A look into the culture of Chapagaon

The book also has an annex of list of inscriptions, maps etc. A total 39 photographs has made the book illustrious attractive to the readers.

No matter where Nepal stands in Human Development List, it has something to present to the world: The cultural heritage, that can make the whole world admire this one of the least developed countries. Most of the writings and books on cultural heritage printed so far either concentrate on the famous monument zones, i.e., the zones of UNESCO World Heritage Site in particular or the Kathmnadu Valley in general. But, one can hardly find a book concentrating on the cultural heritage of one particular village or settlement. In this context, Sushila Manandhar (Fischer) has come up with her book on the treasure of cultural heritage of Chapagaon.

The book welcomes the readers with a description of the historical, geographical, and cultural description of the village. In various dates the town was addressed as Champapur, Chapagaon or Wa-Dey. The author states that the 68 square kilemetre area has been a noted settlement since Licchivi period. The settlement houses an inscription of Basantadev who ruled the Kathmandu Valley between 506 to 538 AD.

Concise descriptions of the settlements - Bulugaon, Pyangaon and Tamang Basti - as well as the society, language, economic activities, administration, religion and social organisations present the significance of the ancient settlement in concise descriptions.

Bajrabarahi is the biggest monument of the settlement and also the centre of cultural life of the residents. She states, the temple is there specially to assist the residents of Bulugaon for they can take away the firewood from the jungle while others have to wait for the Shivartri to do so. After observing the temple for 20 years, she states that lots of changes have been taken place in the ancient temple.

Other important monuments of the area are the temples of Bansha Gopal, Krishna, Shiva, Ganesh, Yarakha Bhairav, Chandreshwor and idols of Bhimsen, Krishna, Bramha, Mahadev as well as the Agamchhen of Bjrabarahi. Similarly, chaityas, Durukhyo Kwapaa Bahaa, Dharmadhatu, Ikhatol Bahaa-bahee, Kwaakwa Baha-bahee, Therbada Baudha Bihar and Lama Ghyang are listed as Buddhist monuments. The author has found that most of the Buddhist monuments are in pitiable condition due to lack of care from the local people. In addition, the ponds of Taapukhoo, Hitipukhoo, Palepukhoo, Ikhapukhoo and Khasimarpukhoo.

The festivals of Bajrabarahi, Nikuncha Mahadyo, Ganesh, Saraswati, Samaydyo etc are the major festive events of Chapagaon.

In particular, she presents a festival that has been terminated some six or seven decades ago. On the day of Bijaya Dashami, they used to celebrate Misa Payo, in which only women take part in the sword procession, commemorating the death of Mahishasur, who was killed by a female deity. She says that Bulu is the only village, where women participate in sword procession.

The book also has an annex of list of inscriptions, maps etc. A total 39 photographs has made the book illustrious attractive to the readers. The book indeed is worthy collection for the heritage lovers and for those who want to know about the cultural activities of the surrounding villages. Still, the book, as the author herself has admitted, is a part of her Village Profile she presented to Tribhuwan University during her student life. So only short and objective descriptions are found.

Moreover, the writer could have made the treasure she has found more public by translating the book into international languages like English, or in Newari so that the locals of Chapagaon would be more benefited.

Heritage tour
Batsaleshwori Temple

The temple lacks proper cleaning. Layers of debris are seen on the plinths, walls as well as the inner chamber.

By Razen Manandhar

A small but well-shaped temple stands by the holy Bagamati bank of Pashupatinath monument zone. This temple, believed to be 1,600 years old, is dedicated to Goddess Batsaleshwori, a form of Parvati, Lord Shiva’s consort. This is an integral part of Pashupatinnath as the pilgrims prefer visiting the main shrine of Pashupatinath only after visiting Batsaleshwori.

The pagoda, also known as Batsala Temple or the temple of Batsala Devi, is marked for its legendary affiliation with human sacrifice, which is now left in symbolic representation. Animals and rosters are sacrificed there on festivals these days at the temple.

