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Homowo is a festival celebrated by the Ga people of Ghana in the Greater Accra Region . The festival starts at the end of April into May with the planting of crops (mainly millet ) before the rainy season starts. The Ga people celebrate Homowo in the remembrance of famine that once happened in their history in precolonial Ghana. The Ga Homowo or Harvest Custom is an annual tradition among the Accra people, with its origin tied to the Native Calendar and the Damte Dsanwe people of the Asere Quarter. Asere is a sub-division of the Ga Division in the Accra District of the Gold Coast Colony.

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85-542: The word Homowo ( Homo - hunger, wo - hoot) can mean "to hoot (or jeer) at hunger" in the Ga language. It is said that as the Ga people traveled to Ghana , they faced famine and other misfortunes along the way and upon settlement. The people attributed their mishaps and misfortunes to the displeasure of a god or deity . To restore balance in their society, the Ga people sacrificed livestock , prayed and poured libations to pacify

170-499: A yin-yang emblem is placed among peaceful settings to encourage meditation and study of Taoist texts and principles. Taoists place less emphasis on formalized attendance but include ritualized worship than other Asian religions ; formal temples and structures of worship came about in Taoism with the influence from Buddhism . Frequent features of Taoist shrines include the same features as full temples, often including any or all of

255-517: A deity was placed and offered prayers, instead of visits to a temple. Among Tamil Hindu homes, according to Pintchman, a shrine in Kitchen is more common. If the family is wealthy, it may locate the household shrine in a separate room. The line between a temple and a shrine in Taoism is not fully defined; shrines are usually smaller versions of larger Taoist temples or small places in a home where

340-485: A durbar of chiefs, a colourful procession of the Chiefs in palanquins with their retinue. They are accompanied by traditional military groups called ' Asafo Companies' amidst drumming, singing and dancing through the streets and on the durbar grounds. At the durbar, greetings are exchanged between the chiefs, libations are poured and declarations of allegiance are made. The Dangbe people from Odumase - Krobo also Celebrate

425-600: A local diocesan bishop or archbishop can designate a local (arch)diocesan shrine. For a shrine to be a national shrine , the approval of the country's Episcopal Conference is required. Similarly, the approval of the Holy See at the Vatican in Rome is required for it to be "international. The Roman Catholic 1983 Code of Canon Law , canons 1230 and 1231 read: "The term shrine means a church or other sacred place which, with

510-451: A niche or grotto ; this type is colloquially referred to as a bathtub madonna . Religious images, usually in some sort of small shelter, placed by a road or pathway, sometimes in a settlement or at a crossroads. Shrines are found in many religions. As distinguished from a temple , a shrine usually houses a particular relic or cult image , which is the object of worship or veneration . A shrine may also be constructed to set apart

595-685: A popular destination for pious visitation is the Zaouia Moulay Idriss II . The area around Timbuktu in Mali also has many historic Sufi shrines which were destroyed by Islamist in recent years. Many of these have since been rebuilt. A saint's tomb is a site of great veneration where blessings or baraka continue to reach the deceased holy person and are deemed (by some) to benefit visiting devotees and pilgrims according to Sufi beliefs. In order to show reverence to Sufi saints, kings, and nobles provided large donations or waqf to preserve

680-647: A prominent member of the group, the group were usually members of an extended family; the land is subdivided among them according to the amount each has paid, and each individual thereafter has complete control of his own section. Negotiations with the seller are carried out by an elected Huzatse (“father of the Huza”), who later acts as the Huza leader and representative. Millet was formerly the staple food, but more common crops now include cassava, yams, corn (maize), plantain, cocoa, and palm oil . Lineage members generally return to

765-432: A shrine can commonly be found within the home or shop. This shrine is usually a small structure or a setup of pictures and figurines dedicated to a deity that is part of the official religion, to ancestors or to a localised household deity . Small outdoor yard shrines are found at the bottom of many peoples' gardens, following various religions, including historically, Balinese Hinduism , Christianity . Many consist of

850-605: A similar way to shrines by parishioners. Side altars are specifically dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus, to her husband Saint Joseph , or to other saints. A nativity scene could also be viewed as a shrine, as the definition of a shrine is any holy or sacred place. Islam's holiest structure, the Kaaba (within the Al-Haram Mosque ) in the city of Mecca , though an ancient temple (in

