Niman Festival

Niman Festival

July

The Niman, or Going Home Ceremony, takes place in the Hopi Indian pueblos of northeastern Arizona. After entering the pueblos in February, the katchinas, ancestral spirits impersonated by men wearing elaborate masks, leave again in July. During the six months when they are present in the pueblo ( see Powamû Ceremony), the katchinas appear in a series of dances, of which the Niman is the last. For the Going Home Ceremony, up to 75 dancers representing katchinas spend an entire day singing and dancing. They give bows, arrows, and other gifts to the boys and katchina dolls to the girls before returning to their mountain homes.

CONTACTS:
Hopi Cultural Center
P.O. Box 67
Second Mesa, AZ 86043
520-734-2401; fax: 520-734-6651
www.hopiculturalcenter.com
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
4400 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
412-622-3131; fax: 412-622-3274
www.carnegiemnh.org

SOURCES:
BkHolWrld-1986, Jul 26, 178
DictFolkMyth-1984, pp. 566, 793
EncyNatAmerRel-2001, p. 202
EncyRel-1987, vol. 10, p. 520