The temple has two-tiered roofs, both made of copper plates. It has a gold-plated finial with a big moon motif, owing to Lord Shiva as he has a moon on his head. The well-shaped temple is small in size but need not be ordinary in structure — it can represent any celebrated pagoda in miniature. There are four equal-sized doors on all sides; as none of the doors have panes, all are equally important. Each door has ancient torana on its top which looks quite artistic, though its beauty has been eroded along the time. The toranas depict the deity in the shrine as the Durga, or the goddess who killed the buffalo demon. The roofs are supported by solid struts that have images of gods and goddesses in both peaceful and wrathful aspects. The bottom of the struts depict images of couples in coitus positions.

A round worn-out urn placed on a square pedestal is worshipped as the universal goddess. The idol is kept at the middle of the sanctum where people can reach from all sides. The roof of the sanctum is decorated with a Yntra, a geographic set of symbols that can generate mystic power to tantric worshippers. Worshippers have added small low quality bells on all corners there.

There are half a dozen bulls and other small idols kept in a line outside the temple.

There is no written evidence of the date of construction of the temple. Perhaps, the temple in original was quite different from what it appears to be in the present form. The most ancient looking inscription near the temple is illegible.

Bhasa Cronicle states King Dharmadatta or Dharmadeva started the procession of Batsaleshwori in 388 AD (and might have constructed the temple too). But on the other hand, a legend states that the procession started only during the reign of King Bhupalendra Malla (1687-700 AD). According to the legend, a man named Kochila got an opportunity to visit the goddesses’ dinner party one night, thanks to Kankeshowri, whom he adored very much. But when he saw that Batsaleswori was adored even by Kankeshwori, he wished to commence an annual procession of Batsaleshwori. The last king of the independent state of Kathmandu, King Jaya Prakash Malla has allocated 120 ropani of land just for a part of the festival. King Rana Bahadur Shah came to be another king who paid special attention to the goddess and offered property to her.

The importance of this monument lies in the annual festival of Batsaleshwori, the biggest one in the ancient Gwala town, that falls on Chaitra or Pishach Caturdashi in December. This festival requires participation of all the castes and clans living in the core area of Pashupatinath. It is said that Lord Pashupatinath himself invites all the goddesses living in the vicinity for the festival of Batsaleshwori. A replica of Pashupatinath is taken around the main city of Kathmandu for a day and a night, which is considered as the Lord’s invitation for Batsaleshwori festival. This has taken a shape of an independent festival called Dudu-Chyanchaya.

On the day of Pahanchaarhe, the chief priest of Pashupati also sends cooked rice to "feed" the goddess. Shiva and Parvati were "introduced" in the small temple and people set fire on nine logs of timber outside. At midnight, the guthiyars offer lavish dinner to nine virgin girls and two boys and then give the goddess a heavy bath of liquor from a horn jar, which is called "Chhahayekegu". On next day, the goddess is placed on a chariot that is dragged along the streets in a primitive way. In the three day long procession, the people take the chariot to Pashupatinath temple, Siphal and Bhandarkhal garden. People strike the chariot at the gate of Pashupatinath as well as a wall at Bhandarkhal garden. A total nine guthis contribute in different ways to make the festival a success. This festival in a way, unite the locals of different origin. It will be incomplete even if only one clan refuses to take part.

The temple lacks proper cleaning. Layers of debris are seen on the plinths, walls as well as the inner chamber. The wooden toranas badly need cleaning and the upper parts are filled with cobwebs. Someone has foolishly painted silver colour on images over the struts.

Selfless Love

It was a fusion of its kind- diffidence with frivolity. Enveloped in the embrace of the water, like a coy lady slowly surrendering her veil to her ardent lover the sand let go all her inhibitions.

By Vidwata Bahety

There was a river, which always surged with fervor. The water rose and fell in its own free will. The tiny ripples grew into strong waves when desires flared up beyond sanity. And the waves danced wildly with breath taking gusto. No authority was ever exercised over the turbulence of the river. There was freedom- freedom of expression and thoughts!

The raging waters at times would gently caress the edges of the riverbank. Slightly wetting the white virgin sand in an apparent attempt to lure it. The shimmering sand, however, was not to be enticed by the satanic power of the unruly waves. She shrugged off every temptation as the crystal clear splashes teased around. And continued to laze in the warm sunshine by the sides of the beautifully scattered ashen rocks. The rocks on the bank were not just the comrades of the lovely sand but also a symbol of strength of the eternal bond they shared.

