Subhadra Gautam
Khyaute, the lanky goat, was born at a farmer’s home in a certain village in Sindhupalchok. Raju was the seven year old son of the farmer. He loved the goat very much since its early age. Besides Raju, the family had Raju’s parents, grandparents and his sister Rima.
One day, Raju’s parents talked about going to the Manakamana Temple to worship. Raju, who had never been out of home, too wanted to go. He pestered his parents to allow him to accompany. After his repeated pleading, the parents said yes to him. His happiness knew no bounds. He came into the front yard, jumping.
At one corner of the yard, Khyaute and his parents and siblings had been tethered. Khyauta was Raju’s favorite; he loved it so much. Whenever he went around in the village, he always took Khyaute with him. As Khyaute grew, Raju’s parents warned him not to take Khayute with him; so, Raju had started tethering it with its family in the yard. But whenever he was at home, Raju always passed his time playing with the goat. Since he was quite lean and thin, the family had named him ‘Khyaute’ — the lean one.
When Raju saw Khyaute, he wanted to take the goat with them on Manakamana expedition. He asked Khyaute if he wanted to go with him. Khyaute moved his head as if he were nodding.
Raju said to Khyaute, “Do you know, we can ride a cable car on the way to Manakamana? O, what a pleasure it is going to be!” Having said that, Raju joined his friends in their games.
Khyaute was quite happy, considering that he was joining the family to Manakamana. He boasted with his parents and siblings, asking them whether they had ever visited Manakamana. In fact, Khyaute’s parents, brothers and sisters had never been there. They too were impatient about the visit, but could no nothing, because Khyaute was Raju’s pick. They could not go on their own. So they told Khyaute to go, and on retuning, to tell them what the temple looked like, and what he saw on the way. Khyaute accepted the assignment and said, “Sure! I shall do as you said.”
Soon the day waned and night came darting. Raju returned home after playing with his friends. He had not discussed with his friends about taking Khyaute to the Manakamana temple. So, he said, “Mummy! Let’s take Khayute with us to Manakamana.” Mother denied. But Raju pestered repeatedly, and his father had to say, “It’s fine; we are taking him. Moreover, we owe a got to Mother Goddess as we have promised her an offer. It will be Khyaute we are offering.”
Hearing his father, Raju was extremely happy. He did not understand what the offering stuff was. It was decided that early next morning, Raju, his parents and Khyaute would move towards the Manakamana temple.
At day break on the following day, Raju and his parents headed towards Kathmandu, Raju’ father pulling Khyaute with a rope. This trip was the first for both Raju and Khyaute. Raju waved his hands to his grandparents and sister. The parents were not that enthusiastic, for, they had made such trips several times in the past as well. But it was really a matter of celebration for Raju and Khyaute. On the way, whatever Raju ate, he shared a portion with Khyaute. Both walked ahead, happily.
After an hour’s walk, they reached the bus stand. Raju’s parents took their seats in the bus, father still holding the tether. Mother kept Raju on her lap. Though Raju had boarded buses in the past, they were of short distances only. But it was the first occasion on the part of Khyaute that he was on board a bus. It exhibited certain fear, to which, Raju boosted his courage to say nothing wrong would come forth. This way, their journey moved ahead, and after four-hour travel, they reached Kathmandu.
At Kalanki, they hurriedly took another bus for Kurintar. Though it would be impossible for them to reach back home on the same day, they thought they could still manage to reach back to Kathmandu, and put up at a relative’s so that they could start for home early next day. At 2 o’clock in the afternoon, the family, along with Khyaute, stood in front of the office of the cable car at Kurintar. Since there was no crowd, Father procured tickets easily, and they stood in line to board the car. Khyaute was along with them in the line. But, at the time of boarding, they were told that a goat was not allowed to be in a car meant for people. This deeply hurt Raju, and so, he started pestering his parents not to leave Khyaute behind. When the parents and the cable car staff explained that Khyaute could go in a different car meant for carrying animals, and they could meet up there at the temple within a gap of ten minutes, Raju was convinced.
But Khyaute felt bitter. It was a new place, and there was no one around, whom he knew. Worst of all, Raju was not there with him. He was quite lean in the first place; to it was added fear. So, he started trembling. He did not enjoy the car journey alone, though he had come from home with high enthusiasm. He grew really sad.
His family flashed in his memory. Though he did not want, he was forced to board a car meant for animals, and within a few minutes the car stopped up there on the hill. Probably because it was already late in the afternoon, there was no other goat brought for offering. Khyaute was going giddy, probably because he had boarded a cable car for the first time. It seemed that his aching head would burst out.
At the car stop, Khyaute showed reluctance to walk even when Raju’s father pulled him with the rope. Raju and his mother had been waiting, a little further on the way. Father pulled Khyaute by force. Khayute showed some happiness only on seeing Raju.
Then, everyone walked uphill, towards the temple of Manakamana Mai for prayer. At its gate, Father bought flowers and prasad for offering. Since the location was new, Raju looked all around with interest. Outside the temple, he was amazed to see hotel owners competing to lure the devotees to lunch at their hotels.
On reaching the temple along a long line of people, Raju busied himself in ringing the bells. He rang all the bells he could touch. Khyaute enjoyed seeing Raju’s activities.
Soon it was the turn of Raju’s parents to worship. The parents did as the priest said. Khyaute was worshipped too, with seeds of grain, red powder and flowers, and was slowly pulled towards a different temple. Raju quickly worshipped, and followed his parents.
Raju did not like this temple that was smaller than the main temple. He asked his father why so much of blood had spilled there. Father answered that it was because of ‘puja’. Raju asked back why they needed to spill blood for puja. Father explained that there, they made offerings to the Goddess by slaughtering goats, cocks, drakes and other birds and animals.
Khyaute, on the other hand, had been utterly terrified. Knowing that Raju’s parents, who reared him like their own child with so much of love and care, had brought him hither to kill. He wanted to run to his village and tell other goats like him never to make a trip to Manakamana. He put all his effort to escape from the rope Raju’s father held in hand. This almost choked his throat. He had tears, remembering the promise he had made to his family that on returning, he would tell them all that he had seen and experienced on the way.
Raju revolted, saying that he would not, at any cost, allow them to slaughter Khyaute. The priest said, it would be unlucky to take back a goat brought to offer to the Goddess, and in a single blow of the sword, separated Khyaute’s head from the body. Raju let and shill cry, and poured his anger against his parents. He then exchanged no word with anyone. He was quite upset with Goddess Manakamana too, who devoured his Khyaute that he had brought by convincing his parents with difficulty. He said, “What kind of a Goddess are you? Why do you need to feast on my poor Khyaute?”
Raju resolved that he would never again come to Manakamana temple, and never allow people to bring more goats. He ate nothing for the day, and remained silent, quite angry with his parents.