KATHMANDU (UCAN) -- Nepalese Catholics' positive views on important Hindu festivals are featured in the current issue of a popular Nepali magazine.

"Himal" magazine reports that Catholics do not reject Dashain (Dussera), celebrated Oct. 17 this year, or Tihar (Diwali), celebrated Nov. 10 this year.

Some Catholics even celebrate these festivals at home, according to the Oct. 18-Nov. 16 double issue of the magazine.

A two-page article mentions that Catholics do not believe that the Bible prohibits them from celebrating these festivals as cultural events and that the Catholic Church even encourages inculturation.

It says that Assumption Church in Kathmandu once tried to incorporate the ritual of putting "tika," a paste of rice and vermilion, on the forehead of willing worshippers during Dashain.

"Himal" quotes Monsignor Anthony Sharma, apostolic prefect of Nepal, as saying, "There is a meaning to the Dashain tika too. Even though we are Christians, we seek blessings from our Hindu parents and close ones."

The magazine also quotes Jesuit Father Bill Robins speaking about his exchanging "Bhai-tika" with a Catholic Nepalese woman. Bhai-tika is normally exchanged between blood brothers or sisters during Tihar. The Canadian priest had once donated his blood to the lady in an emergency during her pregnancy.

The article, whose headline is superimposed on a half-page photo of Assumption Church, cites a lay Catholic convert as saying that he celebrates Dashain happily with his Hindu parents and his Christian wife.

Protestant social activist K.B. Rokaya said in the magazine that most Christians alienate themselves from local culture and traditions. But just as Hindus celebrate Dashain as the victory of god Ram over Ravana, mythical king of Sri Lanka, Christians can celebrate it as the victory of Christ, he said.

Rokaya's view, though, is not typical among non-Catholic Christians.

Another Protestant talks about the difficulty some converts go through. "In the beginning I asked forgiveness from the Lord as I was bound to exchange tika with my parents and cousins, but in the last two years I have left all that completely," the convert said.

Protestants also spoke about going for long renewal programs during this season to survive alienation and renew their faith. Most offices and schools take long holidays during the Dashain and Tihar festivals.

The Catholic-run retreat center at Godavari outside Kathmandu is reportedly fully booked for October and November every year. The nun in charge of the ashram told UCA News that it is used by both Catholic and Protestant groups.

According to "Himal" there are some 400,000 Protestants in Nepal with 1,500 churches, 200 of them in the Kathmandu valley. It says there are about 6,000 Catholics in the country, a number close to what Catholic Church sources say.

END