935-491: A site which is thought to be particularly holy, as opposed to being placed for the convenience of worshipers. Shrines therefore attract the practice of pilgrimage . Shrines are found in many forms of Christianity, but not all. Catholicism , the largest denomination of Christianity, has many shrines, as do Orthodox Christianity , Anglicanism and some forms of Lutheranism . In the Roman Catholic Church,

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1020-514: A statue of Christ , Virgin Mary or a saint , on a pedestal or in an alcove, while others may be elaborate booths without ceilings, some include paintings, statuary, and architectural elements, such as walls, roofs, glass doors and ironwork fences. In the United States, some Christians have small yard shrines; some of these resemble side altars, since they are composed of a statue placed in

1105-905: A week or two. This adjustment can be made either by the directive of the Ga Mantse or at the discretion of the Dantu Priest, often without a specific reason. Consequently, the Calendar is not fixed, leading to variations in the timing of the Homowo Festival. A week and five days after Odadaa is played, the Twins Yam Festival begins, and five weeks and four days later, the celebrations of Homowo begin. Different cities celebrate their Homowo at different dates, with Lante Dzanwe beginning, followed by Tema six days later. Nungua , however, begins celebrating Homowo soon after Odadaa

1190-576: A women's compound. Each Ga town has a number of different cults and many gods, and there are a number of annual town festivals. The Dangme people occupy the coastal area of Ghana from Kpone to Ada, on the Volta River and South Atlantic Ocean along the Gulf of Guinea and inland along the Volta River. The Dangme People include the Ada, Kpone, Krobo , Ningo , Osudoku, Prampram, and Shai, all speaking Dangbe of

1275-455: Is a matter of consensus." Similarly, Ibn Qudamah (d. 620 AH) considered ziyāra of Muhammad to be recommended and also seeking intercession directly from Muhammad at his grave. The tombs of other Muslim religious figures are also respected. The son of Ahmad ibn Hanbal , one of the primary jurists of Sunnism, reportedly stated that he would prefer to be buried near the mausoleum of a saintly person than his own father. While in some parts of

1360-438: Is a memorial for those who fell on the battlefield. To re-enact these historic events, the warriors dress in traditional battle dress and stage a mock battle. This is also a time for male rites of passage , when young men are introduced to warfare. The festival also coincides with the harvest cycle, when these special customs and ceremonies are performed. These include purification ceremonies. The celebration reaches its climax with

1445-609: Is focused on Lord Buddha or one of the bodhisattvas or arahants . Monks, nuns and laity will pay homage with the aide of Buddhist iconography at these shrines which are also used for Buddhist meditation . Typically, Buddhist shrines contain a statue of either Gautama Buddha, or (in the Mahayana and Vajrayana forms of Buddhism), one of the various Buddhas or bodhisattvas. They also commonly contain candles, along with offerings such as flowers, purified water, food, and incense. Many shrines also contain sacred relics , such as

1530-404: Is not unusual for a single coffin to cost $ 600. This is expensive for local families considering that it is not unusual to meet people with an income of only $ 50 a month. This means that funerals are often paid for by wealthier members of the family, if such a member exists, with smaller contributions coming from other working members of the family. This is needed as the coffin is only a portion of

1615-470: Is noted that in 1888, the entire Accra community celebrated the Homowo Festival as late as September 27th or 29th. The key milestones of the Native Year include: The climax of the festival arrives on the 13th day, Saturday, with a grand feast where palm soup and kpokpoi are prepared and enjoyed. On the 14th day, Sunday, visits are exchanged, and the people engage in various practices to commemorate

1700-597: Is one of the ugliest positions that has been reported of Ibn Taymiyya". The Hanafi hadith scholar Ali al-Qari stated that, "Amongst the Hanbalis, Ibn Taymiyya has gone to an extreme by prohibiting travelling to visit the Prophet – may God bless him and grant him peace" Qastallani stated that "The Shaykh Taqi al-Din Ibn Taymiyya has abominable and odd statements on this issue to the effect that travelling to visit

1785-540: Is played on the first Sunday in July. The general Homowo celebration of the entire Gamashie (from Osu, Accra to Teshie ) begins eight days after Tema, and ten days after, Nungo and Gboogbla begin their part of the festival. The last place to celebrate the festival is Awutu four days later. Celebrators living and working in neighboring towns and villages are called Soobii (Thursday people) as they arrive on Thursday to join other Ga people in celebrating Homowo during

