Tuesday, October 15, 2024 (continued)
Still in Bhaktapur, we followed a shopping alley to Taumadhi Tole/Square.
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| Nyatapola Temple (1702 in pagoda style) suffered minor earthquake damage in 2015, and is the tallest temple in Nepal |
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| The statues here begin with Rajput wrestlers Jayamel and Phattu (said to each have the strength of ten men), then elephants with floral saddles, lions with bells, beaked griffins with ram's horns; and the goddesses Baghini (part tiger) and Singhini (part lion); each level is supposed to be ten times stronger than the one below |
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| There are said to be 108 roof struts with carvings of Hindu gods and goddesses |
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| Behind the Nyatapola Temple are the wheels and runners of chariots, perhaps for Rath Yatra/Chariot Festival |
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| Bhairavnath Temple (17C, 2nd level added 1717, 3rd level 1934) is dedicated to the Bhairava manifestation of Shiva |
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| Bhairavnath Temple façade |
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| Chariot wheels and runners to carry the figure of Bhairava during the Bisket Jatra Festival |
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| A brass lion holding a standard with the double pennon flag of Nepal (KSS) |
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| A youngster rings the temple bell |
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| Pilgrims leave offerings |
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| A small opening in the panel is for cash offerings |
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| Painting of Bhairava that is decorated with a garland of buffalo guts |
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| Next we walked to Talako Tole/Potters' Square, passing pop-up shops |
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| We started seeing drying pottery along the way |
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| Tractor truck (KSS) |
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| Potters' Square had two shrines: on the left is a Ganesh Temple, and on the right is a Vishnu Temple (1934, constructed from temple remains from an earthquake) |
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| Drying pottery |
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| The Ganesh Temple (1646) priest is chosen from the Kumal/potters' caste |
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| Here the roof struts are painted |
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| A peek inside the Ganesh Temple |
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| Donation box outside the temple |
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| Fired pottery |
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| A clay mixer is extruding a thick coil of dark clay |
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| Clay was stored in plastic bags (KSS) |
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| The kilns were located behind the shops in the square |
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| Local shops sold a two-faced marionette |
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| View of both sides |
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| This side is Hanuman, the monkey god |
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| Small clay masks of goddesses Green Tara and Barahi |
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| Singing bowls that make a nice humming when the wooden mallet is rubbed around the rim |
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| Hanging lanterns and/or chimes |
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| Bell mobiles |
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| Jerry takes advantage of trying a potter's wheel in one of the many shops |
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| Jerry's bowl is on the right |
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| Next we stopped in an "official" Gurkha knife shop; these are military knives and the tiny objects are cap badges |
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| A much fancier knife and case |
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| A typical shopping street in Bhaktapur |
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| Heading out the Khauma Tole gate with colorful decorations for the Dashain Festival |
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| These were sparkly textiles |
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