This weekend I went to Minnesota. My cousins and parents picked me from the college on Friday evening. This was the last time I was meeting my parents before they leave for Nepal. I guess I will be meeting them after 2 years. The Next day we went to Mall of America. Well I didn’t do any shopping. Actually my cousin is getting married, so went for his shopping. We spend around five hours shopping, eating and playing few of the theme park games there. That night we played cards, ate some good food. We all enjoyed doing those things. Well that all I did this weekend. Well, now I back and doin my homework and studying for the exam.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Living Goddess of Nepal
This time I’m going to share something from my country. It’s about a living goddess of Nepal. Nepal is the land of many gods and goddess. The most unique thing is that there is a living goddess called Kumari Devi, a holy young girl. The custom of worshipping a young girl is an old Hindu-Buddhist ritual that still continues in Nepal. Every September we have this festival named Indra Jatra. On that day the living goddess is decorated magnificently and put on view in a religious procession through parts of the Nepalese Capital in a palanquin. It is a grand festival attended by thousands of people, who come to see the living goddess and seek her blessings.
The selection of the Living Goddess is a complicated tantric ritual. According to the traditions of Vajrayana sect of Mahayana Buddhism, girls in the age-group of 4-7 year who belong to the Sakya community are screened on the basis of their 32 attributes of perfection, including color of eyes, shape of teeth and even voice quality. Her horoscope must also be appropriate. They are made to confront a goddess in the darkened room. The sight of the Buffalo heads scattered around, the demon- like masked dancers, the terrifying noises they encounter scare some of these innocent babies. The real goddess is unlikely to be frightened, so the one who is calm and collected throughout the tests is the only girl who is entitled to sit on the podium for worship as the Living Goddess. After the ceremonies, the spirit of the goddess is said to enter her body. Then she chooses items of clothing and decoration worn by her predecessor and is given the title of Kumari Devi, who is worshipped on all religious occasions. She lives in a place called ‘Kumari Ghar’, at Kathmandu’s Hanumandhoka palace square. It’s a beautifully decorated house where the living goddess performs her daily rituals.
The Kumari’s godhood comes to an end with her first menstruation, because it is believed that on reaching teenage years the Kumari turns human. Even a minor cut or bleeding can render her invalid for worship, and the search for the new goddess has to begin.
Well that’s all for now. I will talk more about Vajrayana sect of Mahayana Buddhism in my next blog.
The selection of the Living Goddess is a complicated tantric ritual. According to the traditions of Vajrayana sect of Mahayana Buddhism, girls in the age-group of 4-7 year who belong to the Sakya community are screened on the basis of their 32 attributes of perfection, including color of eyes, shape of teeth and even voice quality. Her horoscope must also be appropriate. They are made to confront a goddess in the darkened room. The sight of the Buffalo heads scattered around, the demon- like masked dancers, the terrifying noises they encounter scare some of these innocent babies. The real goddess is unlikely to be frightened, so the one who is calm and collected throughout the tests is the only girl who is entitled to sit on the podium for worship as the Living Goddess. After the ceremonies, the spirit of the goddess is said to enter her body. Then she chooses items of clothing and decoration worn by her predecessor and is given the title of Kumari Devi, who is worshipped on all religious occasions. She lives in a place called ‘Kumari Ghar’, at Kathmandu’s Hanumandhoka palace square. It’s a beautifully decorated house where the living goddess performs her daily rituals.
The Kumari’s godhood comes to an end with her first menstruation, because it is believed that on reaching teenage years the Kumari turns human. Even a minor cut or bleeding can render her invalid for worship, and the search for the new goddess has to begin.
Well that’s all for now. I will talk more about Vajrayana sect of Mahayana Buddhism in my next blog.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Celebrating Dashain in Madison
I was just wondering how will I celebrate Dashain festival. Luckily, I got chance to celebrate dashain with my parents and cousin in Madison. My parents came to pick me up on friday and we drove to Madison. We reached around six in the evening to my cousin place in Madison. As I enter the house I could see alot of Nepalese people. I was happy to meet different Nepalese people out there and enjoy the party. And the best thing was the Nepali Food. Wow that was great, to have a delicious Nepali food after along time.Actually I was really missing Nepali food and luckily I got a chance to have one.I met different Nepali people in my cousins place who were settled in Madison. I really felt nice meeting them and knowing them personally.
The next day went to University of Wisconsin-Madison. University was big and nice, and the lake next to it even made it look better.After that we walked around State Street(confused about the name).Well i'm here still in Madison Celebrating Dashain and having great food. Well feel sad to return tomorrow to Eau Claire but that's how life goes.
The next day went to University of Wisconsin-Madison. University was big and nice, and the lake next to it even made it look better.After that we walked around State Street(confused about the name).Well i'm here still in Madison Celebrating Dashain and having great food. Well feel sad to return tomorrow to Eau Claire but that's how life goes.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Dashain Festival
Well this time I’m going to talk about dashain festival because the festival is going on rite now and I miss it a lot. We celebrate this festivel during late September and early October. It is the biggest festival of the year to celebrate for Nepalese people. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival celebrated by Nepalese throughout the country. Dashain lasts for fifteen days and Goddess Durga is worshiped.
Dashain is celebrated because of victory of gods over the demons.Actually the first nine days signify the nine days of battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur. The tenth day is the day when Mahisasur was killed and the last five days symbolise the celebration of the victory with the blessing of the goddess. Dashain is celebrated with great rejoice, and goddess Durga is worshiped. Every home is cleansed and beautifully decorated, painted as an invitation to the goddess, so that she may visit and bless the house with good fortune. During this time the reunion of distant and nearby relatives occur in every house. People buy new cloths, gifts, luxuries and enormous supplies of temple offering for the gods, as well as foodstuffs for the family feasting. Anywhere you go the scent of 'Vijaya Dashami' is found.I do miss the smell. It’s really a very finer smell we get during the period of Dashain. I hope, someday soon I can get the same finer smell of the festival and celebrate the festival with all my relatives back in Nepal.
Dashain is celebrated because of victory of gods over the demons.Actually the first nine days signify the nine days of battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur. The tenth day is the day when Mahisasur was killed and the last five days symbolise the celebration of the victory with the blessing of the goddess. Dashain is celebrated with great rejoice, and goddess Durga is worshiped. Every home is cleansed and beautifully decorated, painted as an invitation to the goddess, so that she may visit and bless the house with good fortune. During this time the reunion of distant and nearby relatives occur in every house. People buy new cloths, gifts, luxuries and enormous supplies of temple offering for the gods, as well as foodstuffs for the family feasting. Anywhere you go the scent of 'Vijaya Dashami' is found.I do miss the smell. It’s really a very finer smell we get during the period of Dashain. I hope, someday soon I can get the same finer smell of the festival and celebrate the festival with all my relatives back in Nepal.
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