New buzzwords for getting people to get along and write this constitution - HPM. (Though the reality being when the document is written, and decisions about how to split up the country are made, 601 members of the constituent assembly will be out of jobs. And I thought these were volunteer positions!) Seems HPM is something UNMIN thought up in May.
Here's an commentary on the HPM and the opinions about it: Important political milestone for Nepal or strategic political conspiracy? At least the stalemate is over - but then again, HPM might just be another acronym for "Fillabuster."
Republica
Nepal News
Himalayan Times
Showing posts with label Republica. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Republica. Show all posts
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Thursday, December 3, 2009
The Yam between Two Boulders
Good article from Republica about how Nepal needs to be careful moving forward politically.
Unskillfully playing both sides with two giants, Nepal is. Internal turmoil, and grandiose ideas about trust and relations with the giants will do Nepal, and her Maoists, no good.
Unskillfully playing both sides with two giants, Nepal is. Internal turmoil, and grandiose ideas about trust and relations with the giants will do Nepal, and her Maoists, no good.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Death of Innocents?
The Festival of Gadhimai happens every five years here in Kathmandu. It's happening today, this morning, actually. Thousands of animals are sacrificed to the Hindu god Gadhimai many in thanks for emergence from difficult times. Your son was sick for a long time, you prayed a lot at the temple for him to get better - making wishes that if he gets better, you'll make a sacrifice to the goddess. Now, he's just gotten better, you offer the goddess the blood of a waterbuffalo. You were drowning in debt, and prayed a lot at the temple for good fortune to smile upon you, a family member helps you out, you offer a chicken to Gadhimai in thanks for her help with your problem. This article talks about the fury and violence with which the animals are killed, and how one killer thinks about the offerings.
There's a vegetarian version of this festival called "Chhath" which happens once a year - images here. The setting sun and the rising sun are greeted with offerings of coconuts, fruit, tikka, incense, and fire. The coconut is the offering that simulates the act of killing - the coconut is smashed and the milk represents blood offered to the god/goddess. Then, the coconut meat is given back to the offerer as prashad (or blessing from the god).
As we see with Hinduism, it's not what you believe, but what you do that is important to the pantheon of unlimitless gods and goddesses. Animal sacrifice is particularly common to godesses like Kali and Durga, powerful females who, it may seem have an insatiable bloodlust (vampires??), but maybe a more subtle explanation could be that when you take the life of another being in the name of these goddesses, you really mean it.
Animal rights activists in other countries are pissed. This year, the festival has drawn a lot of attention, especially by Ram Bahadur Bomjon, who it is rumored wanted to stop the sacrifices.
None of the program staff offered up sacrifices this year. They and their families are all doing just fine. In fact, one of the staff told me that he has never made such a promise to the goddess (That he will sacrifice the life of another being if he could just _______ (fill in the blank)), though he did say that his aunt and uncle had offered many times for his success or his health.
There's a vegetarian version of this festival called "Chhath" which happens once a year - images here. The setting sun and the rising sun are greeted with offerings of coconuts, fruit, tikka, incense, and fire. The coconut is the offering that simulates the act of killing - the coconut is smashed and the milk represents blood offered to the god/goddess. Then, the coconut meat is given back to the offerer as prashad (or blessing from the god).
As we see with Hinduism, it's not what you believe, but what you do that is important to the pantheon of unlimitless gods and goddesses. Animal sacrifice is particularly common to godesses like Kali and Durga, powerful females who, it may seem have an insatiable bloodlust (vampires??), but maybe a more subtle explanation could be that when you take the life of another being in the name of these goddesses, you really mean it.
Animal rights activists in other countries are pissed. This year, the festival has drawn a lot of attention, especially by Ram Bahadur Bomjon, who it is rumored wanted to stop the sacrifices.
None of the program staff offered up sacrifices this year. They and their families are all doing just fine. In fact, one of the staff told me that he has never made such a promise to the goddess (That he will sacrifice the life of another being if he could just _______ (fill in the blank)), though he did say that his aunt and uncle had offered many times for his success or his health.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
