We are heading to the Tal Barahi Temple tomorrow morning with our homestay family downside. The temple is on an island in Lake Phewa, the lake that we look down on. We boat across to the island. This is where the confusion started, (animal lovers read no further). Meena told me we were going by boat, that part was clear, then she started talking about a goat. I said I understood we were going across the lake to the island by boat. However she kept repeating what I thought was boat until I released she was saying, "we are also taking a goat". "Why, I asked, would we take a goat?" Obvious really, the family is going to sacrifice a goat at the temple, that came as a bit of a shock as they don't seem to carry out any religious devotions at home that I have noticed.
Anyway... Watch this space.
Well after a reasonably interesting start with a goat being delivered to the homestay. We, being Jim, Amita, Amish and I headed downside to meet the local bus to make our way to the Lakeside area where the small boats were to cross to the island temple. In the meantime the parents and youngest child Agus and the goat went by motorbike. Yes, motorbike!
When the family arrived at the boat ramp, we questioned about the goat as it looked different to the one at the homestay earlier in the morning. Yes, they had swapped goats as the first one, whom we have named Lucky, was not symmetrical enough for an offering as he had a floppy ear and a funny horn.
After much fuss and a very well behaved goat, we were paddled across to the island via a rather rickety boat. It was only about a 100 metre crossing and very calm. Jim and I found a shady place to sit while preparations were made and the goat nibbled the foliage totally unaware of course of his impending fate. We had a bit of discussion about the goat as it appeared to be the only goat up for offering, and then we though perhaps we were overthinking things and they just get it blessed and bring it home as there didn't appear to be an area for such a messy offering. Finally the goat was lead away, we stayed put, not really keen on witnessing any slaughtering. Eventually they returned with a stripey blue bag obviously full of dead goat and dripping blood. I have now seen it all! By the way we named the second goat Curry!
We then went back to the mainland and went to a locals area, rather than the tourist area to have lunch with the family, well that was too much for me and I had to decline the food and went in search of fruit for lunch. They are concerned about my eating habits or lack of food consunmption around them. I however am concerned about my ability to cope with street food and stay well!
We made our way to the local bus again for a trip upside even though we weren't going to travel on the local bus again up the mountain. But it was very hot, too hot to walk and it's a long way home from where we were, so after waiting a while for the driver to appear, we were off. The bus was jam packed, luckily we got a seat as there wasn't even any standing room left. After a bit of a walk from the bus stop, we arrived home to the goat in the final stages of being butchered, and a goat curry bubbling away. Jim had some, I declined politely again.
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