Gurung community celebrates Lhosar with enthusiasm

By Perina Pathak

KATHMANDU, Dec. 30 : "Yashimala" "Yashimala," literally meaning ‘Happy New Year’ in the Gurung language, was reverberating in the premises of Birendra International Convention Centre, here today.

In spite of the two-day general strike in the Bagmati and Narayani zones, called by the Maoists, more than ten thousand Gurungs of the valley participated in their great festival, Lhosar. Participants of the function said that for enthusiastic people even the ‘bandh’ had no effect.

"Elder people, children and those without private vehicles were not able to come and celebrate the festival with us," said Krishna Gurung, member of the Tamu Lhosar Main Organising Committee, "Whereas compared to last year, there are more people this year," he said.

With printouts reading ‘Lhosar celebration’, ‘Happy New Year’ and ‘Yashimala’ pasted on their vehicles and bicycles, the Gurungs were there to celebrate the important festival of the year.

Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) Pashupati Shumsher JBR and other leaders were also present on the occasion to wish New Year to the entire Gurung community.

PM Chand and other dignitaries also participated in the community dance, with the PM dancing for a minute with a partner attired in traditional Gurung costume of cholo, ngewo (sari), ghalek and kramu. Even the Gurung men cut a fine figure in their traditional dress of kerale, reng and kachhad.

The Gurung community today celebrated Lhosar, the coming of the year of the sheep – ‘Lhuklho’ while bidding farewell to ‘Taalho’ - year of the horse. Lhosar, which means New Year, are of three types, Sonam Lhosar and Gyalbo Lhosar as observed according to Tibetan lunar calendar are celebrated by the Tamang and the Sherpa community respectively. Whereas Tamu Lhosar celebrated today is a festival of the Gurung community.

According to Prof. Gajman Gurung, Tamu Lhosar falls on Poush 15 every year as per the lunar calendar. "Today is the day of the year which has the shortest day and longest night. From today, the days become longer and the nights shorter," he said.

From today, the Lo (horoscope) changes from horse to sheep. According to Sino-Tibetan astrological system, there are twelve Lo’s (mouse, bull/cow, tiger, rabbit/cat, dragon/divine, eagle, serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, hen, dog, pig) with one whole year being represented by the same Lo. The astrological name of this year is sheep, which comes once after every twelve years.

The Gurung community today celebrated the Tamu Lhosar, eating delicacies, mostly the bara (made out of black lintel), wearing new clothes and visiting friends and relatives to receive blessings from family elders.

At the function today, people young and old participated in mass prayers with enthusiasm. Various Gurung organisations participated in Jhaki (procession) and children from different schools performed traditional dances.

Addressing the gathering, PM Chand said that the country is known for its multi-cultural and multi-lingual society. "So, this gathering in the time of bandh and violence shows the co-operation and harmony among the communities," he said.

RPP president Pashupati Shumsher JBR said that it would be better if the recent National Assembly could be converted into the Communal Assembly.

Similarly, Ishwor Pokhrel, Member of the Standing Committee of CPN (UML) accused that the Lhosar holiday declared by the government a year back has not been implemented yet.

Also PM Chand released a book Nepalma Prachalit Yen Kanun Ra Yasako Byabaharik Prayog. Written by Bhabiswar Gurung the book includes provisions relating to the ethnic communities in the governing-laws and constitution.

Nation observes late king’s 58th birth anniversary

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec. 30 Reports of various programmes organised to mark the 58th birth anniversary of His Late Majesty King Birendra have poured in from different parts of the country.

InNepalganj, heartfelt tributes were paid to the late king by offering flowers and vermilion powder on his portrait amidst a programme organised at local Dhambohi Chowk.

At the programme organised by Nationalist Civic Society, Banke CDO Dilli Prasad Joshi and others shed light on the various aspects of the personality and contribution of the late king. The society president Ajaya Raj Singh presided the function.

Meanwhile, 27th Birendra running shield tournament began at the sports ground of local Mangal Prasad Secondary School yesterday.

InGorkha tributes were paid to the late king by organising a programme at district headquarters by Gorkha District Development Committee.

Paying tributes on the occasion were district judge Yagya Prasad Basyal, former assistant minister Jit Bahadur Nepali, CDO Madhav Prasad Ojha, police officers, district level army chiefs, journalists, social workers, teachers, students and locals. InMahottari Sri Panch Birendra Peace Academy, Mahottari organised a programeme at Matihani to mark the birth anniversary of the late king.

