{"id":16259,"date":"2021-10-14T07:02:15","date_gmt":"2021-10-14T01:17:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nepallivetoday.com\/?p=16259"},"modified":"2021-10-17T07:59:52","modified_gmt":"2021-10-17T02:14:52","slug":"i-never-felt-alone-in-nepal-during-dashain-though-i-was-away-from-home-and-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nepallivetoday.com\/2021\/10\/14\/i-never-felt-alone-in-nepal-during-dashain-though-i-was-away-from-home-and-family\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I never felt alone in Nepal during Dashain, though I was away from home and family\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Kathmandu<\/strong>: When Stephane MAICON first landed in Kathmandu, it was the Dashain time in Nepal.  The first Dashain for him, therefore, was a completely strange experience.  He first came to Nepal in September 2002, posted at the French Embassy in Kathmandu. \u201cI was not aware that it was festival time.  Within a day of arrival there was Dashain. But I did not know what it was,\u201d he said.  The first indication of Dashain for him was the sight of goats. \u201cOne morning I saw some goats at the front of the embassy gate.  I was wondering what would be happening. Then I learned about the sacrifice. Then we had a puja on my car,\u201d he recalled those first days. \u201cMy first view of Dashain was the view of the outsider.  I was not feeling comfortable with open slaughtering and sacrifice of goats,\u201d MAICON told Nepal Live Today<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon he found himself on this journey of discovering Nepali culture and developing appreciation for the festivals of Nepal. \u201cI was discovering a new culture and new civilization and I was perfectly happy to discover the treasure of culture, civilization and beauty of Nepal,\u201d he said recalling those first months. \u201cI had a very pleasant time, wandering in the valley, discovering the city.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kirtipur, Bhaktapur, Nagarkot, Ichangu Narayan and Changu Narayan all looked so great to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Stephane Maicon, who is currently the Deputy Chief of Mission of the Delegation of European Union to Nepal, misses are the greenery, open space and paddy fields which were in abundance 20 years ago. \u201cThe valley was dotted with paddy fields here and there.\u00a0 Urban settlements and paddy fields looked deeply linked with each other.\u00a0 It was possible to see small temples standing atop greenery or green fields around.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MAICON made regular trips to Kirtipur, Bhaktapur, Basantapur and Nagarkot which, for him, was about meeting and witnessing traditional culture and architecture. \u201cIt was a great time for me to discover the Nepal Mandala,\u201d he said.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Diplomats do not always get the opportunity to go back home during the festivals. So MAICON made it a point to celebrate Dashain in Khokana of Lalitpur, in Basantapur and Bhaktapur. In the process, he learned how the same rituals are performed differently in different places. He was impressed by the Asthamatrika Pooja in Khokana. \u201cIt was outstanding. The pujas and celebrations,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more Stephane MAICON became a part of such celebrations, the more respect he developed for these cultural performances. <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

He saw that in Bhaktapur, Nava Durga was given more importance than Astamatrika. But in terms of masked dances, chanting of hymns and making a procession, the Nava Durga celebration was no different to Astamatrika.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The more Stephane MAICON became a part of such celebrations, the more respect he developed for these cultural performances. He would not miss such events. \u201cMy friend used to call me and say there is a puja and we have to go. I would then get ready early in the morning, drive my car and then either go to Bhaktapur or Lalitpur,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Rituals performed during Astamatrika puja in Patan. (Photo: Stephane MAICON)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For him, his early years of Dashain were the times of great discovery of the whole of Kathmandu culture and its appreciation.  \u201cIt was also about discovering the meanings of these festivals for different communities.  Little by little, I started to celebrate and enjoy all ten days of Dashain.\u201d The way people were so full of energy and excitement impressed him.  \u201cDashain is about how life and culture mingle with each other and how each supports and strengthens the other,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He found Nepal different from what he had imagined. \u201cFor me Nepal was more like Tibet. I expected Kathmandu to look like Lomanthang for instance. I was not aware of these cultural performances. In the first two years, I got familiar with it.\u201d Then he read books by French scholars where he came to know many things about the country and its culture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

