Dasain 3: Keep Your Taxi Running Well

Oct 11, 2011 | Nepal

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Sacrificing a duck over a taxi engine.

 

 

The 9th day of Dasain is a time to bless machines or tools.This keeps them in good working order, helps avoid accidents and mishaps, and brings you success. Items commonly blessed include:

Tools
Knives
Guns
Drums
Musical instruments
Computers
Books
Refrigerators
Televisions
Radios
Bicycles
Motorcycles
Cars
Buses
Airplanes

I didn’t make a trip out to the airport to see if they are still smearing international flights with goat blood (like they did years ago), but I did come across the blessing of a taxi. Note the voice of a passerby off-screen to the right–he’s telling the taxi driver to put the blood on the engine block not just in front of the car. It’s classic Nepal that you’ll be killing a duck for worship, and someone will come along and tell you how you should be doing it better.

Video: Duck Sacrifice for Taxi