Happy 4th of Jul… What the HECK!!!!

Posted on June 28, 2014 by rfljenksy

Initially we celebrated the 4th of July back in February. I know.. I know.. I really didn’t understand what was going on because.. well.. it was February. I had NEVER heard of celebrating our nation’s holiday five months ahead of time. Apparently there were good reasons for it. Though I can’t necessarily be convinced.

In essence, we celebrate the 4th of July to honor the adoption of the declaration of independence. We claimed independence from Britain on July 4, 1776 and lo and behold Democracy was born. We take this time to celebrate that event by eating hotdogs and hamburgers with our family and friends or even just groups of random people. There are usually fireworks, popcorn, and children running wild. So in honor of this great tradition, we commenced celebrating our 2nd fourth of July for the year.

It started out so normal….

The singing of our national anthem and the raising of our flag…

Next came the food.. apparently not delicious but still fairly normal..

Is that a.. piece of chicken or pork or ???

Oh and who doesn’t like a little popcorn, ice cream and ..uh.. tarot reading..

Yes, there were kids.. not necessarily running amok.. but there were kids.. docile kids standing in a line.. waiting to have their faces painted. A huge contrast to my own childhood.

There were ponies, face painting, nail art and henna tattoos, pottery making and cotton candies.. yeah you heard me, more than just one..

more than one

Oooohhh yeah.. carnival rides.. that’ll be fun..

Looks good

and then…

very sad girl who only wanted a push..

well..

Then it got a little weird.. strange there wasn’t a line..

Apparently "sitting in a chair with a man on a ladder ready to pour a bucket of water on your head was a little too long for the sign"

Apparently “sit in a chair with a man on a ladder ready to pour a bucket of water on your head” was a little too long for the sign”

And then just plain frightening.. There was a clown.. JUST ONE!!!! Maybe if there had been a couple of them.. or they were dancing in a line or juggling.. maybe it wouldn’t have been so frightening.. OHHH SOOOO VERY FRIGHTENING.. I know of at least one baby who cried and two grown boys who were terrified. They tried to act like they weren’t but they were. Every where I looked there he was// or she was// or it was!!!!! In retrospect.. I suppose I WAS only looking at the cotton candies.. I mean.. I really wanted some but that clown wouldn’t leave.. I eventually had a child bring me one.

Lucky for me.. right before I left.. I was able to see something to remember exactly why I was there..

Happy 4th everyone!!

In response to the daily wordpress challenge I now present to you other posts showing contrasts that I enjoyed:

It’s Not All Dust and Dirt…

Posted on November 5, 2013 by rfljenksy

It dawned on me the other day that nearly all of the photos I have been showing have been covered in dirt and dust and I’m probably painting a very grimy picture of Kathmandu. In all honesty, dirt and dust is just about all I’ve seen since I’ve been here.

Open market – everywhere

Cheapest form of transport and delivery – just takes awhile

Loved this building in black and white..still very dusty

And yet again.. a cow

HOWEVER, this past weekend I went up to a great little cottage in Shivapuri which is only about a 20-30 minute escape from the dust of the city. Nepal is now in the season of celebration and blessings are given for everything. Dogs were blessed on one day, cows on another, men, women, and children on others. It’s really amazing to be in an area where virtually EVERYTHING and everyone is given a special blessed day. People celebrate here like they do everywhere, eating and drinking and enjoying each other’s company. Bamboo swings set up throughout the city, dancers and musicians young and old celebrate this time of year.

dancing festival in the city

food and fun

bon dires

Blessed cow

It’s a delicate balance of happiness and celebrating life as it is handed to you mixed with extreme poverty and a daily standard of living that encompasses very hard work and sometimes barely scraping by.

candles and decorations both inside and outside of houses

Everyone is a part of the fun

garland and paint between the eyes for blessings

Had just been blessed the day before

Red powder paint on forehead and garland around the neck

Electric candle with Kathmandu in background

Bamboo Swing

bamboo swings set up all over Kathmandu.

Lit up like Elvis

Young musicians celebrating.

Along with the the standard holiday festivities I was able to fit in some hiking and just a beautiful relaxing 2 days in a very cool location.

My room, very peaceful

baby lamb

Monestary

Sun glistening off of the wheat

Stone walls

inside the monastery

Peacefully stay out

Wall lights

dog watcher

Top of the hill

everything is a little over the top

decorative walls

goats on slanted hill

Nepali flags everywhere

Laxmi Puja at Shivapuri Heights Cottage

The evening of November 3rd is a very special evening in Kathmandu with the celebration of Laxmi Puja – part of the Tihar Festival also known as the Festival of Lights. The Shivapuri Heights Cottage provides a great venue to witness the festival and is also the perfect vantage point to view the spectacular display of lights down in the Kathmandu Valley.

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Tihar, the Festival of Lights, is one of the most dazzling of all Hindu festivals. During the festival all the houses in the city and villages are decorated with lit oil lamps. Thus, during the night the entire village or city looks like a sparkling diamond. This festival is celebrated in five days starting from the thirteenth day of the waning moon in October.

Trees Dancing for you – “बडा दशैंको शुभकामना !”

Posted on October 12, 2013 by rfljenksy

Look Outside…
It’s so pleasant!
Sun Smiling For you…
Trees Dancing for you…
Birds singing for you…
Because I requested them All to wish You. HAPPY DASHAIN

Well, It is the only quote I could find and understand for this 15 day festival in Nepal called Dashain. Dashain (Nepali: दशैं) Dashain is celebrated for approximately 15 days and involves prayers (pujas), food offerings, holy bathing, blessings through coconut oil and the sacrifice of thousands of animals including several hundred thousand goats, chickens, buffaloes, ducks and pigeons by almost every Hindu household in order to appease the goddess and hope it will bring good luck and festivity.

There is a movement towards ending the sacrifice of animals for this festival and the numbers have actually dropped over the past few years. However, it is a cultural event that still continues and I was able to attend one such happening at the start of this festival. This particular sacrifice was a puja for automobiles and safe driving.

It was an interesting experience. I was not bothered so much by the slaughter of the goats because after the puja the goats were used to actually feed families. Nothing went to waste and people felt safer driving.

Along with the puja I was able to walk through the city which was nearly empty according to the locals. Apparently during the festival most people travel back to their local villages to visit their families. At the time I walked through the city over 2 million people had already headed home. I am including some photos from the day from sacrifices to parades I hope you enjoy.

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