Class 9 English Beehive


Kathmandu

NCERT Solution

Part 2

Answer the following questions in not more than 100–150 words each

Question 1: Compare and contrast the atmosphere in and around the Baudhnath shrine with the Pashupatinath temple.

Answer: The atmosphere in Pashupatinath Temple is utterly noisy and it can get on nerves of people who are not used to this kind of situation. People jostle with each other to touch the idol of the God. Monkeys are prevalent near temples in India and Nepal. They live in not so perfect harmony with human beings. Because of Hindu God Hanuman nobody disturbs them. The hawkers selling their wares and taut trying to dupe tourist is common at places like Pashuptinath temple.

On the other hand, the atmosphere at Budhnath stupa is full of calm. The way of Budhist worship is more about meditation and it is far from ritualistic worship of the Hindus. The Budhnath stupa has some Tibetans selling nick-nacks but the huge crowd of the Hindu pilgrimage is missing there. There is calm as opposed to chaos near the Pashupatinath temple.

Question 2: How does the author describe Kathmandu’s busiest streets?

Answer: Kathmandu’s busiest streets are narrow. They are full of life. There are small temples with colourful deities along these streets. The street is full of vendors and shops. Some are selling things which are used in worship. Then there are hawkers selling fruits. There is a flute seller as well playing melodiously on his flute. There is total cacophony as loudspeakers are blaring different kinds of music.

Question 3: “To hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.” Why does the author say this?

Answer: The flute is one of the basic musical instruments. It is the simplest yet closest to the human breathing. One needs to breathe life into it to play it soulfully. If the flute player stops to catch his breath then the flute stops playing. Moreover, almost all civilizations have some kind of flute.

Because of its prevalence around the world and its closeness to the human breathing the author says that to hear any flute is to be drawn into the commonality of all mankind.