At the programme presided over by academy chairman Ram Kumar Mandal, academy principal Rhishi Ram Paudel, professor Devi Prasad Kafle and others paid floral tributes on the portrait of the late king.

InNuwakot at a programme organised at district headquarters, different persons including district judge Indra Man Karmacharya and CDO Mohan Bahadur G.C. spoke on the late king’s contribution and his personalities. They paid tributes by offering flowers, garlands and vermilion powder on the portrait of the king.

Likewise, a tribute programme was organised at Dhunche to mark the 58th Birendra Jayanti.

At the programme presided over by local priest Dharmagat Pande different persons including CDO Kshetra Bahadur Bhandari paid tribute to the king by offering flowers on the portrait of the late king.

Mao Tse Tung’s 110th birth anniversary marked

RSS

BHAKTAPUR, Dec 30 Chairman of the Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (NWPP) Narayan Man Bijukchhe ‘Rohit’ has said the election to the Constituent Assembly, if ever held, should be held in the manner of the parliamentary elections.

Addressing a programme to commemorate the 110th birth anniversary of the great Chinese leader Mao Tse Tung organised by the NWPP Gundu village committee here the other day, Bijukchhe said ceiling on land and property should be fixed, work and livelihood for the people should be guaranteed, equal opportunity provided for personality development and provision should be made for prohibiting opening bank accounts in foreign countries.

NWPP district working committee president Ramesh Thapa Shrestha and Gundu village committee office-bearers shed light on the life and contributions of the late Chinese leader Mao Tse Tung.

Bandh days no more lucrative for rickshaw pullers

By Thiral Bhusal

KATHMANDU, Dec. 30 Bandhs (strikes) frequently called by different groups, often by political parties, sound like a nightmare for the general public. Such moments are usually found to be lucrative for rickshaw-pullers. However, nowadays, the situation does not seem to be favourable any more even for these people.

"Bandhs declared prior to one month or so, does not make difference in their earnings. However, if the call for bandh is made all of a sudden and strictly implemented, it has some impact," Durga Bahadur Thapa, a rickshaw-puller from Kavre, said. Thapa said in the case of earlier announcement for bandh, people can have time to make necessary arrangements.

"Bandhs during these days are less profitable for us compared to that of previous years. Look at some of the taxis and tempos who dared to come out with their number plates covered ," Thapa remarked pointing at the vehicles in front of the Tribhuvan International Airport gate. "I earned Rs. 400 yesterday excluding Rs. 100, which is the rent for the rickshaw".

‘‘In normal situation, he said, we make Rs. 150 to 200 per day" adding, "It depends on what type of passengers you get. Yesterday alone, one of my friends could make out four thousand eight hundred rupees".

Yesterday’s bandh proved relatively more profitable for Navraj Karki, who earned Rs. 700. However, the condition today, could not be favourable for him as more vehicles were seen on the road. Karki, mainly a farmer from Ramechhap, is a seasonal rickshaw-puller because he takes up the profession in Kathmandu when he is free in his village.

"Tourists are more lucrative source for us. But now they are rarely available. Even those few are picked up by the vehicles of the concerned hotels and airlines," Karki said.

Likewise, 19-year-old Ram Bahadur Lama of Barabise, narrated a similar story. "When we bargain for hundred rupees, taxi and tempo drivers catch the passengers for 40 rupees because their work is far easier than ours. Look at this !" said Lama and Thapa showing blisters on their palms.

Twenty-year-old Thapa is the head of his five-member family. "When I was eight, my father passed away. I think I was 10, when I got married," Thapa, father of two daughters and one son, said recollecting his past memories.

Thapa, who has been working as a rickshaw-puller, for four years, has set up a shop in Asan for his wife. Now he could manage for education, health and other basic requirements of his family. "I earned, all that I have, from this profession," observed Thapa with self-satisfaction.

Bandhs are the only days when they can make at least safe returns from the rickshaws they hire. The rickshaw-owners, however, increase the rent during the bandh days up to 100 rupees while the normal rate would be Rs 60 to 80 depending on the condition of the rickshaw. They have to work within certain areas allowed by the concerned authorities except in the days of bandhs.

They, too, are the victims of the deteriorating state of tourism industry. They lament on the lack of tourists.

