First Birthday Away from Home

My birthdays, as long as I can remember have always been surrounded with family and friends, cake, celebrations, nothing too extreme but close, intimate, personal. As I got older, the birthdays got less exciting; of course, it was only a reminder that I am getting older. But no matter where I went, I always made it back in time to celebrate my birthday with my family.

My mornings would start with visiting the Golden Temple with my parents, coming back and taking shagun and blessings from elders. The first meal of the day consisted of curd and boiled egg, that is then, pan fried: the Nepali way of celebrating birthdays, fond memories. Even after my wedding, I was blessed with the same love and pampering by my husband and my-in-laws

It is different this year, though. This year there is no visiting the Golden Temple early in the morning or visiting our regular temples that we know from childhood. This year there is no shagun in my hand or tika on my forehead. This year there is no curd that I take sip from. This year there is no coming of friends with birthday cakes throughout the day to embrace me. I celebrate my birthday in a different city, in a different country. What remains constant is visiting the temple here, and praying for the safety and well-being of everyone because God lives everywhere and God lives within us no, matter which temple we go to . What remains constant in this change is the blessings I receive from my elders, the love I can feel through the phone screens we talk into. What remains constant is the excitement that my friends have for my birthday, perhaps more than I do. What remains constant is my husband by my side making sure I feel special on this day, and never making me feel far away from home and family.

Comments

Rajamati

I think we’ve all heard the song of Rajamati growing up. It is so popular that many people in Nepal claim this is the only Newari song that they have heard. The song was written some 200 years back. The first few lines go like this, which I’m sure you must have heard of, unless you’ve been living under a rock: Rājamati kumati, jike wasā pirati Hāya bābā Rājamati-chā Rājamati mabila dhāsā Kāshi wane tela bubā Hayā biu Rājamati-chā. San dhāsā kuli kuli, mikhā dhāsā bālā bālā Sakumi yā mhyāy machā lā Khwā dhāsā tuyu khwā, khwālay niga tee du Tāhā Nani yā Rājamati-chā. It is said to be written by or rather from the perspective of a man who was infatuated and in awe of the beauty of Rajamati. He describes with great admiration: her hair, her eyes, her complexion and the little moles on her face. However it is unknown who the writer of this beautiful song is. The song rushed into popularity after it was played in England in 1850 when Prime Minister Jung Bahadur Rana vi...

The Leaving vs The Left Behind

I still remember, I was standing near the entrance looking out at the garden. I was at my best friend’s home and she had gone to get her ever famous chips chilly for me. I was to leave for Bangalore again, in a couple of days. While I waited, I looked out at the garden and this thought came into my head. “Who is it harder for? The one leaving or the ones left behind?” Is it going to be harder for me in a new place readjusting and exploring, or my best friend here, who will me miss me? Is it harder for a person to settle in a completely new place with a completely new lifestyle and have to find new people or for a person to see the same old places, the same old alleys and reminiscent the good times they had with their friend who are not around at the moment? It was a random thought that filled my mind a couple of minutes and then I got over it. Some time after resettling here in Bangalore, my best friend sent me a reel. The reel was about 2 close friends who used to lived ...

Most Asked Question

Coming back home after one year has been a rollercoaster of emotions for me the past month. Getting to see everyone again, embracing family and friends, working on an office desk again, walking through same old alleys and of course, devouring delicious food that I so dearly missed. I am actually almost through the food list that I have been saving. But the people have been asking me the same question a lot: do you like it here in Nepal or in Bangalore? And the answer has always been the same for me: I like it wherever I am. Kathmandu is home, it is warm, and it is where family is. Bangalore is a different vibe and freedom and excitement. Kathmandu is a different fun and Bangalore is different fun, which is why I live in the moment and enjoy where I am. My mother always tells me: “ La wani tha nya wani ma” in Nepal Bhasa meaning “ the fish must go where the water goes”. The meaning while very basic is also very deep. If the fish does not flow with the water, it cannot survive. I...

My World

Search This Blog