Why would someone spend $600 on a goat and then cry out loud while guests are eating it?
When you visit someone’s house during Tika, they usually have snacks, dinner, and all kinds of traditional dishes, and goat meat is often at the top of the list. But the price of goat has skyrocketed, reaching Mount Everest heights, yet Nepali people still feel like they must have it for Dashain. Instead of buying it for $4.86 per pound at Costco, they’ll drive an hour and spend $600 on a whole goat—everything included, even the testicles.
But my issue is, why announce in front of guests that the goat is expensive? Are they showing off that they can afford it, or is it a point of pride that they’re able to do it?
For Tika day at my house, I serve simple snacks like homemade fried chicken wings, beans, tama- bori, aloo- dam, saag sabjee, etc., No goat meat, no goat testicles, no intestines, liver, kidneys, eyes, tongue, or ears.
My guests can eat in peace, and as the host, I don’t have to complain about spending $600 on a goat.