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1870-466: Is ready for sprinkling at 7am. Kpokpei is prepared from the millet that is grown by the seven priests during Nmaadumo. It is turned into dough and eventually steamed. Once it cooks, it is kneaded in a wooden bowl and mixed with palm-oil and okro soup. During the celebration on Saturday, people go around many Ga households in the Gamashie area to share the festal food with them. On this day there

1955-408: Is sown by the seven priests of the Gamashie people who perform Shibaa , the rite of digging. The priests sow the wheat in a specific order with Dantu on Monday, Sakumo on Tuesday, Naa Korle and Naa Afieye on Friday, Gua on Saturday, Naa Dede on Sunday, and Nai on the following Tuesday. During wheat-sowing, a strict ban on noise called Koninfemo is set in place. This is to ensure that

2040-551: Is the Paramount Chief sits in state as the overlord together with his sub-chiefs, Government officials, other traditional Authorities and Invited guests. The Ga-Dangbe music includes drumming and dancing. One of their traditional music and dance styles (albeit a fairly modern one) is kpanlogo , a modernized traditional dance and music form developed around 1960. Yacub Addy , Obo Addy , and Mustapha Tettey Addy are Ga drummers who have achieved international fame. Music of

2125-576: Is the first one, known as the Damte Dsanwe Homowo. This celebration marks the culmination of the native year and aligns with native law and custom. Homowo is celebrated in all the cities in the Ga state with celebrations climaxing in Gamashie . Prior to the actual celebration of the festival, Nmaadumo , a sowing rite of wheat takes place to mark the beginning of the Ga Calendar and the celebrations that occur within it. Nmaa or millet

2210-1196: Is to visit or make pilgrimages to the tombs of saints, renowned scholars, and righteous people. This is a particularly common practice in the Indian subcontinent , where famous tombs include of saints such as Sayyid Ali Hamadani in Kulob , Tajikistan; Afāq Khoja , near Kashgar , China; Lal Shahbaz Qalandar in Sindh ; Ali Hujwiri in Lahore , Pakistan; Bahauddin Zakariya in Multan Pakistan; Moinuddin Chishti in Ajmer , India; Nizamuddin Auliya in Delhi , India; and Shah Jalal in Sylhet , Bangladesh. Likewise, in Fez , Morocco,

2295-457: Is traffic and roads are blocked off to accommodate the festival. The ingredients for making Kpekpele are simple and few; ground corn/maize, palm-oil, onions, salt and in some Ga houses there’s the inclusion of okra which is optional. Ga people living in Portland , Oregon host the "Portland Homowo & Twins Festival" to celebrate alongside their native counterparts. In 2011, the Ga community in

2380-540: Is usually placed in the main shrine. Confucian shrines exist outside of China too, mainly in Japan, Korea and Vietnam. There are also quite a number of Confucian shrines in Taiwan like Tainan Confucian Temple and Taipei Confucius Temple , they are well-maintained by the government. However, many Taoist temples dedicated a shrine for the worship of Confucius or Wen Chang Di Jun (God of Literature). In some countries around

2465-583: Is when the Nmaadumo takes place, and marks the beginning of the Homowo season which ends in September after the crops are harvested. The start of the year is determined by either counting days or weeks from the initial day designated by the Dantu Priest as the inaugural day of the Native Year. At times, often midway or near the end of the year, the Dantu Priest may shift the Calendar either forward or backward by

2550-749: The Al-Askari Shrine , and Imam Hussein Shrine . Other Shia shrines are located in the eponymous cities of Mazar-e Sharif ("The Noble Mausoleum ") in Afghanistan , and Mashhad ( al-Rida ) (" Martyrium [of Ali Rida ]") in Iran. The Mausoleum of Ruhollah Khomeini in Tehran houses the tombs of Ruhollah Khomenei , the leader of Iran's 1978–79 revolution , his wife , and a few other related people. In popular Sufism , one common practice

2635-498: The Disciples of Confucius . These temples are known as "Temples of Confucius" (孔廟) or "Temples of Literature" (文廟). Unlike Taoist temples, Confucian temples usually do not installed the images of Confucius but the tablets. It is argued that the temple was to honour Confucius's teachings, not Confucius himself. The temples consist of gardens and then a large pavilion where incense is burnt. The tablet or sometime an image of Confucius

