My City - Soul Of My City

Seto Machhindranath temple’s youngest teen priest

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

“I grew interest in our culture when I was a child. I used to play games pretending to carry khat (palanquin), pulling chariot and sit in the chariot. Only when I turned 17, I got the chance for the first time to carry the actual khat. I liked it and volunteered for the second time. And this year I got to carry it again. Deep inside I feel I should follow tradition to preserve our cultural heritage. As long as I stay in Kathmandu, I am willing to be devoted to the deity,” says Shakya.

Life under a tree

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

“My husband and son died due to lack of health facilities in my village. And. At that time, there was a belief that one should not be given water or any liquid to the person who is suffering from diarrhea. Thus, we did not give him enough water and he died due to dehydration. I lost my two-year old son as well due to lack of health facilities.”

Generation of artisans

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

“When I see my two sons aged 10 and 12 holding hammer and tools to carve stones. It reminds me of my childhood. Looking at them, it made me think about my initial days of stone carving,” said Surya. He has always worked around the places surrounded by grand monuments and structure. He worked at Hanuman Dhoka for 6 years and it has been 10 years in Patan and he still is continuing the work. Prior to that, he carved stone slates and paved structures in Banepa, Panauti, Manakamana and many more.

Her Story

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

“During my childhood days, I always wanted to be like a girl. And I used to wear my mother’s scarf and acted like a girl. While growing up, I was beaten up for behaving in such manner. Meanwhile, I had no idea why I was like that who wanted to look like a female and why I was attracted to male, being a male,” expressed Alisha, 17-year-old transgender.

Visions of a bio-medical engineer

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

“I boiled the egg, taught children and we ultimately shared it among the nine of us. I also recall going to fill up water with one of my students, Nima Dhondup. All these happenings have taught me kindness, appreciation and many things that I feel thankful about which I had previously taken for granted,” says Sanjay.

Spreading joy through art

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

“Whoever sees it, I want them to experience happiness looking at it. I create with my free will without thinking much about what the society is going to say about my art and how they look at my profession.

A guy with the strings

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

“My elders in the family told me I sang beautifully during my childhood. And I got influenced by my friends to pick guitar as my instrument. We practiced guitar together. One day, when I was in grade nine I found Rs 10,000 at home. And without thinking about whose money was that I rushed toward guitar store and bought my first guitar.”

Living a dream, doing everything

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

“After reaching the village and interacting with them I found, my sufferings were nothing in comparison to the problems they were facing. And this helped me to heal.”

Falling down, a learning process

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

Skateboarding is not just meant for boys, it is for girls too. And Rejina is one such professional skater who used to be a tomboy and shared,

Creating beautiful art out of pain

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

“I fell in love with creating tattoo. And I left the restaurant and college, with a dream to establish my own tattoo studio in Nepal and founded Eros Ink in 2014.”

Art is everything

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

“I am addicted to art. It is my way of living. I couldn’t think of anything besides art. Art is my hobby, occupation and everything. Without art I don’t expect to be living my life.”

Struggle- Life’s other name

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

When she was in seventh grade, she got involved with handicraft and knitting sweater. This helped her fund her own education. Every weekend she weaved carpets. She has been training people to knit sweaters knitting when she was in the seventh grade.

Quest to educate

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

"While reflecting back into those years in Dolpa, I strongly feel that phase of my life has changed my outlook toward life. Every moment I realized what I have lost staying in Dolpa and what I have gained staying in Dolpa."

Having a purpose in life and being hopeful

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

Bikash says he is happy that he is alive and is struggling in his life where he adds, “Struggle in life makes you reach toward your goal and makes your life interesting. I am happy where I am today and I enjoy being a farmer and sharing my knowledge to the children.”

Love for the place

- by Shahin Sunuwar Rasaili

“When I was a child, I used to go to school, stroll around the forest and look after cattle among many other works. I dropped out in grade eight as every other friend was doing so. At that time, whenever I visited the city, I would not be able to stay there for more than 12 days because I didn’t like the chaotic city. City suffocates me.”