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Large Hopi Pueblo Hemis Katsina Doll - 25878
Category: Kachina - Katsina | Posted by | Thu, Aug 11th 2016, 2:05pm
The Hopi live in a desert and rely solely on rain for their crops and animals. It is to the Katsinas that the Hopi plea for rain. In exchange for rain from the Katsinas, the Hopi present them with pahos (prayer feathers). They do not ask for anything from the katsinas without giving something in return.
Although the Hemis Katsina may appear in any Katsina dance, they are best known for their participation in the Niman Ceremony, a ceremony where a large number of Hemis and Hemismana are the only katsinas represented. The Hemis Katsina is most frequently selected for the Niman because he is a beautiful impersonation and his songs are popular with the Hopi.