Puja - Blessing of the cars

We are in the midst of the Dashain festival, the most celebrated Nepali holiday. Old traditions and ceremonies are many. The drivers at the Embassy blessed all our cars on the 7th day of Dashain yesterday. This we are told, only the Brahmin caste can do.


To ensure safe driving and prevention of accidents, the cars get decorated with red tika, ribbons, fruit etc. Then there is the sacrificing of a goat whose blood is sprinkled in the engine. However, the use of animals is starting to get replaced by other symbolic practices. Although, there was beheading of a three inch figure goat this time. A coconut was smashed instead and raw eggs used to bless the cars. Finally, there is burning of incents.