“Belief In snake” By Kedar Nath Paudel
Conny Tiebout, Tiel The Netherlands
Do you believe in snake ? What is Naga…? Many people of the West have first to ask themselve .. What do you mean??? Do I believe in snake?That’s a normal reaction in this time , because most of the people in this modern time is very far away from nature …In older times there were every man and woman on the planet more connected with the creatures of nature and had a special relation with snakes .
In all the religions, many fairy-tales, stories e.s.o you still can find their secret meanings about them. This beautiful Nepalese documentary by Kedar Nath Paudel offers the opportunity for people from other countries to come into contact with one of the many interesting and important rituals within Nepalese culture in a close, tangible way. In both Hinduism and also in Buddhism, the snake is revered in its many facets in Nepal.Because of its herbal knowledge and entheogenic association, the snake was often considered one of the wisest animals, being (close to the) divine. Its divine aspect combined with its habitat in the earth between the roots of plants made it an animal with toxic properties connected to several transformations There are twelve dimensions of naga which are worshipped in the year. This rituel of the video belongs to the white naga.
The beautiful documentary, in its special intimate natural simplicity, shows us how life in the mountains near Pokhara in Nepal has been preserved in its purity from the old village rituals.In the beginning we fly from a large, beautiful overview of nature and we end up in the small intimate world of the elements of darkness and smoke, fire and light, herbs, milk and sacred cow dung.Then within the ritual there are several preparations which are taken care of together by the people under the guidance of the priest, down to the smallest details, in a natural way, consciously and in a daily atmosphere .
After these special preparations they are going outside connecting to the snake in nature worshipping and eating together with all the people.Kedar, his family and villagers show us the unique age-old customs, which they still maintain in a traditional way to this day. With full respect and empathy for nature, they keep the tradition alive in an ecological way from an ancient knowledge, which is partly understandable from our 5 more earthly senses and also partly from those senses, which are now no longer open to most modern people…Very slowly, a new consciousness is emerging in many people, in which a reversal and openness arise through… the connection and healing in every person with themselves and their environment, whereby the old rituals can be recognized again.
An understanding that from respect and reverence for all life there is ultimately no separation, but encounter.This connection, which the video shows us with the ritual of the Nadal or snake, gives us humans an opportunity to a way of life to gain more awareness of this forgotten attitude.Let’s hope this for our mother earth as well as for a more empathetic, respectful conversation between each other, individually or in small and large groups. For a future in a better world.
Conny Tiebout is a visual artist and butoh dance performer.
She works in various disciplines with free work and on commission as a painter, sculptor and photographer.She has also been giving many art workshops in various countries in Europe for many years as an art teacher and art therapist.