Jhuma Limbu - The Samsogha Mundhum (A Musical Documentary)

A musical documentary portraying a ritual of the animist Limbu community. The Samsogha Mundhum is performed by the Yeba (Limbu shaman) when lost souls hold on and do not depart to the other world, creating troubles for the living. Opening with the worship of the goddess Yuma, the ritual begins with a gentle invitation for the Sogha to move on, with offerings and arguments.

The intensity gradually builds, ending in a wrathful confrontation, forcefully chasing it away. Singer and researcher Jhuma Limbu recreates the Mundhum singing, accompanied by twelve musicians, arranged into a contemporary musical expression by Ser o Dúo (Based on Biswo Shahi's concept).

Stream Album On YouTube :    • Sounds of Mundhum  

Lead Vocals: ‪@JhumaLimbu‬
Choir: Maria Fajardo, Sneha Yonzan, Anisha Maharjan, Anzana Gurung, Heyshi Sherpa
Classical Guitar & Pedals: Moa Edmunds
Bulgarian Kaval: Tomás Carrasco
Keyboard: Abhisek Bhadra
Sarangi: Manish Gandharva
Bass: Nirita Yakthumba
Percussions: Ashesh Rai, Guillermo Martin-Viana
Yebas: Rakesh Neyong, Padam Phaben

Stream or Download Album "Sounds Of Mundhum" :
Spotify : https://spoti.fi/3wZ0n1L
Amazon : http://bit.ly/SoundsOfMundhum
Apple Music : https://apple.co/3wYAE9M
Deezer : https://bit.ly/3vVGMzs
Tidal : https://bit.ly/353p7tX

Let's Connect :
Facebook :   / jhumalimbunepal  
Instagram :   / limbujhuma  

Directed by Eric Chandra Shrestha
Documentary produced with the support of Goethe Zentrum Kathmandu
Film Crew: Niri Shrestha, Gopen Rai, Bikram Rai
Costumes: Noyos Collection

Musical performance recorded live by The Project Studio at Gyanodaya Bal Batika School
Thanks to Nirakar Yakthumba, Indira Yakthumba, Moksh, Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory
& students.
Samsogha Mundhum ritual filmed at Cho Lung Park (Lali Guras Municipality)
Thanks to Mayor Arjunbabu Mabohang, Hotel Taplejung (Basantapur), Wanem Family (Kathmandu)

Special Thanks, Ram Babu Gurung for the support and equipments ( ‪@BaasuriFilms‬ ) and Anil Subba for making the Silam Sakmas

— Notes:

• Mundhum. (ᤔᤢᤴᤎᤢᤶ) « the power of great strength », a term with vast meaning for the Limbu people. It may describe a ritual or practice, but also refers to the entirety of Limbu religious scriptures, folk literature and epics, covering many aspects of their culture and customs. The Yakthung (Limbu) follow these traditions since ancient times pre-dating the rise of Vedic civilisation.

• Samsogha. (ᤛᤠᤶᤛᤥᤄᤠ) Lost souls that, having died unnatural deaths, hang on to this world instead of moving on to the next. This creates much trouble and suffering for the living.

• The Yeba are a class of Limbu priests, among the Phedangma, Samba, Yema and Angsi. These healers and sacred ritual specialists perform the religious functions and lifecycle rituals reciting the Mundhum scriptures. They are the custodians of Mundhum.

• Yagrangsing - the structure constructed prior to the ritual, holding up the Chyabrung and Yalumphu, as they must not touch there ground.

• Chyabrung - hollow oblong wooden drum, with cow skin on one side and bull or buffalo skin on the other - producing a treble and a bass tone, respectively.

• Yalumphu - a basket to hold all the equipment of the Yeba and the materials used in the ritual.

• Samsing - leaves of the fragrant bay tree (Persea odoratissima) symbolise nature’s sacred purity

• Mukto - a ‘magical’ tool made from a type of reed (Neyraudia reynaudiana). One type of Mukto is hammered into the ground, in each of the cardinal directions to fix a safe and secure perimeter.

• Misham - Fire. The Yeba summon the spirit of fire for its power, to help compel the Samsogha to cross the threshold. Having summoned it, the Yeba must dismiss the fire by trampling it, or its power will go on to consume everything.

• Silam Sakma - the most important of Limbu symbols, also used to represent their society as a whole. Consisting of 9 concentric squares of string tied around two axes (upright/horizontal or the cardinal directions), the symbol carries multiple dimensions of meaning. Often used for protection or good fortune, the tightly woven strings symbolise the ties of the community and the perimeter within which no harmful spirits may enter.

—
Eric Chandra Shrestha
youtube:    / @ericchandra13  
insta:   / ericchandraphoto  
—
Ser o Duo
youtube:    / @seroduo9216  
insta:   / seroduo  
—
The Project Studio:
facebook:   / theprojectstudio.np  
insta:   / projectstudio.np  
—
Goethe Zentrum Kathmandu
youtube:    / @goethe-zentrumkathmandu3781  
insta:   / goethezentrumktm  
—
Cho Lung Park
facebook:   / cholungpark  
google maps: https://goo.gl/maps/nEkMxFA71GCGxsTQ6

Digital Asset Management : ‪@amegroup‬

© Jhuma Limbu.