By a staff reporter

Kathmandu is the abode of thousands of gods and goddesses.  The most unexpected nook and corner reveal generations old images, some simple and some intricately carved. Each image of god and goddess has its legend behind it. All around the year, some festival or the other take place, which the indigenous residents of the valley, the Newars celebrate. The rituals are age old and are scrupulously observed especially among the lower economic classes of the clan.

Tiny lanes with rows of houses built right next to each other suddenly open out into courtyards where there is almost inevitably, a small abode for a deity. Deities are a matter of fact here. For every problem you have, a deity exists, that has the power to get rid of it, if you are a believer and are willing to appease the deity.  Different characteristics of deities demand different rituals.

Even a non-believer are most often than not, forced to admit that there do exist powers that these deities evoke. Tantrism is one of the powers that the practitioners of this line of calling on the powers, practice. It is a demanding line of study, the knowledge of which is handed down through generations, from a teacher to a disciple. The chosen person, or the representative of the deity once in trance exhibits the characteristics of the deity and does things that are not done by a normal human being.

In the Shree Kali dance that takes place once in 12 years, the representative, Shree Ajima takes the offering of a buffalo and drinks the warm blood (See pix). Once the person is out of trance, he feels perfectly fine and suffers no side effects of the things that he consumed while in trance.

In this religious ambiance, it would be difficult to imagine that there exists a flip side to it, the misusers of such powers. These brand of people use the powers to harm others they do not like. A scorned admirer could wreck vengeance on the person who did not respond positively to him or her. A rich family could be beset with unexplained sense of unease and uncanny incidents thanks to misdeeds of someone who is jealous of their wealth and happiness. A die-hard ambitious girl can cast an evil eye on her rich but reluctant boy friend and make him marry her over night. It is said all bad things boomerang but it seems these people only seek the short-term results of their wants and desires.

However, it has been seen that most non-believers, tired of coping with unusual incidents, unexplained unrest and so on, do seek out powers who can help them.  Self sought or recommended by others, these powers could be astrologers, Gubajus or Ajimas. Amazingly, they do pin point the problem and dispense remedies to cure the problems. The only explanation here could be that because of unquestioning faith that has been rooted into the culture of this valley, the strength of the power has not diminished. The power that we call god seems to exist here in many forms in many deities. One is greatly humbled by the thought. It is only a wonder that with so many powers vibrating here, Kathmandu has not been able to remain a peaceful haven that it once used to be.  Perhaps, it yet has to complete a full circle to be the way it once used to be in terms of tranquility and charm.