Today is not much different than any other day for the world.. same morning, same sun rise and may be same sun set ..

But, for we Nepalese, today is different, today is very special day and today is the day which we were waiting from long time. This type of historic day comes only once in the centuries or only once in the life of the nation.

Today, 28 May, Nepal is going to declare republican formally by demolishing nearly 240 years old kingship and their direct/indirect rule. Now on, Nepal will be ruled by it's own citizen who will be elected by citizen itself.

Happy Republican Day!!

Long Live Democracy!

Long Live Republican!!

Long Live NEPAL!!!

In Nepal, people worship crows and cows, dogs and snakes, vehicles and tools.... isn't it strange? In hindu religion, there are 33 millions of god and goddess... one will wonder, how they can remember names. But it is not strange for those who knows Nepal has more festival days than days in calender. Well, we just finished celebrte biggest festival Dashain and another important festival Tihar is already knocking at a door.

After 15 days of Dashain, the biggest festival of Nepal, 2nd biggest festival is biginning from coming Wednesday which is know as Tihar or also known as Dipawali. It is regarded as a festival of lights. It is celebrated for five days.

On the first day, we worship crow ("kaag" in nepali and the day is known as kaag tihar). Crow is regarded as messenger (not yahoo messenger!!) between earth and heaven. people offer meal to crow that day. Not only on Tihar, crow are worshiped during ancestor's memorial days as well.

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Second day we worship dogs. Dogs are regarded as gate keeper of Yamaraj who is god of death.

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On the third day, we worship cow, which is regarded as goddes Laxmi, the god of wealth. In the evening, we worship photo or idol of goddess Laxmi. In the evening, girls or ladies play Bhaili in groups and visit home to home, singing and dancing, giving best wishes to all then house owner give them special food, fruits and money. These group of girls and there wishes are regarded as sign of good luck.

The forth day is Goverdan pooja, which means cow dung worship. Cow dung is also symbol of purity and wealth. In Newar community (native resident of Kathmandu valley, including me), we worship ourself. This day is also New Year Day of our calender which is known as Nepal Sambat. Nepal Sambat is not used officially but it is a Nepal's own calender abd we are trying to replace existing one with this Nepal Sambat.

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Same like girls play Bhailo on Laxmi pooja day, boys play Deusi on forth day. But now a days, both boys and girls play together. Now a days, in citie areas, the culture has deformed and people play deusi bhailo as money making day. People in big groups (some political parties as well) go to big hotels to play deusi and demand huge money or donations. But all are not bad... some groups play deusi-bhailo, collect money and use in good work like social welfare. Anyway, this tradition is still well preserved as it is much fun to young people.

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Finally, fifth day is the Bhia pooja day or Bhai Tika day (tika means red mark on forehead). This day, sisters worship their brothers. According to story, Yamaraj god of death coming to earth to receive one boy who have to die that day, but his sister requisted Yamaraj not to take her brother that day. She made some trics and made Yamaraj to wait until Bhai tika day. Yamaraj impressed by his sister's love, so he grant a life to her brother (this story may be little bit different as I forgot exactly but main theme is same)

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Mha pooja (self worship) and Bhai tika is one of very important event in our newa culture. If somebody doesn't have their own sister or brother, they make other people as their brother or sister and receive tika from them. That brother-sister relationship remains for whole life. At center of Kathmandu, there is one temple of lord Shiva which open only one day, on Bhai tika, in a year. Those who don't have brother or sister or those whose sister or brother die alread, visit that god and worship as his her brother or sister.

In my case, I have my own sister but sadly, from last 10 years, I have not been to home during this festival time. I really missed this event and miss her. However, on this bhai tika day, we chat for some time on phone and wishes each other. At home, she will make manadala in my name and do worship as I am there and keep all things until I come back home. Later when I will visit home during December, I will receive tika and flowers.

Hopefully, next year i will be able to visit home this time.

Here is one video clip from youtube, people playing Deusi-Bhailo. Quite long (10 min) but one can find interesting as it show many aspects of this festival including sister worshiping brother.

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(The text in boxes are copied from different website. Photos are also from different websites)

Day before yesterday, I read news about on going Gimhae Buncheong Ceramics Festival (Oct.30-Nov.4, 2007) at Gimhae in Korean news website.

With news, there was a photo of one ceramic pot which attract me (Photo.1). Few years back, I got chance to visit similar ceramic pot exhibition in Thailand. Pots were beautiful and quite big too. At one spot, they kept one big sized pot which they said biggest in Thailand or Asia or SE Asia...something like that which I could not understand and also don't remember now. This picture attract me as it looks quite big however, looks not so artistic.

Today, I saw another picture from same festival which they believe (?) LARGEST in the world, which looks quite artistic (Photo. 2), but doubtful about being largest in the world, even compare to photo 1, it doesn't look bigger.

What do you think, which one is bigger? Do you know any bigger ceramic pot than this?

Which one is bigger?

Photo. 1: Gimhae Buncheong Ceramics Festival Visitors flock to the Gimhae Buncheong Ceramics Festival (Oct.30-Nov.4) in Gimhae, Gyeongsangnam-do (province) on Oct. 31. Buncheong is a style developed at the tail end of the Goryeo Dynasty (918∼1392) that was considered much more fluid and unrestrained, compared to the reserved shapes of green celadons. Gimhae Buncheongsagi(ceramic wares) is appreciated for preserving the typical beauty of Korea. Date: October 31, 2007 (Photo and caption: Korea.net)

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Photo. 2: World's largest pot An artist gives a final touch to a ceramic pot believed to be the largest in the world at the Ceremics Festival in Gimhae, South Gyeongsang Province on Nov. 2. The festival will run until Nov. 4. Date: November 02, 2007 (Photo and caption: Korea.net)