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2720-807: The Dome of the Rock and the smaller Dome of the Chain built on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem . The former was built over the rock that marked the site of the Jewish Temple and according to Islamic tradition, was the point of departure of Muhammad's legendary ascent heavenwards ( al-Mi'raj ). More than any other shrines in the Muslim world, the tomb of Muhammad is considered a source of blessings for

2805-518: The Kwa languages Ga and Dangme and are a patrilineal people. Dangme is exclusively closer to the original Ga–Dangme languages than the Ga language. The Ga people celebrate the Homowo festival, which literally means "hooting at hunger". This festival originated several centuries ago. It is celebrated in remembrance of a great famine that hit the Ga people. It is mainly a food festival which celebrates

2890-543: The Second Vatican Council they contained small side altars or bye-altars. Shrines are always centered on some image (for instance, a statue, painting, mural or mosaic) of Jesus Christ , of Mary, mother of Jesus , or of a saint, and may have had a reredos behind them. Today, Mass would not necessarily be celebrated at them. They are simply used to aid or give a visual focus for prayers. Side altars, where Mass could actually be celebrated, were used in

2975-691: The Shai and Krobo people, the Dipo is the formal rite of passage. Originally designed as a formal marriage training for mature women in their twenties, Dipo has evolved into a pre-marital sexual purification rite that involves teenage girls conducting traditional religious rituals and putting on dance performances for the public. Initiates are partially nude throughout much of the ritual. In addition, they are each adorned with custom-made glass beads, colorful loincloths , and various forms of woven headgear. According to researcher and author Priscilla Akua Boakye, "[Dipo]

3060-643: The Wahhabi and Salafi movements, which believe that shrines over graves encourage idolatry / polytheism ( shirk ) and that there is a risk of worshipping other than God (the dead). The founder of the Wahhabi movement, Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab derived the prohibition to build mosques over graves from a hadith attributed to the Muhammad in which he said "May God curse the Jews and Christians who make

3145-408: The 1950s. The pioneers of these artistic coffins were master craftsmen, such as Ataa Oko (1919–2012) from La, and Seth Kane Kwei (1925–1992) from Teshie. The coffins can be anything wanted by relatives of the deceased from a pencil to an elephant . Coffins are usually crafted to reflect an essence of the deceased in forms such as a character trait , an occupation, or a symbol of one's standing in

3230-665: The Eastern Region. In the Agotime Area of Volta Region and the Dangme Area in the Southern part of Togo. Dangme occupations are fishing, trading and farming which is based on the Huza system. This was an early and innovative form of capitalism where an elaborate system of property ownership was established and subsequently shared. In this system a huge tract of land is acquired by a group of people but represented by

3315-584: The Friday of the Twins Yam Festival. This act is carried out by the elderly women of families, however the elderly men of the families fire musket bullets to expel evil spirits on the same day. The head of the family traditionally sprinkles kpoikpoi (a process called " Nishwamo ") and pours drinks to the ground to honor ancestors following the preparation of Homowo food on Saturday. Noowala Noowala (Long life Long Life) Afi naa akpe wo (May

3400-505: The Ga belief that twins live different lives compared to their non-twins counterparts and behave differently. On this day, a pair of buffalo horns that are typically preserved in a shrine are brought out to be used for ritual ceremonies. The twins are expected to wear the same clothing, share their gifts, and react similarly in given situations. Typically, the Homowo Festival is observed in August, occasionally falling in July or September. It

3485-866: The Ga-Dangbe people also include [ Klama ], [ Kpatsa ] and the Dipo dance all of the Krobo people. In addition to music, the Ga-Dangbe people are known for their long history and successes in the sport of boxing . The fishing community of Bukom on the outskirts of Accra , is considered as the mecca of boxing in Ghana and has produced several notable boxers. It is the home of many famous boxing "clubs" and gymnasiums. Notable fighters include former WBC champion, David Kotei aka DK Poison , Alfred Kotey , Joshua "The Hitter" Clottey , and former WBA Welterweight champion boxer Ike "Bazooka" Quartey , and former multi-weight class champion Azumah "Zoom Zoom" Nelson aka Prof . For

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3570-459: The Homowo week at Gamashie . Once the Soobii people arrive at the city for the festival, they diverge into their localities to march together. The Twins Yam Festival falls on the Friday following the Gamashie area Homowo celebration and before the main Homowo celebration on Saturday. On this day, twin Ga people wear white and celebrate with feastings, music, and dancing. This festival stems from

