Mala, symbol of luck, happiness and respect

Streets are full of marigold garlands on sale at the Divali eve

Flowers in Hinduism are symbol of creation and regeneration. Perhaps that is why they are the most common decoration material in India and Nepal. And the most popular form of the floral decorations is the garland, or flower necklace, called mala in Nepal and the northern India, and malai in the southern India. During the festival season houses are decorated with flower garlands, they are offered to a temple deity, they are presented to honorary guests as a sign of respect. During the wedding ceremony both bride and groom wear them as good-luck symbols. After a theatrical performance, appreciation to an actor, dancer or musician is expressed by the bestowal of a flower garland.

Shikar, the big game hunting in Nepal

Recently I read an article about hunting in Nepal in the past. Nepal has always been famous for shikar – big game hunting. It was interesting to read about it in details.

During the British rule in India viceroys and governors at the invitation of the Rana Prime Ministers would often hunt in Nepal. Leopards, tigers, rhinos, wild boars, crocodiles would become their bags. Bird shooting was also very popular.
In the past the ring method was used for hunting tigers, leopards and rhino. Sometimes as many as 600 elephants were required to organize the big “royal” shoot.
The first night of the hunt buffalo calves were staked out as bait. The following morning trackers locate any buffalo kills and track the tiger to his resting place. Then they make a large circle of a quarter to a half mile diameter marking out the circumference with chipped stems and grass knots.
Once the ring was cut then the elephants were sent for. The elephants were divided into two groups which proceeded right and left along the perimeter of the circle. The rear elephants gradually drop out to take their positions at regular intervals and finally the two lead elephants meet.
Now the whole circle of elephants moves inward. The mahouts mounted on the elephants shout and whistle to drive the tiger towards the center. The circle becomes smaller and smaller until the elephants are almost touching each other.

Once the ring is formed a winding sheet of white linen is spread around the circle. This ring of cloth is by itself sufficient to keep the tiger within the circle. Now the elephants are freed to ring another tiger. Only a few are left.
Once the ring was secure the message was sent back to camp and the VIPs arrived in howdahs on elephant back. Now the tigers were driven by the beater elephants toward an opening in the ring and shot by the hunters from the howdahs.

In 1875 the Prince of Wales bagged 27 tigers, 1 leopard and several wild boars.
In 1911 King George bagged 39 tigers, 18 rhinos and 4 sloth bears. The record bag for one day was 10 tigers, 1 rhino and 1 bear.
When Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip of the UK visited Nepal in 1961 a royal hunt was laid out and some 400 elephants were gathered for the occasion. Although the Queen and Prince did not actively take part in the shoot Lord Hume and Admiral Bonham Carter bagged a rhino and tiger respectively.

Of course big game hunting has taken its toll of Nepal’s wildlife. No less than 35 species of mammals are endangered and 15 big game species face possible extinction. Already the pygmy hog and wild yak have disappeared. The tiger has been reduced to less than a few hundred in number.
I fail to understand this thirst for killing animals. Seems cruel and senseless for me.

The photos are from the archive of the Australian National University

www.dspace.anu.edu.au There are many other photos as well as some information about 1911 King George's hunting in Nepal

Source: “Wildlife in Nepal” by Rishikesh Shaha, Richard M. Mitchell

Cow worship in Hinduism

I believe everyone knows that cow in Hinduism is a sacred animal. For ages cow has been important in the lives of the Indians. They use milk as food, cow-dung as fuel and, if mixed with clay, for plastering huts. Cows play a role of a dowry for daughters and a bribe for Brahmans for a place in paradise. Another reason why the cow is considered sacred is based on the belief that Hindus can reach heaven only after crossing a mythological river, and to cross this river is possible only by holding the tail of the cow.

Amazing landscapes of Upper Mustang, Nepal

photo courtesy  Bousure

Upper Mustang is one of the few places in the world that still has retained its unique and unspoiled nature. The sceneries of this region of Nepal are one of the most amazing on Earth. Strong winds that blow though the Kali Gandaki gorge situated between the Annapurna and Dhaulagiri mountains have through the ages created a dry, desert landscape of eroded sandstone pillars and discontinuous moraine terraces in earthen reds, yellows and brown that looks more like mars- or moonscape.

Sacred Buddhist sites of Nepal

Nepal is a small country but on there are four important Buddhist sites on its territory. First of all, the Buddha himself was born here. The place is called Lumbini and it is situated 250 km from the capital. There are many monasteries, temples and stupas in Lumbini built by Buddhists from different countries.
Lumbini was "lost" for centuries. Only in 1895 a massive stone pillar was discovered which now is believed to have been erected by the Indian Emperor Ashoka in 250 BC. There is an inscription on the pillar in Sanskrit “Buddha Sakyamuni, the blessed one was born here".

Kids dressed as Hindu deities

Children dressed as Krishna and Radha

In India and neighbouring Hindu countries there is tradition to dress small children as deities. Usually it happens during big festivals. Most often depicted gods and goddesses are Shiva and Parvati, Krishna and Radha, Vishnu and Hanuman. Here are a few photographs of kids dressed up for different festivals in Nepal.

Snake worship in Hinduism

Serpent sculpture in Sankhu, Nepal

Snake is an object of worship in different forms among the Hindus. It ranks sacred, second only to the cow. Snakes called Nagas are usually represented as gigantic cobras with several hoods, or with a human head and serpent body. In almost all of southern India the serpent is worshiped in its original form either through images representing serpents or actually as live serpents residing in holes within the shrines or outdoor anthills where they are supposed to live.

Tortures at the temple of a benevolent god

There is a temple in Patan, Nepal, with difficult-to-pronounce name Rato Machhendranath. The temple is dedicated to Machhendra, the god of rain and harvest who for unknown to me reason happened to have a red skin ("Rato" meaning "red"). Interestingly, this Hindu Machhendra revered by Buddhists as Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara so the temple looks like Hindu-Buddhist - with many-armed demons on the friezes of the temple and with Buddhist rotating prayer drums around the perimeter of the building.
The temple is a typical example of Nepalese architecture, it is three-storied pagoda. It was built back in 1673.

Dolls with soul: handmade ethnic Nepali beauties

I am charmed by these handmade clay dolls made by a Nepali doll artist Padmashree Shrestha. Her dolls represent women and men from different ethnic groups of Nepal with detailed precision in costumes and jewelry. She uses ceramic clay, cotton, foam, wire, artificial hair and fabrics to create her dolls.
"I feel my dolls have soul. I feel that each and every doll is whispering to me "I would like be prettier and smarter than the previous one" - the artist says. Look at the face expressions of these dolls: indeed they look alive.

Tibetan prayer flags

Player flags at Boudhanath, Kathamdnu, Nepal

What I like about Tibetan Buddhist sacred sites is that there are always numerous colourful flags flowing in the wind there. They brighten the place and kind of create a cheerful mood. But these flags are not for decoration there or for creating a mood. These are prayer flags and their main purpose is to spread their special message in all directions, with the help of the wind that blows over them day and night.