Category Archives: Nepali Culture

Another trip planned :)

Posted on January 21, 2014 | 28 comments

I have great news; I am going to Kathmandu again. And yes there is a reason we are going, yet another celebration. My brother in law is getting married. I will be there in a months’ time and it will be a great time to see my parents and in law again. It has been a year since we are back from our last trip but I can’t wait to go again.

Nepal (12)

Our holiday has been approved at work and we have booked our tickets so it is all set, counting down the days now.

I have even started my shopping for gifts. Amazingly, we say, we will never do a big shopping for gifts each time we return from Nepal. But each time before we go there, we make a list of gifts. This time too the list is long with names of people we want to buy for but I am happy to buy as their smile is worth the trouble we go through. Looks like for the next few weekends that is all we will be going.

In addition, I will be buying things for my future SIL. I already bought things like perfumes, make-up and other items but still there are a few other things still on the list.

I have never met my soon to be SIL but we have chatted a few time on Facebook. She seems to be nice girl and I am sure she will make my BIL very happy.

Wedding always excites me and this time it is at home so it will a be really fun filled event  with lots of foods, music, dances, ritual and people. I will definitely report on everything.

As usual every time I plan to go to Nepal I have a long list of things to do and buy and I have never manged to cross off everything. I am hoping this time I will be able to do a lot.

I really want to buy some specific decoration items for our home here so every day I can see them and admire them. I am looking for one big painting (I am not very sure but still want to try before forking out money here) and some traditional masks.

I am also thinking I should look for some traditional cushions .

As usual, I need to buy lehengas and saris for the wedding and accessories to go with them. I am sure until the wedding is over, we will be extremely busy but I have a few weeks after the wedding when I can to do things that I like.

The top one is trekking somewhere in Nepal. I am not even sure that it will be possible, as trekking requires at least a week but I will try my best. My list has grown longer day by day so hope to tick off most of it while I am there.

Anyway looking forward to enjoying the company of my family and friends and be spoiled soon. Hope I might even meet a few of my blogging buddies there like last time.

Take care everyone ,

M from nepaliaustralian

XOXO

28 Comments

Posted in Marriage, Nepali Culture, Nepali food, Newari Culture, Newari Food, Travel, Wedding

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Nepal’s ex-goddesses, Kumaris, to receive monthly allowance

Posted on January 17, 2014 | 12 comments

I talked about Kumari, the living Goddess of Nepal here before.

Just sharing the recent news about the Kumari from couriermail here.

NEPAL’S former Kumaris, girls worshipped as living goddesses in a centuries-old tradition, are to be awarded a pension to help them readjust to normal life.

Ten former Kumaris will receive the monthly allowance of 10,000 Nepalese rupees ($111) from July for the next 10 years, Kathmandu Metropolitan City chief executive officer Laxman Aryal said.

“Although most of the Kumaris come from well-to-do families, they miss a vital period of their lives and often lag behind in our increasingly competitive society,” Mr Aryal said.

The council made the decision this week as part of efforts to help the girls who are worshipped as goddesses, but lose their special status once they reach puberty.

The tradition has continued despite the end of the Shah monarchy in 2008.

The living goddess lives in a palace-temple in ancient Kathmandu’s Durbar Square and is a major attraction for foreign tourists.

In 2008, Nepal’s Supreme Court ruled the living goddess should be educated and they are now taught inside the palace where they live and are allowed to sit their exams there.

I am glad that at least there is some progress in this matter because I think they deserve it and more for their sacrifice and their understanding during the years they are Kumari.

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Posted in Nepal, Nepali Culture

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Celebrating Tihar

Posted on November 6, 2013 | 6 comments

Like every year, we celebrated Tihar this year as well. For the details of the festival, please click here. I am sharing some of the photos from the festival.

Kaag / Kag (crow) Puja

Kaag puja (2)Kaag puja (1)

Kukur (dog) Puja

kukur puja (2) kukur puja (1)

Laxmi Puja and Gai (cow) Puja

laxmi puja (9)laxmi puja (7) laxmi puja (1) laxmi puja (3) laxmi puja (4) laxmi puja (5) laxmi puja (6) laxmi puja (8)

Mha Puja and Nepal Sambat

mha puja (2) mha puja (5)mha puja (4) mha puja (3) mha puja (6) mha puja (7) mha puja (1)

Bhai Tika

IMG_3217 IMG_3237 IMG_3259 IMG_3265 IMG_3269 IMG_3361 IMG_3390

This year, I have one more person to put tika on and that is my little nephew. It was so much fun and amazingly he even managed to sit still on his father’s lap in front of the mandap for the whole puja.