3655-629: The Kaaba in Islamic tradition. The Green Dome sepulcher of the Islamic prophet Muhammad (where his burial chamber also contains the tombs of his friend Abu Bakr and close companion Umar ) in Medina , housed in the Masjid an-Nabawi ("The Mosque of the Prophet"), occurs as a greatly venerated place and important as a site of pilgrimage among Muslims. Two of the oldest and notable Islamic shrines are

3740-864: The Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. The Dangme People have the largest population among the two related Ga-Dangme People. About 70% of the Greater Accra Regional Land is owned by the Dangmes located in Dangme East and Dangme West Districts of Ghana. Also, in the Eastern Region and Volta Region of Ghana, about 15% of lands belong to the Dangme People. These are mainly in the Manya Krobo and Yilo Krobo Districts of

3825-420: The Muslim world the mausoleums of the tombs are seen as simply places of ziyāra of a religious figure's gravesite ( Mazār / Maqbara ), in others (such as the Indian subcontinent ) they are treated as proper shrines ( Dargah ). Many modern Islamic reformers oppose the building (and sometimes the visitation of ) tomb shrines, viewing it as a deviation from true Islam. This mainly includes followers of

3910-752: The Philippines. They were either small roof-less platforms or standing poles split at the tip (similar to a tiki torch ). They held halved coconut shells, metal plates, or martaban jars as receptacles for offerings. Taotao may sometimes also be placed on these platforms. Other types of sacred places or objects of worship of diwata include the material manifestation of their realms. The most widely venerated were balete trees (also called nonok , nunuk , nonoc , etc.) and anthills or termite mounds ( punso ). Other examples include mountains, waterfalls, tree groves, reefs, and caves. In Germanic paganism , types of shrines were employed, but terms for

3995-435: The Prophet is prohibited and is not a pious deed." Shias have several mazars dedicated to various religious figures important in their history, and several elaborate shrines ( Marqad / Maqam ) are dedicated to Shia religious figures, most notably in Iraq (such as in the cities of Karbala , Najaf , Samarra ) and in Iran (such as in the cities of Qom and Mashad ). Specific examples of Shia shrines include

4080-639: The UK took a laudable initiative to join in on the Homowo celebration. Ga people The Ga-Dangbe , Ga-Dangme , Ga-Adangme or Ga-Adangbe are an ethnic group in Ghana , Togo and Benin . The Ga or Gan and Dangbe or Dangme people are grouped as part of the Ga–Dangme ethnolinguistic group. The Ga-Dangmes are one ethnic group that lives primarily in the Greater Accra region of Ghana. Ethnic Ga family names (surnames) include Nikoi, Amon, Kotey, Kotei, Adei, Adjei, Kutorkor, Okantey, Oblitey, Lartey, Nortey, Aryee, Obodai, Oboshi, Torgbor, Torshii and Lante. The following are names derived from

4165-410: The [ Ngmayem ] festival, An Annual Harvest festival to Celebrate the bounty harvest of their farmers is celebrated by the Krobo people throughout the last week (Seven days) of October with a visit to their famous Ancestral home, the Krobo Mountains [ Kloyom ] on the last Friday of October with a climax on the Saturday with a grand Durbar of Chiefs and People of the Krobo Traditional Area. the [ Konor ] who

4250-518: The approval of the local Ordinary, is by reason of special devotion frequented by the faithful as pilgrims. For a shrine to be described as national, the approval of the Episcopal Conference is necessary. For it to be described as international, the approval of the Holy See is required." In unofficial, colloquial Catholic use, the term "shrine" is a niche or alcove in churches, especially larger ones, used by parishioners when praying privately. They were formerly also called devotional altars , since before

4335-442: The basis and philosophy of the state. The Ga people were organized into six independent towns ( Accra ( Ga Mashie ), Osu , La , Teshie , Nungua , and Tema ). Each town had a stool, which served as the central object of Ga ritual and war magic. Accra became the most prominent Ga-Dangme towns and is now the heartbeat and capital of Ghana. The Ga people were originally farmers, but today fishing and trading in imported goods are

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4420-505: The burials when they are buried with the deceased. They often symbolise the dead people's professions, the purpose being to help them continue with their earthly profession in the afterlife . Certain shapes, such as a sword or chair coffin, represent royal or priestly insignia with a magical and religious function. Only people with the appropriate status are allowed to be buried in these types of coffins. Various creatures, such as lions, cockerels and crabs represent clan totems . Similarly, only

