Khukuri: Through the eyes of a Gurkha

At Lagan, the midst of the old city of Kathmandu, sits an old palace that was the ancestral home of the famous Thapa family. The most famous member of this family was Bhimsen Thapa, Nepal’s first prime minister. He remained in office for some 30 years. During his time, Thapa modernized the Nepal Army. He made cantonments, magazines and barracks and drilled the Army into hard military training. To instill pride in the rank and file, he made badges, headdresses and uniforms. In the late 1830s, Bhimsen retired to his country estate. However, in 1839, his enemies lured him back to Kathmandu and imprisoned him. The charges of high treason were laid against him, and to break his spirit, he was informed that his wife was to be dragged naked through the city. The night before this outrage was to occur, Bhimsen hanged himself in his cell. After hearing the news, his wife threw herself from a high window of their palace with a rope around her neck. Even today rope hangs from the very spot in homage to this great statesman. In 1845, Bhimsen Thapa’s nephew became prime minister and initiated a full inquiry, which fully exonerated his late uncle. A great bloodbath followed, eliminating all the original Thapa enemies. Lagan Silkhana was never reoccupied by this family; it became the royal armory. From this particular armory, the Atlanta Cutlery Corp and the International Military Antiques of New Jersey purchased many rare, original weapons. Many such items had not been available for decades. This was truly their great opportunity to add to their British Victorian Weapons in their weaponry history, which also promoted the British Colonial and the US Civil War Collections.

Religious significance of modern Khukuri 

The British colonial administrators and military staff during World War I and II considered the ritual practices associated with kike or khukuris as superstitious, demonic and pagan. Many senior Kiranti officers would share this experience with us. The British Military Officers regarded such rites as a sign of the culture of backward and simple people of the hills. Many shamanistic rituals with ancient khukuri systems were banned from Gurkha Regimental protocols. But shamanism for Nepalis is something different. Shamans and priests, healers and astrologers are part and parcel of Nepali cultures. This tradition is thought to date back long, and is still practised in Nepal and neighboring countries. Khukuri still is a religiously significant weapon as it is worshiped during Dashain, the most important Hindu festival. It is worshiped at times before any sacrifice is made. Dashain is given importance in the Indian Gurkha and also the British Gurkha regiments. Since weapons are taken as symbols of power in Nepal as well as in the Indian and the British Gurkha regiments, all heavy and small arms are made sacred, and many male goats and buffaloes are sacrificed especially on Mahanawami (the ninth day of Dashain). In Nepal, 54 male goats and 54 male buffalos are sacrificed at the Hanuman Dhoka, Dashain Ghar and Kot as well as 108 male goats and 108 buffalos are sacrificed at the Taleju Bhawani on Kalaratri, the ninth day of Dashain. The British Gurkha Army and the Nepalese Army follow the same rites and rituals during the animal sacrifices given during festivals like Dashain. Their proven expert ceremonially sacrifices a fine male buffalo and goat in each regiment. A gigantic khukuri of over 30 inches length, weighing over five kilograms is used as the scapegoat’s head must be clearly served with one clean blow. Sometimes a khunda is also used. The choice of weapons depends on the sacrificer. When this is achieved, with 100 percent success, it is deeply believed that Goddess Durga Bhawani keeps on showering blessings on the regiment throughout the year. Finally, it is also a custom to honor an expert sacrificer. Usually, the commanding officer and Gurkha Major offer some cash reward to him. This honor is much valued among the Gurkhas. This practice has ceased in the British Gurkha Army since 1973 but not in the Pokhara Camp where a male buffalo and a male goat are ceremonially sacrificed in the name of the present Royal Gurkha Rifles (RGR). My personal experience is that Dashain has always remained a favorite festival among the Gurkhas and their officers. My Maj Gen CH Boucher, CB, CBE, DSO would wish Dashain greetings in this manner: “I wish all ‘Gurkha Officers’ and ‘Gurkha Other Ranks’ that this Dashera be joyful, prosperous and good from the bottom of my heart. Unfortunately, due to the full job of dominating ‘Communist Bandits’ you did not receive a full 10 days leave. However, all of you may get up to seven days leave. Although you are far from your homeland, I hope you will celebrate the festival happily.” For Malaysia-based Gurkhas, 2,000 gallons of duty-free rum used to be available tax free on the occasion of the big festival of Dashain. Testimonials issued by the Prime Minister and Supreme Commander in Chief of Nepal in 1947 state that the religious significance of khukuri must not be forgotten. In 1948, Maharaja Padma Shamsher JBR, the prime minister and Supreme Commander of Nepal, wrote: “The Khukuri is the national as well as the religious weapon of the Gurkhas. It is incumbent on a Gurkha to carry it while awake and to place it under the pillow when retiring. As a religious weapon, it is worshiped during Dashain (the most important Hindu festival) and at other times whenever any sacrifice is to be made.” Excerpts (edited) from the book titled Khukuri: Kike, History and the Gurkhas (188 pages) to be published by Adroit Publishers, New Delhi, in association with Vajra Books, Kathmandu. The tentative date of publication is Jan 2023