Bad Omen
Early morning at Mount Everest Base Camp. April 16, 2010
By Marshall Thompson
We got up to base camp today. Apa will arrive on April 18, just in time to participate in the puja ceremony on April 19. Apa went back to Thame to get more blessings from his hometown lama. The puja ceremony is incredibly important. The Sherpa believe that Everest is a goddess named Chomo or Jomo. The mountain is her abode as well as her personification. Before climbing, one must ask for permission and protection. Until the puja is complete, no one can sleep on Everest.
Upon arriving today, we learned that a member of the team who came up earlier, broke the long standing tradition and is sleeping at camp two tonight. It’s got several people rattled. Some may see the puja as superstition. This may be true. However, it’s also a way of mentally preparing for the dangerous climb. Observing it emphasizes patience, humility and preparation. Ignoring it is a bad omen.
Let’s hope everything goes well.
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