithuna (sexual intercourse)
Sagan contains the food items mentioned as part of the Panchamakara: egg as maithuna, fish as matsya, ayela as madya, chyola meat as mamsa, and wo as mudra.
One of the myths about Sagan is that its item represents flesh, life, water, earth and fire. Flesh is represented by meat, water by fish, life by egg, earth by lentil cake, and fire by alcohol. Beings are kept warm by light, and when a being dies, the body becomes earth. The body, like the sea, air, and sky, contains water, breath, and empty spaces. Sagan is presented to balance the harmony of these five elements of the body.
Sagan Ceremony
The recipient of the Sagan sits cross-legged on the floor, and a Sukunda (oil lamp with Lord Ganesh on it) is placed on a large leaf in front and to the right. Lord Ganesh, the central character of the ritual, is regarded as the saviour deity who removes impediments from people’s lives. The house’s eldest women bring a tray containing swan (flowers), jaki (rice), and hyaungu sinha (red paste) puja.
First and foremost, she worships Lord Ganesh on the Sukunda. She then applies hyangu sunha to the foreheads of the honorees and everyone else in the room. The participants also place a dhau sinha (dap of yoghurt from a bowl) on the temple (to right for male and to left for female).
After that, the main ritual follows. She then offers fried egg and smoked fish on the right hand, and ayela on Sali (wine bowl) on the left, which the participants accept by crossing both hands. A female assistant is seen pouring wine from anti (a jar) into Sali (little wine bowls). She walks down the line again after everyone has been served, pouring wine three times into each Sali. She serves wine for the third after which the participants can put the Sali down. Elders’ blessings in the form of sinha (tika) are thought to protect the bearer from evil thoughts and actions.
The procedure and materials may differ depending on family traditions and the place of origin. For vegetarians, laddu (sweet balls) can be served in place of boiled eggs, and banana can be served in place of fish. Seating can be set up on the floor or in chairs. The methods and a few practices may vary within Newari culture, but the core of practice remains the same.
Compiled By: Nikita Gautam
Photos By: blogspot.com, wikipedia
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