Koshari : The sacred Clown

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Koshari

Introduction

Koshari is a sacred clown who is commonly seen at Katsina ceremonies and he is a powerful figure in the community. At the divine ceremonies, the divine clowns are let loose at important religious events with a lot of physical and fun. These divine clowns have a long and noble tradition of behaving with extreme silliness.

The Koshari are both sacred and profane, and they are regarded as the father of Kachinas. Clowns are made to be funny and humiliating, and the carvers usually add their own styles into the making of the clown, depending on what they see as funny or humiliating.

Physical Traits

The image of the Koshari shows him wearing a skull cap that features black and white stripes. He also has corn husk horns sprouting from the top of his cap and also has black circles around his mouth and eyes. He usually covers himself with a loincloth and has leather boots. He also has dark bands around his legs and arms. His face is painted white with black circles around his mouth and eyes.

Family

There are various stories about Koshari’s origin. Most of these involve elements that are very important to the people, such as the sun, rain, and fertility. However, the power of the Koshari can also cause people to revere and fear him.

Other Names

The Koshari are known by various names depending on the area that they are being worshipped at. However, they are commonly known as Koshari or Koshare.

Powers and Abilities

If you are in the presence of a Koshari, you can usually hear him making noise with a drum and a rattle and is considered to have powers over fertility. He also has the dual role of being a societal organizer and a paranormal spirit. The Koshari’s performances are serious because they depict offensive and unacceptable behavior. The clown can also target any member of the audience. He has the important job of protecting cultural customs.

Modern Day Influence

The Koshari are considered powerful individuals who work to maintain a positive and religious atmosphere within their communities. For instance, the raven is the symbol of the Northwest Coast Indians’ clown and the Southwest has the coyote or the M’ii.