Jhuma Pratha is one of the typical traditions of Buddhists which is prevalent especially in the Himalayan Region of Nepal. We particularly see this system in the eastern part of Nepal. It is the most famous ritual of Nepal, the ritual of the living Goddess “Kumari”.
It is practiced in the Newari community. Kumari is the pre-pubertal virgin girl. They offer her to the Goddess Kumari to fulfill its wishes for health recovery, bearing son, and other accomplishments. Nepal, a country with many rituals where almost every community practices rituals and none of the seasons are free from the ritual ceremonies.
It’s a unique nation and can be titled as the museum of rituals where different ancient ritual practices are still in existence. They base the rituals on the myths, spiritual practices, and religion. The “Jhuma Pratha” at eastern Nepal is a ritual similar to the “Deuki Pratha”.
It is most common among the Sherpa community. It is practiced by offering the second daughter to the monastery for serving god. She remains unmarried in her entire life and if she gave birth to a child, the child born from her become the Lama of the monastery.
The child offered to the monastery is deprived of parental love and is forced to kill her desire and dreams. The mentality of the people that sons are superior to the daughters is encouraging such rituals. Yes, it’s true that our rituals are the alive memories of our ancestors and it is our identity.
They take the ritual as the tradition of power, pageantry, and beauty. The girl decorated with the heavy ornaments and the red forehead is worshiped as the incarnation of Goddess Taleju. They provide her with all kinds of facilities, even her schooling within the “Kumari Ghar” where she lives and may not go out. It is the system in which they offer the second girl child to the monastery.
She spends her entire life in the monastery without marriage. The girl is required to spend her time caring for the temple and live on whatever cash and kind are obtained as puja offering.
The child born from the girl becomes Lama of the Monastery. Some make a wish for s$xual relation with them for religious sanctity. So Deukis are compelled to indulge in prostitution to make their life and their children are helpless and rootless.
They allow her to choose the education she wants. Deuki Pratha is practiced in Hilly regions whereas they practice Jhuma Pratha in the Himalayan region. Though there is no clear history of when and how this system began, it seems to be influenced by Deuki Pratha of Hindus.
Both Deuki and Jhuma Pratha are like the Devadashi System of India. In Nepal, Hindus and Buddhists are exchanging culture for ages. There is notable tolerance among them.
