We have spent the last couple of days mainly in and around Kathmandu Durbar Square which is classed as a World Heritage Site. It consists of many Buddhist and Hindu temples, and up to the early 20 th century was where the royal family lived. Lots of tourists flock here so that means there is also a lot of beggars and people trying to sell their wares, mainly flutes and tiger balm, sadly I need neither. There are also lots of people offering to be your guide!
On the first day we went the place was incredibly busy, this is because the Indra Jatra festival is on just now, which most of you would think great, we landed lucky, you don't know what David is like with crowds, so after a quick wander round we left! In our quick wander we went to the site office with our entrance ticket to Durbar Square and asked for a visitors pass, this allows you to visit the square as many times as you like while you are on holiday without paying to get in. Locals get into the square for free.
In the Durbar Square a living goddess lives, called the Kumari Devi, she is a young girl who is selected usually between the age of 4 and puberty. She is chosen from a particular caste of gold/silversmiths and must meet a list of physical attributes, such as the colour of her eyes, shape of her teeth etc. Once suitable candidates have been found they are gathered together and put into a darkened room where they try to scare them with things such as strange noises and men dancing in horrible masks, the girl who remains the most calm is the winner. Although she does also have to try and pick out items that a previous goddess owned. Once chosen she moves into a building within the square with her family and makes special appearances about six times a year. One of these appearances was on the day we went and that was why it was so busy. We were there about 11 o'clock and already the square was filling up and she wasn't appearing until 3 o'clock , so we decided to leave and go back the next day when it should be quieter. The Kumari Devi stays a goddess until she
reaches puberty at that point she becomes a mere mortal again and the search starts for another one.
A tree self seeded itself on this shrine and grew around it, it looks like a fireplace in a tree.
On the first day we went the place was incredibly busy, this is because the Indra Jatra festival is on just now, which most of you would think great, we landed lucky, you don't know what David is like with crowds, so after a quick wander round we left! In our quick wander we went to the site office with our entrance ticket to Durbar Square and asked for a visitors pass, this allows you to visit the square as many times as you like while you are on holiday without paying to get in. Locals get into the square for free.
In the Durbar Square a living goddess lives, called the Kumari Devi, she is a young girl who is selected usually between the age of 4 and puberty. She is chosen from a particular caste of gold/silversmiths and must meet a list of physical attributes, such as the colour of her eyes, shape of her teeth etc. Once suitable candidates have been found they are gathered together and put into a darkened room where they try to scare them with things such as strange noises and men dancing in horrible masks, the girl who remains the most calm is the winner. Although she does also have to try and pick out items that a previous goddess owned. Once chosen she moves into a building within the square with her family and makes special appearances about six times a year. One of these appearances was on the day we went and that was why it was so busy. We were there about 11 o'clock and already the square was filling up and she wasn't appearing until 3 o'clock , so we decided to leave and go back the next day when it should be quieter. The Kumari Devi stays a goddess until she
reaches puberty at that point she becomes a mere mortal again and the search starts for another one.
A tree self seeded itself on this shrine and grew around it, it looks like a fireplace in a tree.
King Pratap Malla's Column
Seto Bhairab, this is usually hidden away behind a grill and is only open during the Indra Jatra festival. It was very busy while we were there with people making offerings.
Maju Dega this is a main meeting place for locals and also for tourists. To sit on. We climbed up the stairs and got a lovely view of the square. There were some dodgy characters up there though so we didn't hang around.
Shiva Parvati Temple, this temple is nice as there are two wooden characters of Shiva and Parvati made as if they are looking out of the window.
A Garuda figure kneeling before one of the temples.
David by one of the entrances to the square.
These are two littler carriages used in the procession of the Kumari Devi, two boys go in them dressed up as gods.
This is the carriage used by the Kumari Devi.
This is where the Kumari Devi lives.
Behind the bikes are people making marigold garlands to be used as offerings.
All around the square are stalls set up, this is one of the typical stalls in the area selling meat. This lump still has its teeth.
This is a high rise shrine, offerings were hoisted up in a basket. The first time we were there about five people walked towards this shrine with large bowls of fire, which they were carrying in their bare hands, where is health and safety when you need it. They just proceeded to put them on the ground right in the middle of the crowds, actually the people put their hands in the smoke and then put their hands to their faces.
The first day we were at the square there was a load of secondary children going around, they were doing a survey in which they were asking tourists about their experiences and how tourism could be improved in Nepal. We did help them with this survey. On the second day when we visited the museum there was a school trip in, a lot of the children want to say hello and stay beside you, I think they just want to practise their English. Wherever we go there seems to be school trips!
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