Festival of Cultures - Virtual Gallery
Pow Wow Drum
A Pow Wow drum is a large drum used during Native American powwows, and the drum brings the heartbeat of Earth Mother to the powwow1. A powwow is a celebration of American Indian culture. During these celebrations, diverse indigenous nations gather to honor the traditions of their ancestors with dancing and singing. Powwows today can last from one to four days, and spectators are welcome to attend. Participants seek to share the positive aspects of their culture with spectators and non-Indians2.
1. G, Paul. “Pow Wow Drum & Singing.” Pow Wows, 19 July 2011, https://www.powwows.com/pow-wow-singing2/.
2. Browner, Tara. “Powwow.” Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 14 Mar 2016, https://www.britannica.com/topic/powwow.
Shiva: Hindu God
Shiva is one of the main deities of Hinduism and translates to “Auspicious One” from Sanskrit. Shiva can be represented in many form. Shiva is considered the master of both poison and medicine through his ambivalent power over snakes. Shiva’s combination of roles arise primarily from a tendency in Hinduism to see complementary qualities in a single ambiguous figure1.
1. Doniger, Wendy. “Shiva.” Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 24 Aug 2020, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shiva.
Tibetan Prayer Tube
Prayer tubes, similar to prayer boxes are used by Tibetan Buddhists and can hold various items such as folded up scrolls of sacred mantras or pictures of a deity or Lama. The amulet is also used to help ward off negative energy and attract blessings1.
Tibetan Prayer Wheel
In Tibetan Buddhism, the prayer wheel is a hollow metal cylinder on a rod and contains a tightly wound scroll printed with a mantra. Some prayer wheels can be large enough to attach to windmills or waterwheels and kept in continuous motion. Each turning of the wheel, either by hand or wind, is equivalent to reciting the prayer outloud1.
1. The Editors of Encylopaedia Britannica (contributors). “Prayer Wheel.” Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Dec 2019, https://www.britannica.com/topic/prayer-wheel.
Tibetan Singing Bowl
Tibetan Singing Bowls have been used by Buddhist monks for decades in meditation practices. The bowls are a type of bell that vibrates to product a rich, deep tone. The bowls are said to promote relaxation and have healing properties. Many believe the vibrations of the bowls produce beneficial changes in the body by reducing stress and stimulating the immune system1.
1. Wong, Cathy. “Using Tibetan Singing Bowls for Stress Relief.” VeryWell Mind, Dotdash, 1 April 2020, https://www.verywellmind.com/tibetan-singing-bowls-for-healing-89828.
Tibetan Candle Holder
Candles are traditionally used in various rituals across the world, including Tibetan Buddhism. Candles are be placed in shrines and are often accompanied by incense, flowers, and other offerings to the gods and deities. Candlelight has also been used in meditations and is symbolic of enlightenment.
Prayer Rug
Prayer rugs are used in many religions, primarily in central and western Asia. These rugs are chacterized by an arch-shaped design at one end of the rug. When prayer rugs are used by Muslims, these arches must point towards Mecca when used during prayer1.
1. The Editors of Encylopaedia Britannica (contributors). “Prayer Rug..” Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 25 May 2018, https://www.britannica.com/topic/prayer-rug.
Torii: Shinto Gate
Japanese architecture: a torri is a gateway symbolizing the entrance to sacred Shinto shrines in Japan. This gateway is often painted red, and marks the boundary between an ordinary space and the sacred space of the shrine, or sacred spots such as a mountain or rock1. Shinto is a religion with indigenous religious beliefs and practices in Japan and came into use to distinguish the indigenous Japanese beliefs from Buddhism. This religious has preserved its guiding beliefs throughout the ages, but has no founder, no office sacred scriptures, and no fixed dogmas2.
1. The Editors of Encylopaedia Britannica (contributors). “Torri.” Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 10 Sept 2019, https://www.britannica.com/topic/torii.
2. Hirai, Naofusa. “Shinto.” Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica, 10 Nov 2020, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Shinto.
Tibetan Beads
Beads, or sometimes called mala, are used in Tibetan Buddhism and Hindu prayer for centuries. There are typically 108 beads on a string/mala and aid in counting the number of repetitions of a mantra, prayer, or phrase. Malas have often been compared to rosaries. It has also been said the 108 is symbolic: 1 represents God, 0 is for humility, and 8 to symbolize infinite1.
