THE YAKHA: CULTURE, ENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT IN ...

Nepali. The words for this blessing were different for different people
depending on their st at us and aspi ra t ions for the year, a 1 though there
were some standard elements. When he had finished, the recipient
prostrated him or herself at his feet and quickly came up again,
throwing any ricela in their hands back over their head. The TikEi
giver gave them a present - usually a marigold flower and a small note
or coin. Daughters-in-law might receive a little more, in a leaf plate.
Men might not receive anything, i t depended on the family.
The eldest unmarried daughter received Tikg first (Plate 12),
followed by whoever was around but in a vague order through daughters-
in-law (including brothers' daughters-in-law) and their chiidren, nieces
and on to male relatives. However, much depended on when peopie turned
up to receive their Tik6 and who wanted it (rather different from the
highly symbolic order of Tika dispensing observed by Bennett (1983)
amongst Brahmin households). People could come any time from now up to
full moon to receive their Tik6, although those who were particularly
close to the householder and in the vicinity were expected to come more
promptly. The only woman who did not receive a TikEi from the
householder was his wife. After receiving m, the recipient was
usually invited into the kitchen for a snack of meat with cyur& (rice
flakes) and some cuha or raksi.
The rest of the day was spent in recreation. An important element
was tar& h6nne. informal groups of young men with blunderbuss-type
rifles went from house to house, The householder was expected to set up
a target on a wooden board and give a prize of anything up to 20 KRs to
the person shooting closest to the target. Raksi and cuha were also
dispensed by the householder to the visitors. The prize money was