Khooni Darwaza

The Khooni Darwaza looks deceivingly pleasant.  But it's not really so friendly a spot and it's history is as disturbing as it's name:  Bloody Gate.

There are violent tales of the monument's bloodstained past.  Which are true and which stories belong to other gates is lost to history.

Maybe this is where Mughal emperors Jehangir and Aurangzeb executed rivals.

Maybe this is where refugees were murdered during the 1947 riots.

Maybe this is a gate where criminals were executed and displayed.

Two incidents associated with the archway are accurate:
The 1857 murder of the last three princes and heirs to the Mughal dynasty,
and the 2002 rape of a medical student.

I like gates, I like history, and I like a well-told story. 
But here the echoes of brutality from days gone by are a little too easy to hear, especially in a city nicknamed "the rape capital".
Perhaps when the dynasty of violence toward women is finally ended and they can feel safe on their own streets, this gate's bloody history can fade away

Eid sacrifice

Eid Mubarak!

Today is Eid. A day for sacrifices.

I went out to a friend's house today and she said not to be alarmed when I saw her street. It was covered in blood from all the goat sacrifices. Actually, by the time I got there it was only puddles of water and a few people out hosing down their entryways. But the smell of fresh blood was still in the air.

The day before, we'd seen goats festively attired in garlands and bows. They were dressed for death.

And before that we'd seen sheep and goats lined up along the street outside the slaughter house. All in preparation for the big Eid celebration.

Camels, too. There were camels for sale to those who can afford a sacrifice of this size.

And they, too, were painted and decorated for Eid.

Cracked head

Daniel was tree climbing. It wasn't a very strong tree and the branch broke. He fell about eight feet to the concrete below. He was taken to the hospital where he got 10 stitches for the two different cuts on his head. Poor kid.
He has said that he learned an important lesson about consequences.

This is a picture of him with his cracked head and the puddle of
blood.


And this is a video of Daniel himself pointing out the site of The Incident.