The waves splashed around playfully drenching the sand. And the wet sand like a timid maiden soaked to the skin, quivering amid the current of the river nonetheless relentlessly refused to give in to the flirtatious attempts of the river. Soon, as if to make up for its mischievous comportment the river adorned the sand with ornaments extricated from the treasure hidden in the deeps. Just like an eager suitor trying to please his fair maiden!

Finally elated with the adulation bestowed upon, the sand with ladylike generosity took mercy on the waves begging of her companionship. And with grace she began to drift to the rhythm of her newfound lover. To this, overwhelmed with excitement the waves soared up sky-high. They broke all boundaries of reason. Water overflowed the banks to unify with the sand. The land humbly submerged under the water of passion.

It was a fusion of its kind- diffidence with frivolity. Enveloped in the embrace of the water, like a coy lady slowly surrendering her veil to her ardent lover the sand let go all her inhibitions. So much in contrast to her erstwhile austere demeanor, the otherwise shy sand was brazenly savoring the awesome adventure

Like carefree lovers paying no heed to the rising brows of the onlookers the sand let the effervescing water carry her away. The grains of sand recklessly moved with the tune of evil pleasure as the water swirled forcefully. The wonderful sport continued in spite of the disapproval of the silent rocks. But soon the frenzy of the river subsided. Now it had calmed down to a sluggish lull whilst gliding over the sand with indifference.

The queen had lost her crown! The passionate lover had disappeared and the romance was finally over. All of a sudden the homeless sand ached for the closeness of the rocks. She realized that for a deluding trifler she had let go her loyal friends.

An uncanny quietness tiptoed in, so to speak to replace the lighthearted frolic. The solemn boulders gazed with grief onto the gurgling river as if ashamed of the infidelity of their mates, the youthful sands.

Slowly, the night descended in. The flickering stars strewn in the still waters mischievously winked at the crescent moon. But the moon would not entertain the beautiful stars. It delighted in the intimacy of its lovely moonshine. The boulders looked up to the moon in a reflective mood. They praised its good nature, that it did not let go its devotion to the moonshine despite the irresistible allure of the cajoling stars. And in turn the rays of the moon that gently touched the unsullied sand, imploring them not to be coaxed by the persuasive water.

Cold breeze blew over the lonesome terrain - it held the sand in its arms and let it fall on the bosom of the rocks. The chivalrous stones welcomed the sand with open heart. The moon smiled as it saw the selfless and divine love of the rocks. Selflessness, it arises from a true heart. And divinity, it comes from commitment and not from a momentary fascination that holds emptiness.

Challenge to the global community

Johannesburg prepares to host the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Deependra Joshi explains why sustainable development is a goal worth working towards, and what it means in practice. Behind many of today’s most fierce battles and grievous disasters lies environmental insecurity.

Over the last year or so, many hundreds of otherwise quite sane people have been spending much of their waking days thinking about what they need to discuss at Johannesburg in the late summer of 2002. World leaders have been commissioning background papers and ideas in a scramble to be informed and have something to say, diplomats have stayed up until dawn to tease out consensus on an agenda or tear out their hair, activists have lobbied for their single issues, or heaped scorn on what they decry as a failure in the making. There have been international preparatory meetings, hundreds of thousands of words and air miles and motions. And all this before the event- World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). But with a name like that, you can see why. It is a global gathering, it is about the welfare of future generations, and it has a history. As the Brundtland Commission (1987) defined it, "sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". A visionary task.

Each summit is a milestone, and also a hurdle. It is difficult to make sense of the everyday mass of opinion, opinion dressed as fact, and naked fact. Who has the answers- the economists who say the world is better place, and that growth works, or the campaigners who see a distressed planet and over-consumption? The occasional world summit offers a rare opportunity to catch up on controversy, debate and dialogue, which with luck and resolve might lead to a measure of international consensus on the state of the world and its imperatives.

In preparing for the WSSD, governments, UN institutions and development agencies are focussing on economic well-being by targeting poverty alleviation as the overriding concern to achieving sustainable development. This is both welcome and necessary, and the WSSD presents an opportunity to embed this firmly in the sustainable development agenda. However, the other two pillars of the sustainable development agenda also must be strengthened in the process. The drive to alleviate poverty brings with it the caveat that social development environmental stability must be included as essential elements.