4505-399: The community. For example, a taxicab driver is most likely to be buried in a coffin shaped as a car. Many families spend excessive amounts on coffins because they often feel that they have to pay their last respects to the deceased and being buried in a coffin of cultural, symbolic as well as expensive taste is seen as fitting. Prices of coffins can vary depending on what is being ordered. It

4590-427: The context known to foreign cultures. However, they do have sacred shrines , which are also called as spirit houses . They can range in size from small roofed platforms, to structures similar to a small house (but with no walls), to shrines that look similar to pagodas, especially in the south where early mosques were also modeled in the same way. These shrines were known in various indigenous terms, which depend on

4675-435: The crops grow without distractions. This lasts for four weeks and two days, and at the end of this period, specific drum beatings called Odadaa are played to announce the end of the noise-making ban. The native calendar of the Ga people is provided yearly by the Damte Fetish Priest of the Damte Dsanwe people. The Ga Native Year commences either on the last Monday of April or the first or second Monday of May. This period

4760-412: The customary rituals. Upon the Ga Mantse's return, a second Homowo Harvest Festival was held, in which all Ga people were encouraged to participate. This second celebration, while commemorating the Ga Mantse's return, became an integral part of Ga cultural history. It is important to clarify that while two Ga Homowo celebrations appear to transpire within a single year, the original and authentic Ga Homowo

4845-492: The departed and express well-wishes for the New Year. Overall, the Native Year and its associated customs are deeply interwoven with the Ga culture, reflecting both practical considerations and spiritual beliefs. The Homowo Festival features several cultural elements, including rituals and traditions that hold historical significance. The closing and opening of the Korle Lagoon for fishing are central components. The Korle Priest performs ceremonies involving libations, prayers, and

4930-467: The early hours of Friday when preparation for cooking begins. This rite involves housewives presenting logs to mothers-in-law. This act marks the cordial relationship between a daughter-in-law and mother-in-law. This rite is also exchanged between sons-in-law and fathers-in-law. The logs are used to make bonfires for the souls of dead relatives that are said to have arrived during Soobii. This rite involves plastering two side doors with red clay (Akpade) on

5015-431: The east in several states before reaching their destination in Accra. Oral traditions state the Ga came from the region of Lake Chad and reached their destination in the 16th century. It is also believed that by the 17th century they traveled down the River Niger and crossed the Volta to reach present day Ghana. This leader is the Moses of the Ga-Dangme people, with his seven puritan laws he gave them and that has formed

5100-533: The ethnic Dangme and common among the Ningos Tettey, Tetteh, Teye, Narh, Narteh, Nartey, Kwei, Kweinor, Kwetey, Dugbatey, Martey, Addotey, Addo, Siaw, Saki, Amanor, Djangba, Kabu, Kabutey, Koranteng, Nortse, Horminor. These are aligned to the ethnic Ga as well: Lomo, Lomotey, Tetteh, Ankrah, Tetteyfio, Laryea, Ayitey, Okai, Bortey, Quaye, Quaynor, Ashong, Kotei, Sowah, Odoi, Ablor, Adjetey, Dodoo, Darku and Quartey. (Dawhenya royal family name: Darpoh) Under their leader King Ayi Kushi (Cush) (1483–1519) they were led from

5185-465: The ethnic group association. They can also be used as places to store taotao and caskets of ancestors. Among Bicolanos, taotao were also kept inside sacred caves called moog . During certain ceremonies, anito are venerated through temporary altars near sacred places. These were called latangan or lantayan in Visayan and dambana or lambana in Tagalog. These bamboo or rattan altars are identical in basic construction throughout most of

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5270-449: The famous sacred tooth of Lord Buddha installed at a shrine in Sri Lanka . Site-specific shrines in Buddhism, particularly those that contain relics of past Buddhas and revered enlightened monks, are often designed in the traditional form known as the Stupa or Cetiya . Ancient Filipinos, and Filipinos today who continue to adhere to the indigenous Philippine folk religions generally do not have so-called "temples" of worship under

5355-586: The figural coffins are used for funerals, only a few are exported for international art exhibitions. 5°35′16″N 0°05′59″W  /  5.5877°N 0.0996°W  / 5.5877; -0.0996 Shrine A shrine ( Latin : scrinium "case or chest for books or papers"; Old French : escrin "box or case") is a sacred space dedicated to a specific deity , ancestor , hero , martyr , saint , daemon , or similar figure of respect, wherein they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols , relics , or other such objects associated with

