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The kite eagle, also known as the black kite, can be found in Kathmandu, Nepal. These birds are quite common in urban areas and can often be seen soaring through the skies or perched on top of buildings and trees. They are opportunistic feeders and are known to scavenge for food in urban environments. The black kite is a common raptor found in many parts of the world.

This week, I went west of Swayambhunath temple where I came across a restaurant called Moon Rock. The restaurant is run by Tsering Gyalpo Lama and he owns the land it’s built on. The restaurant has gained popularity in the past couple of months as it offers an amazing panoramic view of Kathmandu Valley.

Every day, Lama feeds many eagles. He tosses meat treats in the air, standing on his restaurant’s rooftop. He does this between three to five in the afternoon, and with such regularity that the birds have come to anticipate it. The meat he feeds the birds is usually leftovers from the restaurant.

The eagles consume about five kilos of raw meat each day, he says, adding he noticed that the birds of prey seem to prefer chicken meat. “They can catch it while flying and eat on flight too,” says Lama, the wonder evident in his voice.

Lama is fascinated by eagles and hopes to have one as a pet someday. He is planning to rename the restaurant. He wants to call it the Eagle Feeding Restaurant so that people know what to expect when they go there. Currently, he lets those who want to feed the birds do so at no extra cost.

During my visit to the restaurant, I could hear screeches of baby eagles asking for food as they were flying above our heads. After Lama fed them, they took flight towards Swayambhunath temple and eventually headed into Kathmandu Valley. Complete with breathtaking views of the valley, it made for a fascinating scene and experience.

Pashupati crematorium is located in the Pashupatinath temple premises in Kathmandu, Nepal. It’s a sacred Hindu site where cremations take place along the Bagmati River. Near the crematorium is the shop where you can find everything that is required for a traditional cremation—Paddy, straw shoes, ghee, wooden logs and sticks, green bamboo stretchers specially used to carry dead bodies from ambulances into the landing stairs (ghat) of the Bagmati river.

This shop fixes the prices of goods that are delivered and unloaded at the banks of Bagmati. The staff carry them and store them in the shop’s warehouse. Green bamboo is often used to carry dead bodies in some cultures due to its easy availability, strength, and symbolism. Bamboo is lightweight, flexible, and abundant in certain regions, making it practical for constructing a simple stretcher or carrier. Additionally, in some cultures, bamboo holds cultural or religious significance, and the use of green bamboo may be tied to symbolism related to life, renewal, or nature. The exact reason varies based on local traditions and beliefs.

I came across a middle-aged man selecting bamboo meticulously. His name was Rajkumar Tandukar. He told me he was preparing to make a ladder-shaped structure just behind the shop. It has been a decade since he has been doing this. He has made as many as over 25 bamboo stretchers in just a single day. Even though Pashupati now has an electric crematorium, the traditional method of cremation is still preferred over it. I saw many funerals being carried out along the banks of the river.

Thirty-eight-year-old Dawa Lama is known as the silver man. He has been standing as a statue at Buddha Park in Swayambhu, Pashupati Nath, and other areas of Kathmandu for the past three years. He changes into his gear and puts on makeup near the performance site, in a narrow street where he tries to make sure no one can spot him.

Earlier, he used to wear a silver-colored suit and hence he was known as the silver man. But since most people are attracted to the golden color, he has now transitioned into wearing a golden suit. He uses chemical-free golden makeup for his face.

Born in Sindhuli in Bagmati Province, Lama lives alone in a rented room in Lalitpur. His wife and three children are back in Sindhuli, with Lama’s parents. He uses ride-sharing apps to travel to his desired location. During festivals, he has taken his act to various parts of Nepal. He plans to perform at the Sali Nadi festival before thousands of people.

“I was fascinated by this act after I saw videos of people doing it in China and other countries,” he says. However, it wasn’t as easy as he thought it would be. He couldn’t stand for long. One and a half hours were the longest he could manage. Now, he can stand without moving an inch for up to five hours. The locals of his regular places have given him many names. He is the ‘sun manche’, ‘golden man’, and ‘dummy’, among other things.

There have been some scary incidents during his act as well. “Once, in Dang, these two girls thought I was a dummy and started taking pictures with him. As a joke, I moved a little to surprise the lady. She was so shocked that she fainted,” he says, adding he now refrains from giving the impression that he is an actual statue but he boasts that he can easily trick people if he wants to.

Lama is happy that he can take care of his family. And he loves what he does. He can also afford to part with a small fraction of his earnings to feed those in need. That is more than enough, he says.

Chaku, a sweet made from jaggery, sugarcane juice, ghee, and nuts, is considered essential to celebrate Maghe Sankranti. Joshi Chaku Factory, located in Tangal, Lalitpur, have been inundated with orders for the past three months. They have been working long hours, from four in the morning to eight in the evening.

Sixty years ago, Surya Das Joshi started the Joshi Chaku Factory. Today, he isn’t able to make chaku anymore but his family members are involved in the process and work at the factory. This is how they have been earning a living.

The factory employs eight people to make the chaku and another 30 to pack and deliver the product. The jaggery comes from Biratnagar in Morang and the chaku is supplied to stores in Lalitpur, Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, and Banepa. “We make a nice profit only in the winter season,” says Surya Das.

Maghe Sankranti is a widely celebrated festival on the first day of the month of Magh. For the Tharu community, it rings in the new year. It also marks the end of the winter season. The festival brings warmer weather and longer days as the sun moves towards the northern hemisphere.

Chaku is consumed during winter as it gives strength and stamina. It also warms the body besides containing vitamin B and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, and iron.