Kachina Doll Clipart
Ngasohu, Mocking and Warrior Maiden

The Na-ngasohu or Chasing Star Katsina is also called other names such as Comet Katsina and Planet Katsina. The reason for so many names may be because contemporary Hopi are mixed in what they think this Katsina represents. Some say he represents a planet, but to others he represents a meteor streaking across the sky. The personification of this Katsina with so many names usually appears in pairs at the Bean Dance Procession, the Palölökongti or a Mixed Dance. However, today his function is no longer known.

"Hé-é-e or Hé'wuhti may be seen in Powamu celebrations most years, but it is at the Pachavu ceremonies that Hé-é-e is seen in her most impressive appearance.

Many years ago, tradtion says that some Hopis were living outside the main village, and the mother of this household was putting up her daughter's hair. The mother had finished only one side of the hair whorls, the hair on the other side still hanging loosely, when they saw enemies sneaking toward the village.

The daughter snatched up a bow, quiver, and arrows from the wall and raced toward the village to warn the people. She then led the defense until the men in the fields could return and rout the enemy.

She has been personated ever since as a kachina and always appears with her hair partially up on one side and hanging down on the other. On the back of her head she wears an artificial scalp lock, and she carries the weapons she snatched up so long ago. She still guards the village." - Barton Wright, Kachinas: a Hopi Artist's Documentary.