Rajaram Sedai is a 74-year-old priest at a temple near Nagpokhari. Originally from Nuwakot, he left his home at the age of 13 and went to India with five rupees in his pocket. Back then, he did not know that Kathmandu even existed. In India, he worked as a domestic helper at a local’s house.
After working there for some time, he went to Kaashi and then worked as a cook for a 90-year-old head priest, who died six months later. After the priest’s death, Rajaram took over the head priest’s position and served at the temple for 30 years. He was then called by a committee of Nagpokhari temple to serve as a priest here. He has been working in Nagpokhari for around 20 years now.
No civil servant transfers for seven days
As a priest, Rajaram is strict about his vegetarian food habit and simple lifestyle. “The life of a priest is really difficult because we don’t get any holiday. We have to work from early morning to late at night 365 days a year,” says Rajaram. Claiming that he never falls sick, he believes that his vegetarian food habit has helped him keep healthy. “We should always believe in God and in his mercy. Nepal has a majority Hindu population, but all religions here live in harmony.” Rajaram is satisfied with his life because he had always wanted to serve God as a dedicated devotee.
