Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Another attack on Kathmandu Culture?

After the Indrajatra scandal, the government has come up with one more stunt to discourage/terminate Newar tradition in Kathmandu-Valley.
As we all know, the government has let some cops squat in the prestigious palace of Bhaktapur, a World Heritage Site, for many years. We don't know whether there presence in the palace has made law and order in the vicinity or not. But it it for sure, the valuable pices of ancient art aer continuously disappearing from the palace even in their presence. Experts in their international report ofte mention that the police posts in teh palace perpetually damange the architecture but the government has not positively reacted.
The policemen have been living there for years and now, all of a suddent, they have come to object the pooja rituals in the palace. This year, they came up to say that the animal sacrifice (that have been going on in the palace temple for over 300 years) is disgusting and it may create health problems for them. Kantipur TV was giving it a good coverage of what the cops had to say. If I remember a Bmal BK was giving an interview and there was no comment from the caretaker of the temple or the priest. My godess! What has made them say this?
The palace first belongs to the goddess Taleju, then to the Malla kings and the people of Bhaktapur. Those outsiders, who have come to live in this temple for several years have no right to comment on our century-old tradition. If they now think that the tradition is not acceptable, they can with pleasure quit the temple. The people of Bhaktapur would be more than happy.
I have a suggestion. There is an illegal consturction in the Durbar Square. It belongs to Nepal Bal Sangathan (if I am not mistaken). It is ruining the whole historic atmosphere of the palace. Why cannot the Home Ministry take hold of that building in front of the palace and use it as police post? Will Bam Dev Gautam or Gopal Kirati will think over it? What you, my dear residents of Kathmandu Valley say?