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orangecrush

(28,416 posts)
Thu Dec 18, 2025, 10:55 PM Dec 18

New Zealand Army War Haka meets Ghurkas

The New Zealand Army's primary Haka is called "Tu Taua a Tumatauenga" (the standing columns of the God of War).

The Ghurkas are legendary Nepalese warriors who serve in the British army.

This gave me chills.


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New Zealand Army War Haka meets Ghurkas (Original Post) orangecrush Dec 18 OP
Māori Haka dweller Dec 19 #1
Many, many meanings orangecrush Dec 19 #3
Gurkhas and Grandad Dear_Prudence Dec 19 #2
Thank you for sharing the wisdom of your Grandad orangecrush Dec 19 #4

orangecrush

(28,416 posts)
3. Many, many meanings
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 10:23 AM
Dec 19

Thanks for posting!

The tongue out seems to amuse some people.

Hindu culture portrays lions as having their going out before attacking

It is part of the lion pose in Hatha Yoga.

Dear_Prudence

(1,047 posts)
2. Gurkhas and Grandad
Fri Dec 19, 2025, 12:35 AM
Dec 19

This was fascinating and moving. My family seems to have a connection to the Gurkhas. My Scottish grandad visited the family here in the US in the mid-60's, when I was about twelve. Race riots were in the news here, so I asked Grandad what he thought about other races. He said that once you've slept in the trenches together, you learn that kind of thing [race] doesn't matter. Grandad has been gone about 40 years, but a few years ago, I tried to figure out who was with Grandad in those trenches. Grandad was a member of the Gordon Highlanders Infantry Regiment in WW1. I learned that the Gordon Highlanders fought trench warfare along side Gurkhas in WW1 at the Battle of the Somme. The battle cost British forces 420,000 lives, presumably Gurkha casualties counted amoung them. I remember my dad, also gone now, inexplicably speaking of his admiration for Gurkha fighters and his unrealized wish to add a Gurkha knife to his knife collection; perhaps this reflected his father's, my Grandad's, experiences? Based on this tenuous history, I believe my Grandad fought alongside the Gurkhas and shared the trenches, probably at the Battle of the Somme. For me, this belief has forged my lasting connection to the Gurkha. I wish my dad were here to see the impressive display that you posted. Thank you.

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