A bakery for the women of Thambahal tole
Classic example of successful help for self help

Opening of "our" bakery in Kirtipur on April 2^nd 2008

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The Kirtipurians insisted on taking occasion of my visit of April 2008 to officially celebrate the inauguration of  the new bakery, although the daily baking had provisionally started already immediately after completion of the building in December 2007. It looked as if the whole inhabitants of the Thambahal tole were present when I was escorted to the bakery in a traditional Newar-procession.

At the entrance of the tole the women welcomed their guest dressed in their traditional hand-woven black Newar-saris with the typical red  seam. The shirts are hand-woven as well showing a design that is only used in Thambahal tole. The men and boys from the neighbourhood were watching to the ceremonies with great interest when the guest was  solemnly receiving the puja and a garland of flowers.

Accompanied by traditional music by drums, cymbals and wind instruments the procession was guided through the narrow lanes. Some of the men were

taking care for  the order of event not without settling urgent matters with their mobile phones which are indispensable even in this small and poor Newar village.

"Our" bakery is located in the the recently constructed first floor of  the communal building at the edge of the little village square.

High up at the building wall a commemorative plaque honouring the donators had been mounted on the occasion of the official opening. The plaque was covered by a red curtain and I had to unveil it by using an artificial mechanism.

An extended inspection of the bakery and the stock room followed. Some of the women did not let themselves disturbed and unswerving continued their work because they knew that within a short time the power supply was to be cut off again for the next 4 hours - as usual in Nepal due to the shortness of energy. After the inspection everybody had to taste all the different bakery stuff: doughnut fried in oil, soft rolls with sesame seeds and the newly  produced dry and not perishable cookies. 

Strong rice wine was served with it and "Nepal tea", prepared with milk and deliciously refined with masala spices. The three untypical chairs -specially provided for the three European guests - naturally stayed unused much to the delight of the women.

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