Stone-breaking a source of earning livelihood

Post Report

KAILALI, Dec 30 Since the last two years 14 year-old Bhojraj has been breaking stones along the Khutiya River to support his education. Everyday after school is over, Bhojraj is at the river bank breaking stones into smaller pieces.

As his father died when he was in standard two, Bhojraj, together with some of his relatives, breaks stones at the Khutiya River, which earns them some money for sustenance and for his school fees.

"To continue my studies for my dreams to come true, it is better for me to break stones than go around begging," says young Bhojraj.

This young boy, who never sought nor received any assistance from anybody, has the courage to live and earn independently. All along his ambition to educate himself has remained strong and now he has reached standard four.

Along the banks of the Khutiya River in Kailali district there are hundreds of others from poor families who have taken to this income-generating profession.

From September to May when the level of the river recedes, the job of collecting stones and breaking them to smaller chips for the construction business, begins. Selling the stone chips to contractors has become a source of income for many poor, jobless people. Contractors of construction companies pay Rs 400 per cubic metre for the stone chips.

Parbati, a woman labourer at this river-site, told The Kathmandu Post correspondent that she sets out in the morning with her six-month-old child, breaks stones till the evening. Often, it becomes difficult to sustain a family when all their chips are not sold off. This usually happens when there is a slump in the demand or when there are too many people breaking stones.

Most of the labourers working at this river-bank belong to the Dalit community and though some make more money than others, all are bogged down by the same problems. Though Kapa Devi Nepali and her relatives have been engaged in the stone-breaking profession for over 12 years, there has been no change in their economic status nor living standards.

Ex-Kalikot CDO alleged of embezzlement

By Tularam Pande

MANMA, Kalikot, Dec 30It has come to light that the former Kalikot Chief District Officer (CDO), Mathwar Singh Thapa, misappropriated about Rs. 53,000 submitting a fake per diem allowance while returning to the capital, knowledgeable source said here.

Former CDO Thapa was called back by the Home Ministry about two months ago after receiving public complaints of collecting kickbacks and pending jobs of local people. The Home Minister said that Thapa has now been transferred to Hetauda as a sub-administrator.

Sources said that the ex-CDO had submitted a fake bill of per diem allowances of his mother, wife and two children, who never arrived in the district headquarters since his appointment as the chief administrator of the district. Kalikot is believed to be one of the Maoist-affected districts in the Karnali Zone.

A knowledgeable source told The Kathmandu Post that he received more than Rs 34,000 in cash for his family members’ travel and daily allowance and more than Rs 16,000 in cash for his travel and daily allowances before he left the district for Kathmandu.

The source said that he flew to Surkhet in a helicopter whereas, in his statement, he claimed to have travelled on foot all the way to Jumla. Local officials said that it is impossible to cover such a long distance on foot, that too in the Maoist-affected areas.

Jagat Man Shrestha, Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Kalikot District Police Office, said that none of his family members came to the district headquarters apart from the CDO.

When asked to comment about receiving taxpayer’s money, Thapa, in Hetauda, claimed to have received the said amount of money as per the existing financial regulations. "I received the amount after getting it ratified by the Controller’s Office," said Thapa over the telephone. Replying to yet another query, he said, "I could not take my family members to the Maoist-hit district. Don’t you think I should arrange money for the expenses of my family members even if they are not with me?" he questioned.

DDC to provide Rs 300,000 to Hetauda Hospital

Post Report

HETAUDA, Dec 30 The Makwanpur District Development Committee (DDC) is to provide Rs. 300,000 to Hetauda Hospital to procure a portable x-ray machine. The hospital has been without an X-ray machine for over one year.

Local Development Officer, Ramesh Kanta Poudel, said that it was decided at a meeting of the DDC held recently to provide financial assistance to the only hospital in this district, since many patients have inconvenienced due to lack of an X-ray machine.

The portable X-ray machine is convenient as it can be moved from room to room as needed. Instead of providing money for the repair of the old-model machine, it was decided to provide money for purchasing the new portable one, said Poudel.

The X-ray machine at the hospital had remained mal-functioning for the last 13 months, and lack of funds prevented repairs being undertaken.

The Hetauda Hospital has been providing service to patients, not only from this district, but also to people living along the Mahendra and Tribhuvan highways.

