Caption: Date: 1969 Location: Sahartara, Dolpa Description: Saun Sankrati (the first of the month of Saun, which occurs in mid-July), when Sahartara Buddhists light rooftop fires on the specified day to get rid of skin diseases such as scabies (luto, Nepali), but more generally it is to rid their houses of whatever is bad and evil in life (bad luck, ill omens, disease). The day to get rid of scabies takes place just after the rainy season when people have been working in the fields and are somewhat predisposed to fever and diseases. It is thought of as a kind of medically prophylactic ritual. This is accomplished by casting the ash and embers from the rooftop fires, and with them bad luck, ill omens, and diseases, into the filth of the open cowshed below. The fires are visible in villages across the river from each other (waripari, Nepali) and form a visual component of the mutual scolding that takes place across the river at this time. Nowadays people do not celebrate this festival as much as formerly; and some have stopped the chicken sacrifice, partly because their guru preached against it, and partly because of a shortage of chickens. But lighting fires is still a universal practice. After strenuous work during the Spring and Summer - plowing, getting the crops in the ground, and nurturing them - everyone is in a mood to celebrate during the month of Saun by observing these rituals, relaxing by drinking substantial amounts of jad or rakshi, even if they do not sacrifice a chicken. Keywords: Jim Fisher, Nepal Photo History Project, Peace Corp Photo History, event, festival, landscape, town, village
