Monday, November 3, 2008
Assessing that more than 70,000 devotees will take part in the celebration Chhath festival
Assessing that more than 70,000 devotees will take part in the celebration, preparations for the Chhath festival has been completed in the Kathmandu Valley on Monday.
The number of Chhath celebrants has increased in the Valley this year because of obstruction of the East-West Highway by the devastating Koshi deluge and adoption of the festival by people other than that of the Mithila descent. Many people from the eastern Terai across the Koshi River could not return home to celebrate this festival this year.
More than 40,000 devotees are believed to be participating in the religious carnival of Chhath at Thapathali Ghat along the Bagmati River alone Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, said Satish Jha, secretary of Chhath Pooja Committee. “This will be double of the last year’s participation,” he added.
Devotees, principally women, throng the river banks and the ponds to worship the setting sun on the eve and the rising sun on the main day of the festival to break their fast.
According to Shree Prasad Sah, coordinator of the Chhath Festival Celebration Main Committee, preparations have been made for 35,000 devotees for the Chhath celebration at Ranipokhari.
To perform the rituals of the festival last year about 25,000 people thronged the artificial pond built by King Pratap Malla three centuries ago at the hub of the capital city.
A study shows that 15 per cent of total devotees who take part in the carnival are non-Terai people. “Because of the participation of other communities in this festival, communal harmony and brotherhood have been developed,” Jha said.
Taking into the increasing number of devotees into consideration, the area for performing rituals have been increased up to one kilometre at Thapathali along the Bagmati.
Besides Thapathali and Ranipokhari, the Chhath pooja will be performed at Guheshwori, Manahara, Kuleshwor Mahadev, Naxal Nagpokhari, Chiplekhola at Nagdhunga, and Balaju
The number of Chhath celebrants has increased in the Valley this year because of obstruction of the East-West Highway by the devastating Koshi deluge and adoption of the festival by people other than that of the Mithila descent. Many people from the eastern Terai across the Koshi River could not return home to celebrate this festival this year.
More than 40,000 devotees are believed to be participating in the religious carnival of Chhath at Thapathali Ghat along the Bagmati River alone Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning, said Satish Jha, secretary of Chhath Pooja Committee. “This will be double of the last year’s participation,” he added.
Devotees, principally women, throng the river banks and the ponds to worship the setting sun on the eve and the rising sun on the main day of the festival to break their fast.
According to Shree Prasad Sah, coordinator of the Chhath Festival Celebration Main Committee, preparations have been made for 35,000 devotees for the Chhath celebration at Ranipokhari.
To perform the rituals of the festival last year about 25,000 people thronged the artificial pond built by King Pratap Malla three centuries ago at the hub of the capital city.
A study shows that 15 per cent of total devotees who take part in the carnival are non-Terai people. “Because of the participation of other communities in this festival, communal harmony and brotherhood have been developed,” Jha said.
Taking into the increasing number of devotees into consideration, the area for performing rituals have been increased up to one kilometre at Thapathali along the Bagmati.
Besides Thapathali and Ranipokhari, the Chhath pooja will be performed at Guheshwori, Manahara, Kuleshwor Mahadev, Naxal Nagpokhari, Chiplekhola at Nagdhunga, and Balaju
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Bhai Tika observed
Bhai-Tika, the final day of the Yama Panchaka, has been observed with great zeal across the country on Thursday.
Concluding the five-day long festival, people from all walks of life received well wishes and prayers form their sisters to mark the Bhai-Tika today.
Sisters offer seven colours as Tika on the forehead of their brothers, and put garland of marigold and Makhamali around latter’s neck. Prior to that they inunct brothers with mustard oil. Oil and Makhamali flowers are symbols of longevity.
Sisters pray for long life and prosperity of their brothers with Lord Yamaraja this day.
Likewise, brothers also offer gifts such as clothes and Dakshina (money) to sisters while sisters give a special gift known as Sagun (which is a mixture of curd, dried fruits, nuts, and candies).
