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

ice and dahi which had been the mark of Tikg ia~8une) at Dasai-, Each
recipient was aiso given a hand-made gariand of marigolds. In return
they gave their sister a little money. After, they were invited into
the kitchen for a snack of cuha and machi (which was the sei-roti and
potatoes). Nephews and nieces, sisters-in-law and the sister's mother
also received Tik8. However, women aid not receive garlands, oniy
marigold flowers in their hair,
One obvious difference between Yakha and Brahmin/Chetri Bhgi Ti~a
was that Brahmin and Chetri brothers were supposed to give their sisters
presents. At the insistence of the Brahmin and Chetri teachers in the
school, who in the days leading up to the ritual continually asked me
what I was going to buy our village sister for BhFii TikB, I procured a
thick candle sold only in Kathmandu end a fancy pen for her, However, I
subsequently discovered that no presents were expected by Yakha sisters
nor were any usually given.
Bhgi-Tikt3 was the final day for the rohoTepin., male gambling games
and all the other recreations of the holiday season and people reaily
seemed to 'let their nair down' for it. The foilowing day the first
year I was in the viliage, I descended at 5.00am as ! was going to
Kathmandu, to find my 'sister' had returned from the rohoTepin, at
4.00am with a friend and was sleeping in the shed across the yard used
as the 'girl's hostel' during term time; my father had not returned from
piaying cards in Tellok.
Other Fes t f va 1 s
The two other Hindu festivais I was able to observe,':-', Sgun
San,krgnti and MBR~ San.krgnti, were much more erratically ceiebrated by