At 1:00 am, there were hundreds of people at the temple. Stalls along the walkways hawked daruma dolls, wooden arrows, and all sorts of good luck charms. Food sellers were doing a brisk business with fried noodles, "baby custard" doughnuts, and warm sake.
It seemed as if all the residents of Sugamo had turned out at Togenuki-jizo temple to ring in the new year with a coin in the donation box and a prayer for a successful year ahead. I did the same, offering up wishes for good health and a good year.
My prayers made, I turned away from the temple and headed for the main attraction at Togenuki-jizo, a meter tall Jizo statue that's said to cure illnesses.
Tod, Brendan and I stood in line to have a chance to visit Jizo. When I reached the head of the queue, I tossed some coins into the box, picked up a washcloth and a dipper of water then gave Jizo a bath.
I poured water on the head, hands, and shoulders of the statue hoping for good health in all those parts. I gave Jizo an extra splash on the nose for Susan, Brendan's wife who was at home with the kids (and a head cold). Then I used the washcloth to pat Jizo dry.
As the next people in line began to bathe Jizo, we left to buy a wooden arrow to bring us luck this year, then headed home on the one night of the year that trains run all night.
Happy 21st century. Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu.
FIREFIGHTERS VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION OF NEPAL (FAN)
G.P.O.BOX NO. 19383, Kathmandu, Nepal
Dear Sir/Madam,
It is to inform you that, as a result of the efficient membership and co-ordination, our organization ‘Firefighters volunteers Association of Nepal (FAN)’ presents a documentary “Information on disaster “Several events are initiated within it. In the present context of our country several disasters (like land slides, floods, earthquake, soil erosion, gully erosion, inundation, scouring etc) are taking place. It’s the matter to be understood that small investment before the disasters may lead to protection for the huge loss.
The main objective of this documentary is to arise public awareness among the people about the disaster; it’s prevention and control. This documentary is a result of our efforts and ideas. The amount collected after the demonstration of this documentary will be collected in the fund of FAN and will be invested for the welfare of those people who are unknown about this changing world and it’s development. If we succeed in this effort, we will be encouraged for making other investigating documentaries. We have prepared this documentary in Nepali language to demonstrate in national level whereas in English for international level. We deserves its demonstration in the exhibitions, conferences and meetings where it can make it’s own identity. Launching of this documentary is as a milestone in the field of controlling disasters.
Firefighters volunteer Association of Nepal (FAN) opens a homepage and E-mail for enhancing the information discourse to and information exchange with our organization.
The address of homepage and E-mail are.
1.web site address: http://www.fan.org.np
2.E-mail address: info@fan.org.np
3.E-mail address: kkchapagain@fan.org.np
4 E-mail address: mitesh @fan.org.np
We hope we will be encouraged, co-operation.
Yours sincerely
…………………..
Kewal Kumar Chapagain,
President
Firefighters volunteer Association of Nepal
(FAN)
G.P.O.Box-19383,Kathmandu,Nepal
FIREFIGHTERS VOLUNTEER ASSOCIATION OF NEPAL (FAN)
G.P.O.BOX NO. 19383, Kathmandu, Nepal
Dear Sir/Madam,
It is to inform you that, as a result of the efficient membership and co-ordination, our organization ‘Firefighters volunteers Association of Nepal (FAN)’ presents a documentary “Information on disaster “Several events are initiated within it. In the present context of our country several disasters (like land slides, floods, earthquake, soil erosion, gully erosion, inundation, scouring etc) are taking place. It’s the matter to be understood that small investment before the disasters may lead to protection for the huge loss.
The main objective of this documentary is to arise public awareness among the people about the disaster; it’s prevention and control. This documentary is a result of our efforts and ideas. The amount collected after the demonstration of this documentary will be collected in the fund of FAN and will be invested for the welfare of those people who are unknown about this changing world and it’s development. If we succeed in this effort, we will be encouraged for making other investigating documentaries. We have prepared this documentary in Nepali language to demonstrate in national level whereas in English for international level. We deserves its demonstration in the exhibitions, conferences and meetings where it can make it’s own identity. Launching of this documentary is as a milestone in the field of controlling disasters.
Firefighters volunteer Association of Nepal (FAN) opens a homepage and E-mail for enhancing the information discourse to and information exchange with our organization.
The address of homepage and E-mail are.
1.web site address: http://www.fan.org.np
2.E-mail address: info@fan.org.np
3.E-mail address: kkchapagain@fan.org.np
4 E-mail address: mitesh @fan.org.np
We hope we will be encouraged, co-operation.
Yours sincerely
…………………..
Kewal Kumar Chapagain,
President
Firefighters volunteer Association of Nepal
(FAN)
G.P.O.Box-19383,Kathmandu,Nepal