Samyak

Samyak (Devanagari: सम्यक) is an almsgiving Buddhist festival celebrated in the Kathmandu Valley in Nepal. During the ceremony which is held on a large open ground, hundreds of images of Dīpankara Buddha are assembled, and gifts of different types of food are made to the deities and the Buddhist community.[1]

Images of Dipankar Buddha at Kathmandu Durbar Square during Samyak

Samyak 2002 at Bhuikhel

Samyak is the most spectacular Newar Buddhist celebration. It is observed at different intervals in the three cities of the valley -- every 12 years in Kathmandu, every five years in Lalitpur and annually in Bhaktapur. The first documented Samyak festival in Kathmandu took place in 1015 AD (135 Nepal Era).[2]

The festival brings together a wide cross-section of Newar society, including priests, artisans, traders, musicians and farmers. Each group has a defined role designed to highlight social harmony. The ceremony celebrates the practice of giving to the Buddhas and monks in the Newar Buddhist tradition. The Samyak festival in Kathmandu is held at Kathmandu Durbar Square and the field of Bhuikhel at the foot of Swayambhu hill.[3]

Day One

On the first day, large images of Dipankar Buddha are brought out of sacred courtyards and private homes and displayed at Durbar Square in a row to receive offerings from devotees.

Day Two

On the second day, the statues are carried in procession to Bhuikhel and assembled on the field. Priests receive alms consisting of different kinds of sacred foods in a ceremony held in the presence of the king.

The offerings are made by members of the Uray caste group.[4] Each subgroup performs a task that has been assigned by tradition.[5]

Tuladhars of Asan sew and distribute leaf plates
Tuladhars of Nyata cook and serve rice
Sthapits build the wooden viewing stand
Tamrakars play the trumpet
Kansakars prepare and serve five types of foods
Sikhrakars supply clay pots
Banias serve a sweet drink
Selaliks serve confections[6] [7]

Misā Samyak

Misā Samyak, which means Women's Samyak, is held on the third day. The image of Goddess Ajimā Dyah is brought down from her shrine at Swayambhu for the ceremony.[8][9]

Timetable

The regular Samyak ceremony is held at intervals of 12 years. However, a special one can be called between the scheduled occurrences by a sponsor. The most recent one took place in 2005.

In Lalitpur, the Samyak festival is held at Nagbahal. The latest one occurred in 2020.

In Bhaktapur, Samyak is celebrated annually on the feast day of Ghyah Chāku Sanlhu (Maghe Sankranti) which usually falls on January 15.[10]

References

Lewis, Todd T. (January 1996). "Notes on the Uray and the Modernization of Newar Buddhism" (PDF). Contributions to Nepalese Studies. Retrieved 7 February 2013. Page 112.
O'Rourke, Mary-Jo (1993). Newami, Darasha (ed.). The Samyak Festival of Kathmandu. Dharma Ratna Shakya.
Lewis, Todd Thornton (2000). Popular Buddhist Texts from Nepal: Narratives and Rituals of Newar Buddhism. State University of New York Press. ISBN 9780791446119. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
van den Hoek, Bert (January 1996). "Gender and Caste in the Perfect Buddhist Gift the Samyak Mahadana in Kathmandu, Nepal". Contributions to Nepalese Studies. Retrieved 8 February 2013. Page 199.
Lewis, Todd T. (1995). "Buddhist Merchants in Kathmandu: The Asan Twah Market and Uray Social Organization" (PDF). Contested Hierarchies. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Retrieved 8 February 2013. Page 47.
Tuladhar, Suman Kamal (coordinator) (2012). Udaaya Research. Kathmandu: Udaaya Samaj. Page 44.
Gellner, David N. and Quigley, Declan (1995). Contested hierarchies: a collaborative ethnography of caste among the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Clarendon Press. ISBN 0198279604, 9780198279600. Page 52.
Vaidya, Karunakar (1986). Buddhist Traditions and Culture of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Shajha Prakashan. pp. 120–121. Retrieved 2 August 2013.
van den Hoek, Bert (January 1996). "Gender and Caste in the Perfect Buddhist Gift the Samyak Mahadana in Kathmandu, Nepal". Contributions to Nepalese Studies. Retrieved 8 February 2013. Page 199.
"Kanhay Khwopay Samyak" [Samyak in Bhaktapur tomorrow]. Sandhya Times (in Newari). Kathmandu. 14 January 2014. p. 1.

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[1] Lewis, Todd T. (January 1996). "Notes on the Uray and the Modernization of Newar Buddhism" (PDF). Contributions to Nepalese Studies. Retrieved 7 February 2013. Page 112.

[2] O'Rourke, Mary-Jo (1993). Newami, Darasha (ed.). The Samyak Festival of Kathmandu. Dharma Ratna Shakya.

[3] Lewis, Todd Thornton (2000). Popular Buddhist Texts from Nepal: Narratives and Rituals of Newar Buddhism. State University of New York Press. ISBN 9780791446119. Retrieved 2 August 2013.

[4] van den Hoek, Bert (January 1996). "Gender and Caste in the Perfect Buddhist Gift the Samyak Mahadana in Kathmandu, Nepal". Contributions to Nepalese Studies. Retrieved 8 February 2013. Page 199.

[5] Lewis, Todd T. (1995). "Buddhist Merchants in Kathmandu: The Asan Twah Market and Uray Social Organization" (PDF). Contested Hierarchies. Oxford: Clarendon Press. Retrieved 8 February 2013. Page 47.

[6] Tuladhar, Suman Kamal (coordinator) (2012). Udaaya Research. Kathmandu: Udaaya Samaj. Page 44.

[7] Gellner, David N. and Quigley, Declan (1995). Contested hierarchies: a collaborative ethnography of caste among the Newars of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Clarendon Press. ISBN 0198279604, 9780198279600. Page 52.

[8] Vaidya, Karunakar (1986). Buddhist Traditions and Culture of the Kathmandu Valley, Nepal. Shajha Prakashan. pp. 120–121. Retrieved 2 August 2013.

[9] van den Hoek, Bert (January 1996). "Gender and Caste in the Perfect Buddhist Gift the Samyak Mahadana in Kathmandu, Nepal". Contributions to Nepalese Studies. Retrieved 8 February 2013. Page 199.

[10] "Kanhay Khwopay Samyak" [Samyak in Bhaktapur tomorrow]. Sandhya Times (in Newari). Kathmandu. 14 January 2014. p. 1.