5440-584: The figure being venerated. A shrine at which votive offerings are made is called an altar . Shrines are found in many of the world's religions, including Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Chinese folk religion , Shinto , indigenous Philippine folk religions , and Germanic paganism as well as in secular and non-religious settings such as a war memorial. Shrines can be found in various settings, such as churches, temples, cemeteries, or as household shrines. Portable shrines are also found in some cultures. Many shrines are located within buildings and in

5525-454: The following features: gardens , running water or fountains, small burning braziers or candles (with or without incense ), and copies of Taoist texts such as the Tao Te Ching , Zhuangzi or other texts by Lao Tzu , Chuang Tzu or other Taoist sages. A number of Confucian temples and shrines exist across the sinophone world, it is a temple for the veneration of Confucius , great sages , eminent philosophers of Confucianism and also

5610-425: The gods or deities . An intriguing aspect of the Ga Homowo tradition is the dual celebrations that occur within the Damte Dsanwe community. The tradition suggests that, in the Ga people's history, the Paramount Chief or Ga Mantse temporarily left Accra for eastern Ga territories. During his absence, the community, under the authority of the Priest of the Dantu Fetish, conducted the Homowo Harvest Custom, complete with

5695-416: The graves of their prophets into places of worship; do not imitate them." Additionally, he commanded leveling of the graves ( taswiyat al-qubur ), which the scholar Imam Al-Shafi'i supported. The Wahhabi movement was heavily influenced by the works of the medieval Hanbali theologian Ibn Taymiyyah who was considered by them to be the "ultimate authority on a great number of issues". One of these issues

5780-588: The heads of the families concerned are permitted to be buried in coffins such as these. Many coffin shapes also evoke proverbs, which are interpreted in different ways by the Ga. Design coffins have been used since around the 1950s, especially in rural Ga groups with traditional beliefs, and have now become an integral part of Ga burial culture. Today, figural coffins are made in several workshops in Togo and Greater Accra. Popular coffinmakers are, for example, Cedi and Eric Adjetey Anang of Kane Kwei Carpentry Workshop , Paa Joe , Daniel Mensah and Kudjoe Affutu . Most of

5865-406: The living and able to influence their relatives who are still living (lucky as they are). This is why families do everything they can to ensure that a dead person is sympathetic towards them as early as possible. The social status of the deceased depends primarily on the size and the success of the burial service and of course the usage of an exclusive coffin. These coffins are only seen on the day of

5950-527: The new year bring us together) Gbii kpaanyo anina wo (May we live to see the eighth day) Woye Gbo ni woye Gboenaa (May we eat the fruits of Gbo and that of Gboenaa) Wofee moomo (May we live long) Alonte din ko aka-fo woten (May no black cat (ill omen) come between us) Wosee afi bene wotrashi neke nonu noon (May sit like this the next year) Tswa Tswa tswa Omanye aba (Hai! Hail! Hail! May peace be) Cooking for Homowo Saturday begins around 4am on Saturday in most Ga homes to ensure it

6035-421: The passing of that terrible period in the history of the Ga people. It takes place in August every year and is celebrated by all the Ga clans. The Dangbe people from Ada celebrate the Asafotu festival, which is also called 'Asafotufiam', an annual warrior's festival celebrated by Ada people from the last Thursday of July to the first weekend of August. It commemorates the victories of the warriors in battle and

6120-489: The practice of ziyāra to Muhammad's tomb. The hadith scholar Qadi Ayyad (d. 554 AH) stated that visiting Muhammad was "a Sunna of the Muslims on which there was consensus, and a good and desirable deed." Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani (d. 852 AH) explicitly stated that travelling to visit the tomb of Muhammad was "one of the best of actions and the noblest of pious deeds with which one draws near to God, and its legitimacy

6205-456: The principal occupations. Trading is generally in the hands of women, and a husband has no control over his wife's money. Succession to most offices held by women and inheritance of women's property are by matrilineal descent. Inheritance of other property and succession to male-held public offices are by patrilineal descent. Men of the lineage live together in a men's compound, while women, even after marriage, live with their mothers and children in

6290-507: The removal of palm leaves to mark the cycles of opening and closing the lagoon. Traditional celebration of Homowo includes marching across cities while drumming, singling, and dancing. This celebration is further multiplied during the Gamashie Homowo celebration as the Soobii people join in. They sing songs with lyrics such as "Nmaayi eye" (the harvest is white/plentiful) to celebrate fruitful harvests. The celebration continues into