IMG_3246

Hope all of you had great time celebrating the festival.

tihar

P.S: Do not forget to nominate  your favorite blog .

Nominations open for NEPALIAUSTRALIAN’s Blog Award 2013

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* * *

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Posted in Celebrations, Kathmandu, Nepal, Nepali Culture, Nepali Festivals, Newari Culture, Newari Food

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Sharwan Sankranti

Posted on July 18, 2013 | 5 comments

Shrawan is the fourth month in the Nepali Hindu calendar. The word Sankranti means transmigration of the Sun from one Rashi (zodiac in Nepali astrology) to another and is also the beginning of the Nepali months. The day when the sun begins to move southwards is called Shrawan Sankranti.

My Facebook wall is painted with my friends’ photos with mehendi (henna ) and green and yellow chura (bangles) on their hands from the 1st of the Sharwan (17 July).

Shrawan month is considered as the holiest month of the year for Hindus and each Somvar (Monday) of this month known as Shrawan Somvar is a special day in Shiva temples. For women this month is all about Mehendi (henna tattoos) and green/yellow chura.

According to a legend, Sanat Kumar asked lord Shiva why Shravan Monday is his favourite day. So lord Shiva Mahadev told him that Sati devi did Sankalpa that to get Mahadev as husband in every birth before her spirit left her body in her father’s house with the power of Yoga. In another of her births, Sati devi took birth in Himachal as Parvathi as the daughter of Queen Menka. Parvati fasted the whole month of Shravan and pleased Mahadev and so was married to him. Due to these reasons it is regarded as the main month for worshiping Lord Mahadev.

During this month Hindu women wear red attire with green and yellow bangles, pray for the long and prosperous life for their husbands. For married women, along with green/yellow glass bangles on their wrists, they also wear strings of green pote (glass beads) around their necks. It is believed that green glass bangles are worn for fulfilling one’s desires and wishing a happy and prosperous life to families.

On the other hand, unmarried girls of marriageable age also wear bangles in hopes of getting a handsome guy, and for those who already have boyfriends, making them husbands.

In addition, women perform rituals for Lord Shiva, the god of destruction, at the Pashupati temple and other Shiva temples like in Makhan, Hanuman Dhoka in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal.

Another important facet of Sharwan month is “Bol Bam” pilgrimage. Thousands of devotees visit the Bol Bam Dham, a pilgrimage to offer their worship to Lord Shiva. The pilgrims shout ‘Bol Bam’ or ‘Bol Bam’ meaning ‘Say Shiva’ during the pilgrimage. The devotees run or walk barefooted for kilometers to reach the Pashupatinath Temple for their good health, wealth and happiness.

It looks like everyone is excited to follow the tradition, both young and old, who paint their hands and wear green/yellow chura. I am so glad that everyone is excited on this month and is helping save the tradition and culture.

Happy Sharwan Sankranti !!!

Take care everyone!

XOXO

M from nepaliaustralian

You may also like:

*Bhai Tika : Tihar *Vijaya Dashami : Dashain *Indra Jatra

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Posted in Kathmandu, Nepal, Nepali Culture, Nepali Festivals

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Apungo and halwa

Posted on July 15, 2013 | 13 comments

Last week I had puja at home so I needed to learn how to make apungo and halwa for puja. I had never tried to make it before but I had no choice but to learn this time around. So here I am sharing the recipe. It turned out really well and I was surprised how easy it was.

Ingredients

  • 1 cup ghee (clarified butter)
  • 3 cups plain flour
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 cup water

Steps

  1. Take a thick pan and pour ¾ cup ghee in the pan.
  2. halwa (2)When ghee starts to melt, add plain flour and fry  it stirring continuously. Make sure, the flour doesn’t turn brown.
  3. halwa (3)After a while when the flour is cooked, it should smell really good.
  4. halwa (4)Once it is cooked, take out half of the fried flour and set it aside on a plate.
  5. halwa (5)Add 2 table spoons of sugar to the plate and mix well.
  6. Apungo is now ready.
  7. With the remaining flour, fry it some more until it is light brown in colour.
  8. halwa (6)Add the rest of the sugar and then add the water and keep stirring.
  9. halwa (7)When the water and flour is mixed well and ghee starts showing on the top, add the rest of the ghee and Halwa is now ready too.
  10. halwa (8) halwa (9)If you are making halwa only skip step 5, 6, and 7.

halwa (11)

 Enjoy!!!

You may also like:

*Seviya kheer (vermicelli kheer) *Kheer(Rice pudding) *Gundruk Aloo Bhatmas Curry

13 Comments

Posted in Foodie, Nepal, Nepali Culture, Nepali Festivals, Nepali food, Newari Culture, Newari Food, Recipe

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