Guest guest Posted October 21, 2008 Report Share Posted October 21, 2008 From South China Morning Post - Slice of Life 1950 http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/menuitem.2af62ecb329d3d7733492d9253a0a0a0/?\ vgnextoid=fb1be5a046a1d110VgnVCM100000360a0a0aRCRD & ss=Hong+Kong & s=News While Chinese climbed The Peak on October 19 (1950) for the Chung Yeung Festival, the 500 Ghurkas in the New Territories were chopping off heads to celebrate the Hindu festival of Dashera. The heads belonged to two young water buffaloes and numerous goats. Dashera is a 10-day celebration to worship Durga Devi, Goddess of Victory. The Ghurka engineers stationed at Fanling spent HK$10,000 on items including two buffaloes, 50 goats, 200 chickens, 400 ducks and 108 gallons of rum. After a week of dancing and merrymaking, the festival reached a crescendo on Kal Ratri (Black Night) two days ago. None of the Ghurkas sleep on this night and await the sacrificial ceremony, which starts at midnight with the decapitation, by a single stroke of a kukri, of a young goat. The main event was the decapitation of the two buffaloes. A special type of kukri - known as a thula that is 3ft and 6 inches long - is used. A sturdy little Ghurka, Sapper Tek Bahadur Tamang, took three blows to decapitate the first buffalo, but it was Corporal Chitra Baladur Ram who received great ovation because he sliced off the other bull's head with one lightning sweep. Both received the " warrior's puggaree " and an envelope of cash. The buffalo carcasses were returned to the contractor as the Hindu religion forbids the eating of their flesh. But the goats were given to the cooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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