One-hour observation

    

    Observation is an act or instance of noticing and perceiving. On the 19^th of September I woke up early in the morning to visit the Swayambhunath which is also know as the monkey temple form my anthropology observation assignment. I chose this place, as me being Buddhist I have so much love for it. It is one of the most religious and holy places in Nepal. It is considered as world heritage sight under unesco. It is close by my house but I have to climb 365 steps to reach the temple.

        
     As I climbed all those steps I was so tired and decided to sit down. I took out my notebook and a pen and started jotting down all the things I observed. What I have noticed at first is any one who enters the temple is happy and overjoyed to reach at the top of the temple. The temple is situated on top of the hill it has a peaceful and holy environment. There were so many people taking rounds of the stupa chanting Buddhist prayers, many of them are exercising and mediating. I could see the entire Kathmandu form here it was looking so beautiful. Monkeys were everywhere either jumping up and down, playing and some were in search of food. There was even a monkey who was getting chased by a black dog. People were staring at me and making a confused expression.  A man came and sat beside me stared at me for a while and asked me If I was Chinese when I replied no I am Nepali he was surprised, he then started asking lots of questions I was quite annoyed but replied to all his questions. At the end he handshake with me and asked my number which I obviously dint give. A Nepali soldier came followed by a group of people who were wearing complete white clothes. The group consisted of male and female, they had come here to exercise. As I started moving around to observe more things. There was a long line of people carrying offerings, waiting for turn to enter the temple and get blessed, there was this puja going in front of the temple I always imagine or saw pandits (Hindu priest) wearing orange clothes, different types of tika on their forehead but this pandits was so different he had worn ray ban shades and normal clothes I was quite surprised looking at him.
     
       The antique shops were just opening, while shops where we get butter lamps and offerings open early in the morning. Butter lamps are the product, which is the most sold and bought. There was this group of singers they even play instruments and sing every morning in swayambhu I don’t understand what they sing but I think most probably its in newari language. I saw a lot of tourist but most of them were Chinese. They had come along with a tourist guide. The guide was explaining the history and aspect of this place.  The famous drink of this place is divya ras, which a lot of people drink. It is good for our health. Even though it is such religious place teenagers come on dates or bunk school I could see lots of pairs dating and school students just chilling around. The most beautiful moment in this observation is when this young girl came and started feeding pigeons the pigeons came flying to the ground, there were people coming with bags full of bananas and fruits as they were walking around the stupa they were feeding the monkeys. The monkeys here in swayambhu are considered holy. There were lots of people gathered around an artificial pond, they had coins in their hands, which there were which they were trying to put inside a pot. There is a saying that if the coins go inside our wishes are fulfilled. 

                                                                                                                                           

As this was my second observation I think I have done it better. I have enjoyed doing it. Even though I had been to Swayambhunath several times I had never really observed it properly. Most importantly what I have learnt form both the observation is that we never observe things properly but when we do we can learn things quicker and get a better   understanding.