Old Style Hopi Carved Cow Traditional Animal Katsina Doll

Description

Old Style Hopi Carved Cow Traditional Animal Katsina Doll by Bryan Nasetoynewa

Cow Katsina (Wakas'katsina) is a male animal spirit messenger to the rain gods. His songs are prayers for plentiful animal life and are symbolic of their self-sacrifice as food supply to sustain life. Cow Katsinam appear in the Kiva night dances and during the Katsina day dances in the plaza. During the dance, spectators will remove juniper and/or feathers from this Katsina to place in their houses and corrals in hopes that their stock will increase.