Weddings and funerals really do go together somehow. A few days before my brother's wedding a near neighbor (an old man who had been ill for many years) died. If it weren't for the fact that someone was dead and lots of people were sad, I'd have to say I prefer funerals over weddings.
In Gurung culture there is lots of weeping and wailing by family members and close friends to show their grief at a loved ones passing during the first day following death. The body is wrapped in cloth and decorated with garlands of money, flowers, cigarets, cookies and other assorted junk foods.
There is an hour or two of religious ceremony as holy men walk around the body and house chanting and playing drums. I'm always morbidly fascinated by the guy carrying the freshly severed goat's head in his mouth. It's not a job I'd want.
Crowds of people hang out at the deceased person's house all day long. Most are family and friends offering support. Others, particularly members of different ethnic groups, I think come more for the entertainment value.
Once the appropriate ceremonies have been performed, the body is carried up to the cemetery and buried.
The next day the funeral continues with a big feast. It's like a potluck where everyone knows exactly what to bring (there isn't a lot of variety is the typical Nepali diet). There's fruit and cookies and cell roti (ring shaped deep fried sweetened rice bread) and potato salad and prawn chips and other fried crispy snacks. These offerings are divided up and served to everyone as a snack before the real meal of rice and lentils. It's delicious.
In Gurung culture there is lots of weeping and wailing by family members and close friends to show their grief at a loved ones passing during the first day following death. The body is wrapped in cloth and decorated with garlands of money, flowers, cigarets, cookies and other assorted junk foods.
There is an hour or two of religious ceremony as holy men walk around the body and house chanting and playing drums. I'm always morbidly fascinated by the guy carrying the freshly severed goat's head in his mouth. It's not a job I'd want.
Crowds of people hang out at the deceased person's house all day long. Most are family and friends offering support. Others, particularly members of different ethnic groups, I think come more for the entertainment value.
Once the appropriate ceremonies have been performed, the body is carried up to the cemetery and buried.
The next day the funeral continues with a big feast. It's like a potluck where everyone knows exactly what to bring (there isn't a lot of variety is the typical Nepali diet). There's fruit and cookies and cell roti (ring shaped deep fried sweetened rice bread) and potato salad and prawn chips and other fried crispy snacks. These offerings are divided up and served to everyone as a snack before the real meal of rice and lentils. It's delicious.
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