MAICON sees the biggest importance of Dashain in helping to strengthen the family bond. \u201cComing home to meet parents from faraway places, getting the kids to their grandparents. I saw this as a wonderful occasion to strengthen the family bond,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The longer he stayed in Nepal, the more he developed a sense of appreciation for Nepal and Nepali culture including Dashain festivals. And he made it a point to celebrate it, rather than going on holidays during the vacation. \u201cMost of my colleagues take this Dashain break as an opportunity to do small trekking, or some trip to Chitwan. But for me it was an opportunity to meet the people, welcome the new culture, and be a part of the celebration,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I never felt alone during Dashain though I was away from home and family.  It was not a feeling of emptiness but it was a feeling of plentiness during Dashain in Nepal.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every year in Dashain, when MAICON finds himself in Kathmandu he makes it a point to participate in and observe these celebrations which not only give him joy but also enriches his understanding of \u201cthis beautiful country.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

For Maicon, another impressive side of Nepali culture is what he calls the intermingling of Buddhism and Hinduism. \u201cWhen you go to Patan and when you visit some courtyards and see people performing cultural rituals you would not know if they are Buddhists or Hindus.  Buddhism and Hinduism seem to be so blended in Nepal.  Maybe 1000 years ago, there was division between these two faiths but you don\u2019t see that division now. This is very good,\u201d MAICON said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He is also aware of the fact that the outsiders should not be judgmental.  \u201cWhen we as outsiders observe other cultures and cultural practices you have to forget your assumptions. And also try to understand why the way others are celebrating is different from your way,\u201d he said. \u201cWhen a man of one cultural background finds himself in a different culture, he finds himself in a dialogue between two cultures and he has an opportunity to understand a lot from this dialogue,\u201d MAICON made a philosophical statement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dashain rituals at Pachali Bhairav. (Photo: Stephane MAICON)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There are Dashain memories which MAICON fondly cherishes. The procession of Nawa Durga in Bhaktapur is one of them. \u201cThere they danced and they drank alcohol to get more Shakti. I miss this procession,\u201d he said.  Then he also remembers participating in a ritual meal. \u201cI sat in the middle of the street and a gentleman brought me a piece of paper and spread it in front of me. Then they put food on it where I had to eat from.\u201d This was a strange experience for him. \u201cThey kept adding food and you had to say \u2018pugyo pugyo.\u2019  I ate like everybody else ate.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWhen a man of one cultural background finds himself in a different culture, he finds himself in a dialogue between two cultures and he has an opportunity to understand a lot from this dialogue.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

This ceremony was considered a little bit of taboo and it was not possible to take photographs. \u201cI actually tried to take photos for three years consecutively but every time, the camera was not working.  Probably, Durga was not allowing me to trespass the border,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another fond memory is about the procession in Khokana. For him, being in procession itself was a joy. \u201cYou could see Ganesh Himal. The ritual dances and singing. You have dancers and they push you up so that you remain in the air for a little bit.  I had that experience,\u201d he said, recalling the excitement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every year in Dashain, when MAICON finds himself in Kathmandu he makes it a point to participate in and observe these celebrations which not only give him joy but also enriches his understanding of \u201cthis beautiful country.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photos: Stephane MAICON<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Kathmandu: When Stephane MAICON first landed in Kathmandu, it was the Dashain time in Nepal.  The first Dashain for him, therefore, was a completely strange experience.  He first came to Nepal in September 2002, posted at the French Embassy in Kathmandu. \u201cI was not aware that it was festival time.  Within a day of arrival […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":16273,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17,12,15],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16259","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-expats-speak","category-feature","category-top-stories"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.nepallivetoday.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Stephane-Maicon-main.jpg?fit=1280%2C853&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pcWLTd-4ef","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nepallivetoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16259","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nepallivetoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nepallivetoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nepallivetoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nepallivetoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16259"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.nepallivetoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16259\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nepallivetoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16273"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nepallivetoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16259"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nepallivetoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16259"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nepallivetoday.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16259"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}