Ethnographic Arms & Armour - View Single Post

kronckew · 31st October 2010, 07:11 PM

usually the larger ones like this were and are ceremonial, still used for beheading a bullock at religious festivals, as noted too heavy for battle use. the tradition is that the bullock must be beheaded humanely with one blow, and it is bad luck for the whole next year on the wielder and his family and village if he does not. he is shunned till the next year.

they of course do sell touristy ones to the gullible foreigners. this doesn't look like one of those tho.

they are referred to as Janawar katne/katnu = animal cutter. Also known as maar hani, meaning something like "sacrificial killing".

a search here on janawar will bring up more info.

31st October 2010, 07:11 PM	#2
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,150	usually the larger ones like this were and are ceremonial, still used for beheading a bullock at religious festivals, as noted too heavy for battle use. the tradition is that the bullock must be beheaded humanely with one blow, and it is bad luck for the whole next year on the wielder and his family and village if he does not. he is shunned till the next year. they of course do sell touristy ones to the gullible foreigners. this doesn't look like one of those tho. they are referred to as Janawar katne/katnu = animal cutter. Also known as maar hani, meaning something like "sacrificial killing". a search here on janawar will bring up more info. Last edited by kronckew; 31st October 2010 at 07:22 PM.