It’s Good to be 84

Shaven invited us to his house for dinner the other day. “I’m having a few friends over,” he said.

We arrived around 5:30 to find the street in front of his house lined with dozens of people waiting to get in. The front of his house was open, and there was a tent erected, full of small brass cups, an ornate religious paintings, and purple flower petals covering everything. Scarlet red silk cloth decorated with gold thread further decorated the scene.
It was his father’s 84th birthday. It is their custom that when a person turns 84, every blessing he gives comes true. People started lining up at dawn to give the old man gifts and to receive a blessing.

The old man was seated against one wall of the tent, surrounded by several women dressed in matching scarlet red and gold silk. Each guest would kneel before the man, presenting his gift and a couple pieces of fruit. One of the women would take the gift (usually a scarf, shawl, or pillow) and place it in a large duffle bag. Another woman would take the fruit and place it in a large bowl. The guest would take some Tikah (red vermillion paste) from a bowl on the floor, and place in on the old man’s forehead. One of the other women would take a piece of fruit from the bowl (often the same fruit the guest had brought), wrap it in an empty envelope and hand it to the old man. He in turn would give it to the guest, then place the Tikah on the guest’s forehead while giving his blessing. This went on all day, with no break. The old man looked as if he could do this for a few more days.

Shaven then took us around to the back of the house. About fifty plastic patio chairs were lined up, and people were eating. We went to the buffet line and had a terrific Nepali meal. I don’t know what we ate, but it was all very good: some spicy, some sweet, some vegetables I don’t recognize, some kind of rice. I ate a little of everything. The caterers had been at it since about 11:00 and were going strong, expecting to be there for a few more hours. They served the meal on metal plates – no paper plates here. The only thing to drink was filtered water.

We were introduced to some of Shaven’s friends and relatives, including his brother who used to be in the Nepali Congress.