Fog, low visibility shuts Simara Airport

Post Report

BARA, Dec 30 Simara Airport remained inoperative since Saturday, as thick fog has blanketed the area, making it difficult for planes to land and take-off due to poor visibility.

Hari Bhatta, the chief officer at Simara Airport, informs that due to the fog on Saturday, apart from a Necon Air flight, all other flights had been cancelled.

During winter, the average temperature around the district headquarters, Kalaiya, hovers at around 20 degree Celsius, but the mercury dipped to 14 degree on Sunday, going down further on Monday to 12 C.

From Simara, definitely the oldest airport in Nepal, flights used to be connected with Parsa, Bara, Rautahat, Makwanpur, as well as to various border towns of India like, Raxaul, Mujjafarpur and Patna.

Normally the airport provides services to two flights of Cosmic Air, a flight each of Necon, Shangrila, Gorkha and Yeti Airlines on a daily basis.

Chief officer Bhatta states that until the weather conditions improve and the fog clears, there is no alternative but to wait.

Due to this disruption of flights in and out of this airport, around 6,500 passengers are being affected.

Accused of a witch, Padam Maya flees from her village

By Tola Njatta

MANTHALI (Ramechhap), Dec 30 Accompanied by her husband and carrying her young baby, Padam Maya Shrestha, 47, of Koljor of Rampur VDC, fled her village on Saturday night and walked all the way to Manthali the district headquarters of Ramechaap to seek justice against a village that had stamped her a witch.

When Prem Lal Shrestha fell sick, his sons accused her of having practised witchcraft on their father. "They surrounded my house one evening and left with threats that they would kill me if I failed to cure their father within three days," said Padam Maya, a mother of three children. "I am neither a witch nor a shaman, how can I cure the old man? I had no alternate but to run away."

Prem Lal, the patient, had lost control of his senses following the death of his wife. However, Mangaley, the shaman in the village had accused Padam Maya of being responsible. Local residents and the sons vented their anger on her, according to Padam Maya.

"If our father dies, we will kill you to save ourselves from your black arts in the future," Chitra Bahadur Shrestha, a son of the old man, is said to have threatened Padam Maya with. "Thus I have come here to beg you to save my life," said a weeping Padam Maya.

"This is not the first time that the locals have called Padam Maya a witch. She has suffered for ten years and has undergone many ordeals. However, because of the recent threat I came to Manthali with my wife," according to Lok Bahadur Shrestha, the husband of Padam Maya.

"Saying that witchcraft does not exist, I tried my best to convince the villagers. I asked them many times not to trouble Padam Maya during my tenure, but to no avail," said Gahendra Darlami the erstwhile Chairman of the VDC.

Ten years back, even as she was with child, local people had charged her of being a witch and beat her mercilessly until she vomited blood. They also exacted a fine of Rs 50 from her, said Padam Maya, narrating an incident of what she faced at the hands of her fellow villagers. Ever since that beating, she has been suffering from complicated chest problems.

"Nobody in the village believes that I am not a witch. If a child suffers any minor illness or if any person or domestic cattle fall ill, every body turns on me," lamented Padam Maya.

"Fed up with accusations and harsh treatment meted out to my wife, I asked the village shaman to tell the truth. I took some rice with me to the shaman for a ritual. Instead of the truth, he insisted that my wife was a witch," said Padam Maya’s husband. "Maybe it is because we are poor, that people mistreat my wife. Even our relatives loathe us and charge my wife of being a witch."

The tormented couple left behind their two small daughters in the village to look after their cattle. "Once you are gone, the people might beat us saying that we are daughters of a witch, so please return soon," quoted Padam Maya.

Timber smuggling on the rise in Birgunj

BIRGUNJ, Dec 30 (PR) - Hundreds of thousands of trees standing along the canals under Narayani Irrigation Development Project (NIDP) have been cut down and smuggled at an alarming rate. However, the concerned bodies have failed to take actions to check the smuggling.

The trees stand along the sides of 451-kilometre area of the canals under NIDP in Parsa, Bara and Rautahat districts. "Around, 60 per cent of the trees might have been cut down by now," said Ram Charitra Mahato, the Chief at NIDP. However, there have been no substantial efforts either from the District Irrigation Offices, District Forest Office (DFO), District Police Office (DPO) and District Administration Office (DAO). One keeps requesting the other to take charge of controlling timber smuggling in the area.