Commencing August 24, WSSD hopes to address the widespread poverty in much of the world, while responding to threats to global environmental health and security, and seeks to forge a blueprint for sustainable responses to these challenges.

Following the Rio Earth Summit, people across the globe initiated an unprecedented number of initiatives and actions to address sustainable development and environments issues. Agenda 21-the jewel in the crown- catalyzed communities, locals, governments and businesses to act. Perhaps the greatest shortcoming during this period has been our inability to move the global agenda of collective efforts forward. Rio gave us three Conventions and thus excellent opportunities for addressing climate, bio diversity and desertification issues.

Developed countries, for instance, did not meet their commitments at Rio to share the financial burden of maintaining our ‘global commons’. In many developing countries, resource depletion continues without change despite commitments to the contrary. As land, forestry and fisheries resources are destroyed, it will be the poor- both globally and locally- who will bear the ultimate cost of this unsustainable path.

SD as more inclusive and equitative

Economically, the global production of goods and services has increased remarkably over the past decade. However, at the same time, some 80 countries have experienced an actual decline in GNP. In other words, the distribution of the very substantial benefits of development based on a globalized economy, have been very unevenly distributed.

Globalization has enabled consumers to ignore the impacts of their consumption on local environments, as well as global environments. An honest and transparent ‘global new deal’ would ensure that the environmental costs of production are built into the prices of the goods and services produced. Economic sustainability must be built on the capacities of countries to manage their available resources in the most productive possible way.

Having recognised that governments have the primary responsibility for managing their own welfare, it also is important to recognise that foreign direct investment and official development assistance play an important role in sustainable development. But this role needs to be more carefully designed with sustainable development in mind.

Sustainable development is at the core of IUCN’s mission and mandate. IUCN will showcase at the Summit that bio diversity conservation and sustainable use contribute not only to securing ecosystem integrity but also to sustainable livelihoods, effective governance, financing for sustainable development, greater social, economic and environmental security-and ultimately to a reduction of human suffering.

The IUCN concept, that conservation and development are inextricably linked, now forms the heart of environmental protection and economic development strategies in many countries. IUCN has demonstrated how the effective management of natural resources alleviates poverty and has developed many tools and instruments for management, governance and financing of natural resources for sustainable development.

Behind many of today’s most fierce battles and grievous disasters lies environmental insecurity. The potential seriousness of such conflicts has prompted IUCN to launch a Global Initiative on Environment and Security, to help illuminate the causes of tension and conflict, and to identify how resource degradation leads to national distress.

Expectations

At Johannesburg we must assess the progress we have made with Agenda 21. Reasons for failures and successes need to be understood so that we may revise our strategy accordingly. WSSD must also provide us with a renewed commitment to work together on some of the key issues such as climate change, bio diversity, poverty and globalization. In this regard, IUCN- The World Conservation Union has identified three cross-cutting issues that Johannesburg must address in particular if we are to make progress:

Sustainable livelihoods and ecosystems-specific measures should be taken to address both consumption’s patterns of the wealthy and the reliance of the poor on nature for their survival.

Governance issues-both at domestic and international levels to forge a new consensus in searching for more effective national institutions and ensure that the private sector recognises its corporate responsibility.

Financial resources-additional resources must be committed through national budgets, foreign direct investments, development assistance and other sources. Investments in sustainability cannot rely on goodwill alone.

The Summit must deliver credible commitments and specific initiatives with targets to give societies an orientation as to what is feasible and given priority. First and foremost, Johannesburg must review and reaffirm Agenda 21. It remains as relevant today as it was in 1992. Second, governments must offer a positive vision and roadmap for the next 10 years, providing all stakeholders with a strategy and targets for implementation. The Johannesburg Plan of Action and the political declaration should enable everyone to find their place in the global strategy and allow citizens to track progress after Johannesburg.

The Summit must also set some priorities and catalyze some exemplary initiatives that offer guidance and vision. Five priority areas for action at WSSD- Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture and Bio diversity-offer a useful focus for moving beyond rhetoric and declarations to implementing initiatives on the ground. Above all, Johannesburg must deliver a credible illustration as to how international cooperation adds value to what nations, communities and businesses do individually. If governments are unable or unwilling to make commitments on this vital issue of global cooperation then more and more people will question the value of holding such summits in the future.

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