During a recent visit to Kathmandu, I took my friend, Jane, to Pashupatinath Temple. Considered by Hindus to be one of the holiest sites in Nepal, Pashupainath is the location of the burning ghats where members of the Nepal Royal family were historically cremated and also one of seven UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the … Read more
Hindu worshiper sacrifices a chicken at the Pachali Bhairab Temple on the Bagmati River in Kathmandu. Nepal is one of the few parts of the world where animal sacrifice is still practiced. Though in its purest form it is intended to relieve Hindus from the cycle of death and rebirth, animal sacrifice is more often … Read more
Trash blows around the lanes as vendors pack up and head home in late afternoon at the Kalimati Fruit and Vegetable Market in Kathmandu. Empty plastic milk crates are stacked high, awaiting incoming goods that arrive during the night. The following morning, the process will begin anew, with wholesalers arriving before dawn in order to … Read more
Five years ago my Yoga guru invited me to celebrate the Brother-Sister Tika Ceremony with his family during the Hindu holiday of Tihar in Nepal. Though I didn’t know it until the end of that day, accepting his invitation meant that I was officially “adopted” by the family. In many ways, this cemented my relationship … Read more
Shop owner strings a custom necklace in the Pote Bazaar (bead market) area of Indra Chowk in Kathmandu, Nepal. Hindu women, especially those of the Brahmin and Chhetri caste, receive a string of these beads at their wedding, which they wear for the rest of their lives as a symbol of their marriage. Though the … Read more
