Yes January is a dreary month, even in Nepal, but it was nice to celebrate the marriage of Aamir and Huma last week! Aamir and his family's tannery have been working with me on the current Nepalese buffalo leather we use at AURA QUE for over a year now.

It was nice to meet Aamir's friends and family members at the Kathmandu stint of the wedding celebrations! It sounded exhausting, the celebration in Huma's hometown of Calcutta, then a massive reception for 1000 people in Biratnagar on 25th December then the Kathmandu celebration at the Shangri-La Hotel. Cor blimey, and I thought weddings in England were extravagant!

I was told that the celebration in Kathmandu was more 'Nepali style' than the main ceremony for the Muslim family, whose hometown is in Biratnagar on the Nepali-Indian Southern border.

A 'small affair', the celebration included music with traditional Nepalese instruments and cultural songs, a selection of indian, nepali and western food (with some great cakes!), all in the beautiful five star hotel in Lazimpat, Kathmandu.  It really looked beautiful in the evening with all the lights around the pond, with the statue and fountain etc! 

We all kept warm around the fires dotted around the garden...

and I was addicted to the cranberry juice with pomegranates in the bottom - mmmm!

Huma looked fantastic in a white glittering sari with all the wedding jewellery, matching Aamir with his diamonte collared suit, fantastic!

I went for dinner at their house the other night, was nice to see Huma settling into Kathmandu life! All the best to you both for the future!!

This week there was a day strike imposed by student groups about the increased prices of petrol.  This meant that there was absolutely no traffic on the road all day. These bandhas happen frequently in Nepal, it seems to be the only way known to protest.....but it stops businesses and industry, very frustrating!

So everyone either stayed at home or had to walk or cycle to work. I opted for the cycle to work, but when i past big groups of guys with sticks and burning fires on the main road, i got off my bike and walked a little as I don't want any trouble!

Usually crammed with traffic, its amazing to see the streets without any vehicles - only a few ambulances, and police vans were about.  The police presence was felt also.

I passed one protest march along the way, where they were all chanting and waving flags.  The price of petrol has now gone up to 115 Rs a litre (just under £1) as the Nepalese petrol corporation owes too much money to India (who supplies all the petrol to Nepal).  This is very high for a country where the average person earns minimum 6000 Rs a month (approx £50).

Though its a problem, I don't understand how this is a constructive way to protest and make a difference by stopping businesses opening. It did make the Nepalese Prime Minister call a government meeting though....lets see if anything comes of it......but for now, its best to be on the bike!!

So Saturday is generally the only day off in the factory, and though we are nearly finishing our Spring/Summer 2012 production, this week I went to the KTM Family Fair! There is not much to do for kids in Kathmandu - not many children friendly activities or places to go, so Shirley Bredal (who produces fair trade childrens knit wear in Nepal) organised the first Family Fair!

It was great to be a part of it - preparing for the creative workshops and candy shop, as well as the different shows that went on during the day! We had a great turn out, and lots of happy kids I am sure :)

Set in the 'Garden of Dreams' which is a renovated Nepali Rana palace with beautiful gardens and architecture, in North Kathmandu....

There were creative workshops, making crowns, masks, playdough models and origami! Great to see the kids being so creative!

and cupcake decorating at the candy shop!

The sack race....

Facepainting....they had packed up before i had time to try this!

The magician show

B Boys....

The Shirley Bredal and AURA QUE stalls...

And I met Winnie the Pooh and Minnie Mouse!

Lots of fun....big thanks to Shirley Bredal and Bikash Gurung for organising the event!

So there was another Nepalese Festival today - I was totally unaware of it until I arrived at the factory.  Some places have a day off so that must have been why the roads were so quiet on my cycle to work!

In the morning, Man Bahadur presented me with the lump of what looked like tree root, stained purple, with hair root bits coming out of it and a thin bark-like skin. Not very appealing!  He said it was eaten on this 'auspicious day' and I had to peel it and eat all of it. No way out of that then!! Hope I don't get sick from it but it tasted like potato, not that bad!

Then I got MORE at lunchtime from Shanti!!

It is always hard to find out the meaning of these many different festivals, I vaguely understood that it marked an important point in the lunar calendar (which Nepal follows, hence the year is now 2068....!). I was also told that people tend to start new projects after this time, as it marks a change in season.

So after a bit of internet research i found out this:

 

"Maghe Sankranti is one of the important festivals in the country, especially the Tharu community in Nepal and is a time of family reunion and celebration.

The festival is mostly marked by Nepali Hindus by taking ritual bath in confluence of rivers and offering worships in various temples, and eating special delicacies like chaku (hardened molasses), til ko laddu (sesame sweets) and tarul (yam).

The members of the Tharu community observe this festival as Maghi by organizing traditional dances, consuming various delicacies and displaying traditional costumes.

This day or the day of Maghe Sankranti is regarded as the coldest day of the year and marks the start of warmer season.  According to the religious facts and beliefs, the sun is believed to leave its southernmost position and begin its northward journey.

The people of Magar, Chhantyal and Tharu communities celebrate the festival as Maghi, marking the beginning of a new year with this day."

http://news.xinhuanet.com

Note: the Tharu communities are mainly from the Terai and the southern region of Nepal. 

 

Phew! so I hope this means that it gets warmer in Nepal - after 6 weeks here over the coldest season, without central heating, I am now cold to the core!! Looking forward to sunnier weather in 2012!

Cor blimey, its cold here in Nepal - I am missing central heating UK style!! Anyway, the AURA QUE production is coming to an end and the new samples for next season are also nearly there - its been busy!

Random, but on a visit to my local nepalese corner shop to get some groceries, there were these little sparrows flying around inside (probably keeping warm!).  See if you can spot the two birdies amongst the consumables!!