Happy Bijaya Dashami

Last year I was in the field, middle of a swamp, when one of my relatives called me to wish “Happy Bijaya Dashami”. I was surprised that I didn’t even sense it coming, and then I made an immediate effort to call home. I forgot about Dashain not because I am not into my religion, but with the type of surrounding that I am in I could not even sense it coming. There are absolutely no temples in Lafayette and negligible Nepalese community. Since I moved to Lafayette, I have been to temple four times: two times in San Antonio, one time each in New York and St. Louis. This time I will make sure that I at least call my family and friends.

While I was in graduate school, we celebrated Dashain by worshipping our car (using Coconut instead of animal sacrifice), going to the temple, and having a pot lock in someone’s place, and of course playing card games. Senior Dai’s and Didi’s also used to give us tika. It was not comparable to how Dashian was in Nepal, but at least we did something. But here in Lafayette, I guess best I could do is call family and friends. It will be my fourth Dashain without family.

But those of you who have the luxury of being together with family and friends, I wish you a very Happy Bijaya Dashami. And I would also like to wish those who won’t be fortunate enough to be around your loved ones, remember you are not the only one.