Participants : BinayaA, ManishS, MilanL, SameshJ, ShankarU, SujanG, ShrwanS, RajendraS, TejasweeS, AbisheshJ
Venue :Khokana
Date :Saturday, May 19, 2007
Report :SameshJ
Photo : from the Participants
Captions : from the Participants

It was an ordinary morning. Late to wake up as usual, but that day was meant to be special as we were planning a photo shooting session.

This time, Khokhana was the destination. A drive of 20 – 25 minutes and we the team reached Khokhana at around 7:30.

The morning sun was pleasant and the quest was started from the front of Goddess Shekhali mai temple, local mother goddess of Khokhana.
The path was surprising, a typical Newar community, and almost all farmers. The way was decorated with straw of rice and bundled fire woods. Cattle were jumping here and there and children following them. One thing was interesting about this place. Hens and cocks were not allowed to farm due to the old saying that it will make Shekhali devi angry.

Life in Khokhana seems simple, yet difficult. When we were taking snaps of local people, one of our crew members tried to hold Kharpan full of straw. On which local commented “छिम्त न्याइपु झिम्त सास्ती” – means it was fun for us to watch and admire but it was their daily task to carry all the equipments, work whole day from drawn to dusk and then only be able to feed their children.
We felt a little shy on that note, but we could have done nothing, their traditional way of farming and their life.

We met a guard of public school. It was one of the oldest schools of the village established in 2017 B.S. I forgot the name of school, but according to him, the number of student is low. And in comparison to boys, number of girls is even low.
We captured some girls along with elders working in field but boys seem to love to hang around, playing and chatting with each other doing nothing.

This place, according to locals, blossoms during the monsoon season when fields are full of green rice and river flowing in its full strength, a small paradise on earth.
Though oil refining is reducing day by day, this place is still famous for its mustard oil and spun woolen yarn. We tried to contact for the oil refiners but being Saturday, and our time constrain, we abandon our idea.

We shot photographs till 10:30. As everybody had various plans for the day and sun was getting high, we decided to return back to our cemented city, Kathmandu.
In spite of being just 20 minutes away from the heart if Nepal, and a part of Kathmandu valley, one can feel the ancient time, the aroma of true nature with moment of peace.

Khokhana, a truly ancient Newar city of Kathmandu valley stands tall with its natural beauty, traditional culture and warm hospitality. Oh! Khokhana, we promise to return back and enjoy your beauty one more time.

Good bye for now!!!