Layered Newar Culture

No matter how familiar you are with Newar culture, there’s always something that can surprise you. One such practice is found in the postnatal ritual called Macha Bu Byankigu, performed to welcome a newborn baby and purify the mother after childbirth. While the ceremony represents love, renewal, and family bonding, one element of it continues to shock people, the ritual of bringing a whole buffalo head when a couple welcomes a baby boy as their first born.

Macha Bu Byankigu is usually held on the fourth or sixth day after the baby’s birth. On this day, the mother’s side of the family brings what’s called Byangke Jwolan, a generous collection of items like rice, lentils, vegetables, chaku, ghee, meat, bathing supplies, and new clothes for both the baby and the mother. The house is thoroughly cleaned, everyone stays chokho (pure), and a priest performs a puja for the good health of the mother and child. The day concludes with blessings and a family feast.

So far, it sounds like a warm and wholesome family celebration, one that strengthens bonds and honors new life. But when it’s a baby boy, the ritual takes a dramatic turn. The maternal family must bring a buffalo head along with the offerings. Yes, you read that right, an actual buffalo head.

For many, especially those unfamiliar with such customs, this can be quite a surprise. For one bride who had married into a Newar family from another community, it was nothing short of a cultural shock. When she gave birth to a baby boy, her family was told they needed to prepare and bring a buffalo head for the Macha Bu Byankigu ceremony. She couldn’t believe it at first, as she had grown up in a household where even cooking buffalo meat was unacceptable. Her parents, equally startled, tried to understand the purpose behind it. Yet as the day approached, curiosity outweighed hesitation, and they decided to go along with it.

When the ritual day arrived, the bride’s courtyard was filled with relatives. The puja was performed, the baby was wrapped in soft new clothes, and the symbolic buffalo head was placed among the offerings. The moment felt awkward at first, but when explained its meaning, the family’s perception shifted. The act symbolised prosperity, power, and continuity of lineage, blessings tied to the birth of a son in traditional Newar society.

This ritual shows just how layered Newar culture truly is. What might seem unusual or shocking to outsiders carries deep symbolic meaning. The buffalo head represents strength, wealth, and the blessing of abundance, especially tied to the birth of a son in traditional society.

As Nepal becomes more diverse and inter-caste marriages are more common, rituals like Macha Bu Byankigu continue to surprise and educate us about the beauty and depth of our traditions. Some may question their relevance in modern times, but they still remind us of how our cultures shape who we are.

Because at the end of the day, Newar culture, with all its flavors, sounds, and surprises, never fails to leave us both amazed and reflective. And perhaps that’s what makes it so beautifully alive.