Cooking, Eating and a Living Goddess

I enjoy a lovely start to the first day of the group tour - breakfast in the hotel with a morning paper.

Articles in the paper reflect themes our countries share - election security, climate change and the importance of truth in media.

This one made me think of the college-scandal, and 

on my local level the Manatee County School Superintendent 

who ordered school district employees to improperly record student withdrawals between 2014 and 2016, 

which inflated the county’s high school graduation rate. 

(No surprise in this red of red counties - 

she is still in her position and offered plenty of excuses.)

First stop on tour today - the Seven Women Center in Kathmandu. 

From their website ...

This organization is not a Together Women Rise grantee organization which is the focus of our tour, but this center does support local women.

We are welcomed by staff in the warmest of ways - owe each receive a tika  and marigold petals in our hair.  The tika is a blessing for good fortune and the marigolds, I just can't recall. 

Side note: I am trying really hard to pay attention and learn as much as possible but I am not taking notes. 

Another side note: Now that I am in a group I am less good at paying attention 😂.  My Type-A personality does not do well being a passive group member so I tend to check out a lot more.  I promise I am not misbehaving (though I would be if you were here, Darlene 😎.)

Then we are provided a basic introduction to the center in the room. One of the women was sewing.

We are supporting the center by attending a cooking class, and buying goodies in their shop that sells products what they produce.

The women sew pouches, tote bags and aprons to sell in the shop.

We head to the kitchen and find a gorgeous display of vegetable and ingredients for our class.

A "what is sure to be delicious" menu: Dal Bhat, of course, AND Momo - those delectable dumplings- and THE BEST rice pudding I have ever had.  (Sorry, Mom, and to Robert, my brother, I can't wait to make this for you because I know how much you love rice pudding.)

The fragrance of the rice pudding bubbling on the stove was heavenly.

It might not look like much but let me tell you - the Rice Pudding was so good I wanted to take the pot and have it all to myself.  😋

My name in Nepali.

I am not sure what they call it but these are like a mortal and pestal.  

I used something similar when I made the "pickles" 

during my cooking class with the Nepali family.

Super nice group members from Iowa - Krystal and Jen.  

They were cracking up about our Iowa State Fair trip this past summer.

The young woman who is also a college student who works at the center.  She directed the entire kitchen operation and it was amazing how well she coordinated all of the food prep and cooking.

My new friend, Vicky from Colorado.  

We have enjoyed breakfast together a few times during the trip. 

Making the Momo filling.

One of the workers helping us prepare.

Another worker making the "pickles," 

which as you can see our nothing like what we call pickles.

Another new friend, Deborah, proudly displaying our Momos getting ready to be steamed.

I was absolutely horrible trying to fill and form the dumplings. 

I don't think any of my "masterpieces" are in this shot. 😆😂

Delicious Momos steaming away

We all enjoy lunch and then it's off to Kathmandu Durbar Square. (There is a Durbar Square in several towns that is why you name it with the city included.)

The most fascinating thing for me at Durbar Square was seeing the Kumari Ghar - the home of the Living Goddess Kumari.

THIS is so interesting, though apparently as a tradition more and more people are not in favor it.

Kumari is said to be the living incarnation of the goddess. A very young girl is selected from a Buddhist family of the Shakya clan. She is taken out of her temple for festivals on her golden palanquin. 

See the top of the palanquin peaking out from behind the wall???

She remains the Living Goddess in the palace until she reaches puberty.  At which time the divine leaves her body and a new Kumari is named.  The previous one then just goes on to live a "normal" life.

Lots more info here ... Click link.

Some more scenes around Durbar Square ...

Dashain - an important festival -  had recently ended and these were the goats that were spared from being sacrificed.  

Our leader, Anita, compared these goats to the "pardoned turkey" 

at our Thanksgiving.  

People just hanging out at the temple.

Another very interesting experience at Durbar Square was witnessing the procession of Newari (remember, Newari is one of the ethnic groups) men going to make an offering.  (We saw them go and then come back - we did not see what they actually did.)

Watch the procession here. 

 

After a rest at the hotel we reconvene to attend dinner at a really nice local restaurant, La Sherpa.  This restaurant could easily thrive in Sarasota.  Great decor and ambience.  Delicious food.  

My pork chop was delish!

Another great day.

Tomorrow - visit with some delightful kids at a special program.

 

*A continued thank you for your graciousness with my spelling, grammar, formatting.