February 28, 2011
On the way to Pokhara, we stopped at the Manakamana Temple on top of a hill 1300 meters above sea level just north-east of the town of Mugling. You can hike up foot trails to worship and offer your best chickens or goats but that can take up to 3 -4 hours. After such offerings, the sacrificial creature is dressed and blessed and taken back home for a blessed feast! Or you can board a cable car completed in 1998 by the Swiss government and the pride of Nepal’s tourism board!
We opted to ride up the cable car and spend 10- 15 minutes admiring the little hillside farms and terraced plots as the breeze cooled our heads and kept us in a perpetual dream state!
We enter the turnabout where we hopped off the cable car. We hiked through small alley ways filled with merchants on either side peddling offerings for the Goddess, flowers, strings, coconuts, fruits etc. in little wicker or metal trays.
After about 15 minutes, we stepped a square where the temple has stood for decades when a King of Gorkha had his wish fulfilled and as promised built a temple to Manakamana for all other Hindus to worship and honor.
The temple, built in the 17Th century looked worn out, covered with wax and soot from the millions of butter candles lit and left to burn in all its natural glory for the more smoke that reaches its rafters, equals the passion of its devotees! Rice litters the square as visitors feed the hundreds of pigeons that have made the temple their home - living room plus toilet as well! We made sure not to stand along the electrical cables above us where the pigeons perched happily! Bells surrounded the temple which is rang as the devotees prayed and circled 3 times to make sure the wish has reached the Goddess’ ears.
The lines snaked around and behind the temple, the visitors waiting patiently their turn to enter the temple and get a blessing from the priest inside! They reappear happy, joyful and pleased they had made the pleasing sacrifice to Manakamana!
I must say it is true, your wishes do come true!
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