Robert Francisco

Bhaktapur, Nepal

Hired a car and went to Bhaktapur first thing this morning.  I am finding this is the best times to see the sacred sites as this is when the locals come to prayer, and is before of the souvenir vendors look for westerners.  Bhaktapur is an amazing ancient city with a high history between the 14 – 18th centuries.  It is rice harvest season around Nepal and thus most of the public squares are being used for the cleaning and drying of rice.  Dust is removed from the rice when one person throws the grain into the air and other “fan” the rice with large disk.  This is done over and over again until the rice is dust free.  Then barefoot women turn the rice throughout the warm fall days until fully dry.

Temple of Bhaktapar

Protectors of the temple

Rice being cleaned and dried in the square

Rice in front of Hindu shrine

Protectors of the temple