A Chance Puja In Kutumsang

               As we passed through the village of Kutumsang, seeking anybody to talk to, we noticed that it was eerily empty. The fog added to the quietness of it all like a blanket. We passed a house with a great ruckus inside and decided to steer clear, they were probably just drunk. Soon, we found a man named Kami who was kind enough to tell us a bit about his culture. When he realized just how interested we were in his people and their ways of life, he asked if we wanted to see one of their worship gatherings. Not knowing at all what we were getting into, we decided to follow him back into the fog. When he turned a sharp left toward the house of ruckus, I began to feel a bit like a fool.

            This worship gathering or “puja” in Nepali, was a slurry of excellent food, loud drumming, an occasional horn, and incessant mantra chanting. The people of Kutumsang welcomed us into their puja with open arms. The lamas running the show and chanting the mantras were more than happy to answer our many questions. When they realized that our curiosity might never end, they became more hesitant though. This incredible opportunity was invaluable for learning about their religious and spiritual beliefs! We learned that this puja is named Kongchu. Every year, a family calls upon the lamas (Buddhist teachers/priests) to perform the puja. They do this in hopes of blessings and protection from evil spirits. Because the villages are so small, a family affair becomes a whole village affair, so these pujas are a time for the village to celebrate and develop community. One of the most interesting things was their contentment with what in my eyes is hazy theology. When we asked what god they were worshipping or supplicating to with these mantras, we received the name Pegar Gyalbu. We had heard of Sange Chungdingde (the Buddha) and Guru Renpuchee (an influential teacher in Buddhism), but this was a new name! When we asked a little more about his identity, we discovered that there are so many more gods that they could worship. My first question was, “Why Pegar Gyalbu then?” The response was along a completely foreign way of thinking. Their answer: “Well, we had to pick one, so we landed on him!”

            I am a very logical person, and evidence and solid reasoning are integral in the way I think and make decisions. I will admit that my first reaction to their reasoning was pretty harsh. I hope that I never change how I make my own decisions, but I do hope that I can learn to value what is important to these people in how they think.