Majipa Lakhey

Majipa Lakhe of Kathmandu.

Majipa Lakhey (Lakhey Aaju, Devnagari: मजिपा लाखे, लाखे आजु) is a special Lakhey. He is also known as the peaceful Bhairav. The dance of this lakhey takes place only in the week of full moon of Yenlaa month of Nepal Sambat. This lakhey is considered to be the protector of the children.

Etymology

The Nepal Bhasa word Majipa is derived from Sanskrit "Manjupattan" or the city established by Manjushree¹. Lakhey is the term used to denote carnivorous demons. So, Majipa Lakhey literally means the carnivorous demon of Majipa.

Mythology

According to stories passed down the generaions, a lakhey is supposed to have fallen in love with a girl from Majipa. So, the demon takes form of a human and enters the city to see his beloved. Upon knowing the fact that the person is a lakhey, the people capture the lakhey and present him to the king. The king makes a proposal to the demon that he will grant him a place in the city if he vows to preserve the children from other demons and participate in the annual Yanyaa Punhi Jatra (also called Indra Jatra). The lakhey agrees and is supposed to reside in Majipa ever since.²

Another story links lakhey to banishing the two cannibal children of the king called Sawan Bhaku after he was requested to do so by Akash Bhairabh and Hanuman. However, the two children return to the city on Yanyaa Punhi claiming their rule and to devour humans. Lakhey is supposed to send them out of the city. This is symbolically represented in a dance conducted in Yanyaa Punhi every year.

Majipa Lakhey Dance

The dance is conducted by the Ranjitkars of Kathmandu. Unlike in other traditional dances, the dancers are not trained in this dance. It is believed that the Ranjitkars have inherited this dance in their genes.

Citations

1. Swayambhu Puran

2. Kantipur by Basu Pasa

External links