OCT 23, 2010 - The Kathmandu Post Close to the blue serenity of the Begnas Lake, walking down a winding path towards a neat new temple, I noticed a gathering. The temple is the Deurali temple, and the gathering is debating an age-old dilemma in Nepali society. A young girl, around 13, has been possessed by the goddess. She has been shaking and trembling for the past few days. The goddess within her demands sacrifice. The temple, however, has been built a few decades ago under the blessing of a Guruji—under one condition. The temple was to be free of blood sacrifices. This dilemma—whether to sacrifice or not sacrifice—continues to arise in Nepali homes each Dashain. In our own family, we no longer give sacrifices. A rather interesting incident allows for this to happen. According to my mother, about a decade ago, she took three goats and left it with a family who could feed the goats some fresh grass till the day of sacrifice. While taking the animals to them, she had this thought: ...
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