Upadesh Kunwor

The goddess has many forms व्यापिनी विविधाकारां विद्याविद्या–स्वरूपिणी... (from Lalita Sahasranama). Our scriptures describe many different appearances and qualities of the goddess. On top of that, geography, society, culture, and traditions add even more variety. So, even within one religion or community, each of us may imagine the goddess differently. Behind these images are unique stories and backgrounds. Most Nepalese villages are under the protection of a local village goddess. It’s rare to find a village or even a neighborhood without its own goddess shrine. Throughout Nepal, famous temples and sacred sites dedicated to goddesses are found far and wide. We live surrounded, cared for, and protected by goddesses in stone statues with vermilion, flags, prayers, dreams, rituals, and offerings. These goddess shrines are the most common sacred spaces in our society, from barns to homes. Our love and faith for these goddesses are deep and beyond words. They live not just in grand temple...

Dashain 2082 B.S. felt truly special for me  for a different reason.  There was no TIKA, No JAMARA,  no meat, just meditation, peace, stillness, and reflection. Our family observed the festival in remembrance  of our beloved JijuAama. And what did I do? I wandered. I listened. I observed the shifting pulse of rural life - the local issues, sharing Nawaratri Kathā, the voices of Gen-Z’s mass movement 2025 A.D., and the silent stories of my village people. When I was talking with my grandfather, he shared something really interesting back in 2014/15 B.S., his grandfather  (late Dadi Raj Kunwar) used to apply white Tika (just Dahi ra🌾 Chamal - natukriyako, without vermilion) to our family members. That really surprised me it means the red tika wasn’t always a tradition in our family. I had never known this before. Later, my father also told me that, after many years (2040 BS ...), some neighbors started asking for vermilion (simrik) for tika that’s how the change ...