Let It Rain
The Kathmandu Valley of Nepal has been enduring a heat wave over the past couple of weeks, the air dense with humidity, in anticipation of the imminent monsoons.I'm relieved to report the rains have begun and the farmers are out in the terraced rice fields making their preparations. The paddy crop has already begun from seedlings, forming electric green portions of the otherwise fallow fields. Once the rains have saturated the earth and the water collects in each of the sections, these tiny shoots will be methodically replanted, one at a time, to cover the fields. This is a sight to behold, with legions of men and women working in rows as far as the eye can see. The days are long and the work back breaking, but the labour is lightened by the songs they sing, teasing each other and joking in verse. As the day draws to a close local rakshi will be passed around, the moonshine leading to more light-hearted fun.
This is traditionally a time of joy for the people of the valley. Rice is the staple of life in the foothills of the Himalayas and Nepalis consume enormous quantities! Festivals and Pujas (ceremonial worship) have been performed to insure the rains and the farmers consider the success of the planting essential to provide them with a full year of food.
Many of the people who are part of the process involved in creating our hand-made Nepalese silver jewelry have fields, and when the time comes to plant they always take the necessary time to help get the job done. Timing is very important indeed and cannot be delayed, no matter what stage in the process of the creation our our Nepali silver jewelry. What could be more important than insuring a years supply of food on the table! May Indra, the god of the heavens and rains, shower his benefice upon the farmers of Kathmandu Valley.
Best wishes, Eric
Handmade Sterling Silver
