Ethnographic Film Survey of the Raji People of Western Nepal
odd: label: General
content: Local Numbers: HSFA 1986.13.30
name: label: Collection Creator
content: National Anthropological Film Center (U.S.)
label: Collection Creator
content: Johnson, Barbara
label: Collection Creator
content: Dorjee, Ragpa
label: Collection Creator
content: Reinhard, Johan
setName: label: See more items in
content: National Anthropological Film Center films of Nepal
physdesc: label: Extent
content: Film reels (color silent; 3,900 feet, 16mm)
unitdate: label: Date
content: 1978
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Human Studies Film Archives
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials
label: Type
content: Film reels
scopecontent: label: Scope and Contents
content: Footage shot for the National Anthropological Film Center, Smithsonian Institution, to indentify a village for potential filming projects. Regions filmed are the Western Nepali districts of Bankay, Bardia, Kahalee, Darehula, Ortadi and Surkat which feature the Purpiaragi and Bundaliraji peoples. Footage of the Purpiaraji include the muruni dance where a young boy dresses in women's clothes and dances with other boys. The Bundiliraji people, who live at the confluence of the Bari and Karnali rivers, are featured snaring a porcupine, a process that involves digging elaborate tunnels to trap the porcupine, whereby its quills are removed and it is roasted over a fire and eaten. Film sequences also document wedding preparations of a Bundiliraji bride: depicted are the bride receiving a blessing from her elders, ritual crying with her childhood female friends, carrying veiled bride to the wedding site, guests receiving rice wine, and the wedding ceremony and party. Other shots of village life portray the spirit possession of a male shaman; goat and pig sacrifices; dugout canoes; women threshing rice, maize and mustard, and a funeral service.