Gambling at the house of Raj Karki

Incidents of Travel > Kathmandu Valley > Raj & Friends

Raj Karki, a friend of Raj Khadka's from school, hosting close friends and relatives in an evening of gambling, traditional during Dasain.

This game turns on how many cowrie shells dropped on the floor land facing up. Each of the possible combinations of "up" cowries is assigned to one of the four senior men. Younger men and boys bet on one of the four.

The women of the family sometimes watched from the doorway, but mostly busied themselves in the kitchen.