6375-560: The resting places for the respective remains of the two central figures of the Baháʼí Faith, the Báb and Bahá'u'lláh . They are the focal points of a Baháʼí pilgrimage : Other sites have been designated as Baháʼí Shrines, the most notable being the home of William Sutherland Maxwell and May Maxwell in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. In Buddhism , a shrine refers to a place where veneration

6460-576: The sense of a "house of God"), may be seen as a shrine due to it housing a respected relic called the Hajar al-Aswad and also being the partial focus of the world's largest pilgrimage practice, the Hajj . A few yards away, the mosque also houses the Maqam Ibrahim (" Abraham 's station") shrine containing a petrosomatoglyph (of feet) associated with the patriarch and his son Ishmael 's building of

6545-399: The shrines show some level of ambiguity: In Hinduism , a shrine is a place where gods or goddesses are worshipped. Shrines are typically located inside a Hindu temple of various forms. Most Hindu families have a household shrine as well. For example, according to memoirs of Stephen Huyler of his visits to some Hindu homes, a part of home was dedicated to the household shrine. Here, image of

6630-694: The temples designed specifically for worship, such as a church in Christianity, or a mandir in Hinduism. A shrine here is usually the center of attention in the building and is given a place of prominence. In such cases, adherents of the faith assemble within the building in order to venerate the deity at the shrine. In classical temple architecture, the shrine may be synonymous with the cella . Historically, in Hinduism , Buddhism and Roman Catholicism , and also in modern faiths, such as Neopaganism ,

6715-473: The tombs and renovate them architecturally. Over time, these donation, rituals, annual commemorations formed into an elaborate system of accepted norms. These forms of Sufi practise created an aura of spiritual and religious traditions around prescribed dates. Many orthodox or Islamic purists denounce these visiting grave rituals, especially the expectation of receiving blessings from the venerated saints. The two most well-known Baháʼí Faith shrines serve as

6800-461: The total funeral cost that will be incurred. Some foreigners are known to have been buried in Ga-styled coffins. The use of these fantasy coffins is explained by the religious beliefs of the Ga people regarding their afterlife. They believe that death is not the end and that life continues in the next world in the same way it did on earth. Ancestors are also thought to be much more powerful than

6885-464: The traditional lineage home from the Huza farms several times a year to participate in the festivals of their lineage gods. There are also many annual festivals. The Ga-Dangme are organized into clans based on patrilineal descent; the clans are subdivided into localized patrilineages, the basic units of the Ga-Dangme historical, political, cultural tribal group. Linguistically, the Ga-Dangbe speak

6970-446: The visitor. Among sayings attributed to Muhammad include one stated as: "He who visits my grave will be entitled to my intercession." Visiting Muhammad's tomb after the pilgrimage is considered by the majority of Sunni legal scholars to be recommended. The early scholars of the salaf , Ahmad Ibn Hanbal (d. 241 AH), Ishaq Ibn Rahwayh (d. 238 SH), Abdullah ibn Mubarak (d. 189 AH) and Imam Shafi'i (d. 204 AH) all permitted

7055-445: The world, landmarks may be called "historic shrines." Notable shrines of this type include: Halls of fame also serve as shrines into which single or multiple individuals are inducted on the basis of their influence upon regions, cultures or disciplines. Busts or full-body statues are often erected and placed alongside each other in commemoration. This includes Halls of Fame that honor sports athletes, where an athlete's entrance to

7140-530: Was a form of vocational training for young women in which they were taught generally how to assume their roles as responsible women." Despite the ritual being designated for older teenaged girls, it is not uncommon for young pre-adolescent and even toddler aged girls to take part. The Ga people are known for their funeral celebrations and processions. The Ga believe that when someone dies, they move to another life. Therefore, special coffins are often crafted by highly skilled carpenters since this tradition spread in

7225-481: Was the position on the visitation of Muhammad's tomb. According to Ibn Taymiyyah all the ahadith encouraging the visitation of the tomb are fabricated ( mawdu‘ ), are not contained in the six main collections of hadith or Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal , and violate tawhid al-uluhiya . This view of Ibn Taymiyyah was rejected by some mainstream Sunni scholars both during his life and after his death. The Shafi'i hadith master Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani stated that "This

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