The kamis "officially" greet and bless Uncle Bill. Pix 1.

Bill Martino

Bill Martino

Joined
Mar 5, 1999
Messages
34,096
ffd22521.jpg.orig.jpg


As you may recall from an earlier post my first visit to BirGorkha was unannounced and for this Gelbu got a great deal of reprimands from the kamis. Although I am not owner of BirGorkha and am not the boss the kamis recognize what I do -- sell their khukuris and send money to Nepal so they can be paid -- as being a very important duty. "Without Bena there would be no BirGorkha and we might be starving. He deserves a proper greeting and certainly deserves our blessings." So here is the way it went.

Here is the first of a series of pictures showing the "official" greeting and blessing by the kamis. This took place the second day on my second visit to the shop.

top -- Gelbu is the photographer. Pradeep, assistant shop manager and next in line to be manager, gives his greeting first.

middle -- Bura, shop foreman, is second to give greetings. Prakash waits in the doorway, third in line.

bottom -- Kumar places a "phool mala" (a lei) around my neck and offers a long flowerly welcome. Bura tells him to quit talking and let the next man in line come forward. I chuckle at Bura's comment.

Notice the Tibetan jola I carry. When in Nepal I always carry a jola (cigarettes, bottle of boiled and filtered water, a SAK, couple of candy bars, kleenex, and assorted items necessary when in country) and I generally wear a topi but not on this day.

Also notice the "gagri" (water buckets) at the doorway. They are filled with water and decorated with plants and "abir" (the red dye mixed with grains of rice). The Abir is also sprinkled at the entrance -- "welcome inside!" This sort of decoration is used for greetings, blessings, weddings but never funerals.

There are several pictures to this series which I'll be posting -- maybe too many, but I hope they give you an understanding of the men who make your knives -- some insight into what sort of fellows they really are. It will help you appreciate your khukuris all the more if you develop some understanding of those who make them.



------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
Please tell us more about these jolas. The one you carry in the picture reminds me of a Kenyan rucksack I bought for my father once. Where might we get them?

Oh, and I, for one, really appreciate all the pictures. Thanks.
 
Frank, I bought this jola up at the Buddhist temple of Swayambunath, my first day in Nepal. I always do my puja before I do anything else. The jola was made by Tibetans who fled Tibet after the Communist takeover and is very nicely done. It will zip up from the backpack configuration you see to a purse configuration.

Getting one of anything is too expensive. If we got ten takes I could deliver them to your door for about $30.

And thanks for the kind words re the pix!



------------------
Blessings from the computer shack in Reno.

Uncle Bill
Himalayan Imports Website
Khukuri FAQ
 
Bill,
I suppose now you'll tell us that they like ya!
biggrin.gif

Anywho... I'll go down for two of those thingies.
Dan

[This message has been edited by Dan K (edited 03-14-2000).]
 
Uncle,
Please put me down for 2 jolas as well. TIA.

------------------
Cheers,

--+Brian+--

He who finishes with the most toys wins.
 
I'll take one. It will repalce my old one from El Salvadore.

Cheers,

ts

------------------
Guns are for show. Knifes are for Pros.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top