Abstract
Nepali people are rich in culture.
No step of life is spent without it. These cultures vary according to the race,
sex, caste, age and other factors. However, there are some cultures that
address all types of people. This article is about the culture that is enjoyed
during child rearing. This is a unique culture with multiple advantages in life.
Previously, it was included in government primary course too, in Nepali
subject. Some private publications still publish this song in their textbook
for children with minor changes in words but the title is the same;
Taaraabaajee Lai Lai…
The other side of
Taaraabaajee Lai Lai …
"Everything
is arranged so that it be this way, this is what is called culture." -
Jacques Derrida
When
I visited my village in Bhojpur, eastern hills of Nepal, after long time living
in Kathmandu valley, the capital city, my grandmother was busy playing with her
one year old grand-daughter Pranjila. She was catching both hands of her
grand-daughter and helping her clap little palms saying - Taaraabaajee Lai Lai
… Maamaa Aae Ghoda …. This is perhaps the first song; not a lullaby, most of the
Nepalese children hear in their life. Taaraabaajee Lai Lai … is a unique
scientific culture having many advantages.
The
time of Taaraabaajee Lai Lai … tentatively begins when a baby is about six to
nine months old and continues to two to three years. This age shapes the most
part of future life of a person. It is a kind of prelude age of life and in
this age, the children are taught to work. The work is to move hands with
parental assistance. And interesting thing is that, as soon as the children
work, they get immediate reward; that is the sound of their own hands. This
sound motivates them to move their hands again and hear another sound of clap.
As a bonus, they get melodious sound in the background- Taaraabaajee Lai Lai…
Music, melody, sound, exercise, work, affection, physical proximity, reward all
at the same time, at the same place and at early age. Amazing tradition!
Ellen
Goodman says, "Traditions are the guide posts driven deep in our
subconscious mind. The most powerful are those we can't even describe, aren't
even aware of." Taaraabaajee Lai Lai…, where hands are actively used, is a
supporting example of this saying.
When
we look our hands we can see the difference in the skin in front and back side.
The front part, the palms are little softer, little different in color and have
lines. It is believed that the veins of all our body parts are connected to the
palms. The moment we clap our hands, we are giving pressure to all our internal
and external body parts and we are doing the exercise of all of our body parts.
Pressure
related popular treatments/ therapies in the world are acupressure and
acupuncture. In Latin, acus means needle. In both therapies physical pressure
is applied to acupuncture points or meridians. The major difference is
acupressure uses the fingers and acupuncture uses mostly the needles for giving
pressure. These are traditional Chinese therapies, also known as healing art,
the system to rebalancing yin and yang.
The
spokespersons of these therapies claim that this healing art boosts immune
system, develops spirituality, brightens skin, lessens mental tension and
stress, eases muscular tension, promotes blood circulation, lengthens life
force energy, gives sexual power, helps in reproduction system etc.
Similarly,
many Japanese people use palm-technique for stress reduction and relaxation,
popularly known as Reiki, where Rei means God's wisdom and Ki means life force
energy.
From
these facts also we can draw the conclusion that palms and pressure are related
for overall betterment of our health; physical and mental, individual and
social, and spiritual and sexual. This type of multipurpose health education is
given to a child in our culture through Taaraabaajee Lai Lai… Can we imagine better
exercise for a baby of half year in the context of Nepal? Perhaps not!
The
meditating postures of Lord Buddha are seen with different styles of palms and
fingers indicating different purposes of meditation. The Hindu Gods and
Goddesses are seen in the pictures and statues with erected palms and blessing
the devotees. They also indicate that the power flows and can be even
transferred through palms.
Many
of the aged Hindu people chant Mantras early in the bed. Among them one goes-
Karaagre basate Lakshmee, karamadhya saraswatee…. Meaning, at the front part of
the hand lives Goddess Lakshmee, Goddess Saraswatee in the center and at the
end part of the hand lives God Brahmaa; so we need to see our hands early in
the morning.
Another
interesting thing is that the life that began with Taaraaabaajee Lai Lai…,
begins to end with same action again. In the old age, the same persons start
clapping hands again but this time no Taaraabaajee Lai Lai…. They chant Hare
Rama … Hare Krishna… etc. Action is same, purpose is same but the chanting is
different and tune is different; and again, this is the best exercise for old
internal and external body parts. It eases blood circulation in the old veins
and prepares the true path for another life in another world.
In
conclusion, we can say that the culture of Taaraabaajee Lai Lai…. is unique one
for the betterment of all human beings. It does no harm to any cast, creed,
culture, race or sex.
References:
www.acupressure.com
www.acupuncture.com
www.buddhism.com
www.culturalquotations.com
www.hindugods.com
www.reiki.com
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