The time between 11:35 am to 12:55 noon was the most auspicious for Bhai-Tika, according to astrologers. The sisters could however offer Tika at any time on the day.
Nonetheless, Bhai-Tika has always been auspicious during noon time.
According to the Hindu mythology, even Yamaraja, the god of death, visits his sister Yamuna during the five days of Yama-Panchaka and receives Tika from her.
Hindu legends mention a story of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, offering Bhai-Tika to King Bali during noon this day which is the second day of the waning moon in the holy month of Kartik.
Concluding the five-day long festival, people from all walks of life received well wishes and prayers form their sisters to mark the Bhai-Tika today.
Sisters offer seven colours as Tika on the forehead of their brothers, and put garland of marigold and Makhamali around latter’s neck. Prior to that they inunct brothers with mustard oil. Oil and Makhamali flowers are symbols of longevity.
Sisters pray for long life and prosperity of their brothers with Lord Yamaraja this day.
Likewise, brothers also offer gifts such as clothes and Dakshina (money) to sisters while sisters give a special gift known as Sagun (which is a mixture of curd, dried fruits, nuts, and candies).
The time between 11:35 am to 12:55 noon was the most auspicious for Bhai-Tika, according to astrologers. The sisters could however offer Tika at any time on the day.
Nonetheless, Bhai-Tika has always been auspicious during noon time.
According to the Hindu mythology, even Yamaraja, the god of death, visits his sister Yamuna during the five days of Yama-Panchaka and receives Tika from her.
Hindu legends mention a story of Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity, offering Bhai-Tika to King Bali during noon this day which is the second day of the waning moon in the holy month of Kartik.
UN secy gen stresses on cooperating among parties
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon in his report made public on Tuesday commended the political parties of Nepal for their commitment to consolidating democracy.
“In common with other members of the international community, I have repeatedly stressed the importance of sustaining the cooperation among political parties on which the peace process was founded and which has brought it so far,” he writes in the report.
Ban lauded the pledge of the Nepali Congress, led by Girija Prasad Koirala, to help draft the new constitution, despite its decision to stay out of the Maoist-led coalition government.
He also praised the commitments made by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal concerning multi-party democracy and human rights.
Ban lamented the fact that the “understandable” delays in forming the government have not led to the “hoped-for progress” to allow the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country, known as UNMIN, to wind down by its mandate’s conclusion next January.
“The establishment of the special committee to oversee the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel is crucial in this respect,” he notes in the report, ”However, until the special committee begins its work, it is impossible to predict how soon it will be able to take key decisions and how long will be needed for their implementation,”.
There will be “substantial disagreements to be overcome”, he adds.
Calling on the government to “move as rapidly as possible to create conditions conducive to the completion of UNMIN activities”, the UN Secretary-General expressed regret that the status-of-mission agreement still has yet to be signed by officials.
The report also urged the international community to continue its support for the country to ensure that it successfully completes its peace process.
“In common with other members of the international community, I have repeatedly stressed the importance of sustaining the cooperation among political parties on which the peace process was founded and which has brought it so far,” he writes in the report.
Ban lauded the pledge of the Nepali Congress, led by Girija Prasad Koirala, to help draft the new constitution, despite its decision to stay out of the Maoist-led coalition government.
He also praised the commitments made by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal concerning multi-party democracy and human rights.
Ban lamented the fact that the “understandable” delays in forming the government have not led to the “hoped-for progress” to allow the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the country, known as UNMIN, to wind down by its mandate’s conclusion next January.
“The establishment of the special committee to oversee the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel is crucial in this respect,” he notes in the report, ”However, until the special committee begins its work, it is impossible to predict how soon it will be able to take key decisions and how long will be needed for their implementation,”.
There will be “substantial disagreements to be overcome”, he adds.
Calling on the government to “move as rapidly as possible to create conditions conducive to the completion of UNMIN activities”, the UN Secretary-General expressed regret that the status-of-mission agreement still has yet to be signed by officials.
The report also urged the international community to continue its support for the country to ensure that it successfully completes its peace process.
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