Among the Muggles

After my 8:30-9:30 class, I walked briskly and fast than the usual because I was trying to catch the last full show of the Order of the Phoenix.

My Prince was already waiting at the end of the pathway of the UM. Though he is on his crutches and with the tractions on his left leg for 4 months now, still he is dashing and in the mood for a Harry Potter appointment. We took a taxi from the pathway of the University and headed for the NCCC Mall.

The last full show started at 10 in the evening. We reached the Mall 20 minutes before the movie started. I expected to see an evening with many people in a long line and excited for the movie, my expectation was wrong. Then suddenly, I panicked and thought of turning back and go home because maybe the last full show has already started. I hurriedly went to the ticket booth and was even surprised to see that there was no sigh in the booth that the movie is in a “standing room” state or already full or all seats taken, there was no sign that indicated that there were lots of people inside. So I asked for two tickets, paid for it, and off we went inside Cinema 3.

The movie didn’t start until a quarter past 10. Pairs and in group of Muggles kept coming in. Until before the movie started, the seats were full. I loosened up because I no longer felt that it will be one of those famous-titled-sequel-movie-but-not-so-good.

The movie started and Prince and I were so focused. The movie is about Harry’s return to Hogwarts as a fifth year student. He discovered that much lies about hi has bean spread and malicious stories to the wizard community that all that happened to Harry, the encounter and attack of the dark lord Valdemort, was a lie and that all stories from young wizards are all made-up and it tainted the integrity of Harry. Worst, the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge indirectly supported the rumor by appointing a new Defense Against the Dark Arts Teacher, Miss Dolores Umbridge. Professor Umbridge insistently emphasized the “ministry-approved education at Hogwarts. She also emphasized the learning process through theory, and leave’s the student wizards vulnerable and unprepared to attacks and threats from the dark forces. At the prompting of his friends, Hermione and Ron, Harry was convinced to put the matters in his hands by giving lessons to few interested wizards students to learn how to use spells for their defense. After the first meeting, few numbers of students called themselves Dumbledore’s Army.

The movie has matured along with the main casts of the movie, Harry, Ron and Hermione, who has evolved into teenagers and have their own love interests. There was no scene for a quiditch game, but there was a very funny scene of defying rules when the Weasly twins made a huge spectacle out of Miss Umbridge when they did some tricks on fireworks during the exams.

As one of the muggles, I realized that as an audience, I have grown a little bit giddy during some scenes of Harry Potter. I was expecting more from the scene. I cold say that the movie, with the capacity of Warner brothers to come up with a good presentation, scale of 1 to 10, 10 as the highest, I would rate it 7. I would say it was 7 out of 10 because the stories of and background of some characters were highlighted, and that I particularly got so interested with Professor Snape’s history as once a young wizard student. I was surprised when there was a scene with Harry’s Dad as a bully young wizard and making fun out of Snape’s misery. Then there was the background of Nevel’s parents as a member of the secret order of the Phoenix formed by Dumbledore. Harry’s parents were members of the Order. Sirius Black, Harry’s godfather and was the main feature in the “prisoner of Azkhaban” was also a very close friend of Harry’s dad and protected Harry.

The movie focused the importance of loyalty and fighting for something good in times when almost everyone won’t stand and fight. It is about the value of friendship and loyalty to each other.

A “Living goddess” looses status

For weeks, I have been planning to write articles about my hometown, about women and about College life, friendship and many other topics under the sun. I still cannot decide on what to write about. While working and battling on my mind what to write about, I came across this interesting article which is about a young nepalese girl who was stripped of her title as aliving goddess. It is interesting and I want to share it with you and hear what are your thoughts about this.

Nepal "living goddess" looses status

A 10-year-old Nepalese girl was stripped of her title as a living goddess because she traveled overseas to promote a documentary about the centuries-old tradition, an official said Tuesday.

Sajani Shakya had her status revoked because she broke with tradition by leaving the country, said Jaiprasad Regmi, chief of the government trust that manages the affairs of the living goddesses.

Sajani is among several "Kumaris," or living goddesses, in Nepal, and as one of the kingdom’s top three, is forbidden from leaving the country. However, last month she went to the United States and other countries to promote a British documentary about the living goddesses of the Katmandu Valley. She is to return to Nepal this week. "We have begun the process to search for a new Kumari," said Regmi, adding that a task force would determine suitable candidates.

Ishbel Whitaker, director of the film "Living Goddess" said she was shocked and saddened by this news and would make sure the girl’s education was provided for. "The rule of not being able to leave was never a rule before…. Nobody ever said the Kumari can’t travel" she said by telephone from London.

Whitaker said they filmed in Bhaktapur for a year. "We had been speaking with people we felt were authorities, and now these others are claiming they are," she said. The film crew consulted anthropologists, the head priests of Sajani’s temple and her parents, the director said. And she said the Nepalese Embassy helped arrange Sajani’s trip to the U.S.

Living goddesses are worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists. The girls are selected between the ages of 2 and 4 after going through several tests. They are required to have perfect skin, hair, eyes and teeth, they shouldn’t have scars or wounds, and shouldn’t be afraid of the dark. They always wear red, pin up their hair in topknots and a "third eye" is painted on their forehead. Devotees touch the girls’ feet with their foreheads, the highest sign of respect among Hindus in Nepal.

During religious festivals the girls are wheeled around on a chariot pulled by devotees. Living goddesses usually keep their title until their first menstruation. The main Kumari lives a sequestered life in a palatial temple in the capital, Katmandu. She has a few selected playmates and is allowed outside only a few times a year for festivals. Others like Sajani are allowed to stay at home, attend regular school and take part in festivals.

The government last year announced a monthly pension of $40 for serving and retired Kumaris. Previously, the main Kumari received only a gold coin during an annual festival and the other girls received whatever was offered by devotees. Nepalese folklore holds that men who marry a former Kumari will die young, and so many girls remain unmarried and face a life of hardship.

Critics have said the tradition violates both international and Nepalese laws on child rights. But the film director said the Kumari tradition can be modern as well.

"Sajani seemed to be a great example of how the tradition can move into the modern age," Whitaker said. She said she made the film because the living goddess tradition is beautiful and worth capturing before it disappears. ___

Associated Press Writer Carley Petesch contributed to this article from New York.