In July of this year RAF High Wycombe officially opened The Nepalese Heritage Centre in a blaze of colour and joy. As a meeting place for contemplation and prayer, it reflects the high regard that the RAF base hold their Nepalese community. Traditional arts and crafts were made and donated by the Nepalese families as well as other contributors to give thanks. But before the Centre could be used for prayer and meditation, a Purification Ceremony for the gifts was required.
In this traditional ceremony, a Hindu Pandit Guru or ‘Pujari’ (priest) is called upon to perform a cleansing of the shrine and gifts through prayer and song. The Guru, Shivachandra Niraula, from the Queens Own Gurkha Logistic Regiment (QOGLR) in Aldershot is a fourth generation Guru who can date his family’s service back to 1890. During the ceremony candles are lit on the shrine to signify bringing light into your life, and milk, rice and sauces are sprinkled over effigies of Buddhist & Hindu gods to offer thanks. The congregation pray for the three powers of physical health, wealth, and knowledge. At the close of the ceremony the shrine, which points west, was offered flowers and grasses as a final act of thanks and gratitude. With purification complete, meditation and prayer can now commence.
The invited guests were warmly welcomed by the Guru and members of the Nepalese community on base in traditional dress, before being offered sumptuous Nepalese food and lively conversation.
