Deepak had invited me to Nepal for his son Karnav’s thread ceremony or “bratabandha”, an important landmark in an adolescent Brahmin boy’s life that signals a transition into adulthood. It is similar to a bar mitzvah in Jewish culture. Like weddings, birthday parties and the like it has become more important in recent years to spend lavishly and Deepak put on a very good show.
The guests, including me started arriving from a variety or places in Nepal and the chaotic ad-hoc living arrangements somehow worked themselves out. There must have been at least 30-40 people and the house only has 3 bedrooms and one bathroom!
Socialising the night before
I slept on the roof and with mosquito net had a comfortable sleep.
The next morning preparations began.
Making “sel roti” ubiquitous delicious snack in Nepal..- The puja was the main event with endless Sanskrit recitation following the pujari and different combinations of the principals. It went on for many hours.
