Where Funerals are a Tourist Attraction

 Another day, another temple. But thankfully with lots of free time to explore the world around the temples.

This lady is proudly showing us tonight's main course. A little soy and lots of ketchup please.

This enterprising street seller is hawking Durian fruit or as we affectionately know it as, "stinky fruit".  Cut into it's thick rind and it releases a smell that will waken those long dormant memories of your child's worse diaper. Taste, well its nothing to write home about if you can get past the smell.

Nonie is getting a few knitting tips from some of the ladies. They are knitting those cool Nepalese wool hats that you will find in any country around the world. A traditional Nepalese export.

Death as we discovered, can be a spectator sport. For a small fee you can enter the Kathmandu crematorium site at Pashupatinath Temple and take part in the multiple cremations that go on 24 hours a day.

The body is prepared  and brought by a procession to the Temple which is located on the banks of the Bagmati River. Hindu custom requires that the body is prepared and cremated within 24 hours of death.

Exactly one cubic metre of wood used to cremate the body.  Sandal is the wood of choice but due to it's high price, many cannot afford it. This tradition is leading to some of the deforestation of Nepal

According to the Nepalese Hindu tradition, the dead body must be dipped three times into the Bagmati river before cremation. The bodies are usually dressed in white and orange as orange is considered a holy colour.


The chief mourner (usually the first son) lights the funeral pyre and must take a holy river-water bath immediately after cremation. Many relatives who join the funeral procession also take a bath in the Bagmati River or sprinkle the holy water on their bodies at the end of cremation. The Bagmati River is considered to purify the people spiritually.The pyre is allowed to burn to embers which can take 3 or 4 hours with a little judicious poking.

Once the cremation has been completed the ashes are pushed into the Bagmati River as it will ultimately flow into the holiest of rivers, the Ganges. The personal effects of the deceased are also packaged up and place into floated down the river to join the dearly departed in to here after.

Holy Men for hire. These colourful holy men are waiting to to carry out a Shradh. The Shradh is practiced one year after the death of the person. This can either be an annual event or a large one-off event. This is the Hindu practice of giving food to the poor in memory of the deceased. A priest will say prayers for the deceased and during this time, usually lasting one month, the family will not buy any new clothes or attend any parties. Sons are responsible for carrying out Shradh.







We are leaving Kathmandu in few days. Our plan it to rest and sleep a lot because we are looking at 30 hours on the ground and in the air before we reach Montreal and some serious grandchildren time. Can't wait.