If it’s Magh Tuesday, it’s time to worship Lord Ganesh

By Ranjan Rijal

KATHMANDU, Feb 5: Ganesh, the elephant-headed god of Hindus, is worshipped for auspicious beginnings and good luck. While Tuesday is Lord Ganesh’s day, the 10th month of the national calendar, Magh, is Lord Ganesh’s month. During this month, devotees throng to the Ganesh temples in the Valley and outside.

Both married and unmarried women keep a fast on Tuesdays to propitiate Ganesh, also known as Gajanand. In the five Tuesdays of this month of Magh (January and February), more devotees observe the fast for their wishes to be fulfilled.

One of the priests at the Ganesh temple in Kamaladi, Jamkanath Nepal "Nepal Baje", says that fasting on five Tuesdays of Magh is as good as fasting over the course of a year. "Magh Tuesdays are the best time to observe the fast for Ganesh," says the priest.

One of the sections of Swosthani, Skanda Puran, carries a tale about a devotee who by worshipping Lord Ganesh on Magh Tuesdays received blessings, says a senior priest, Krishna Prasad Acharaya. Narrating the tale in the Kedar chapter of Skanda Puran, Acharya says a poor Brahmin named Shiva Sharma who was without child, used to worship Ganesh every Tuesday.

The Lord became pleased with Sharma’s devotion and blessed him with child and wealth. From that day, says Acharya, people began worshipping Ganesh every Tuesday, especially in the month of Magh when God Swosthani is worshipped and the Swasthani scripture read.

According to priest Niranjan Sharma of Shora Hate (sixteen-handed) Ganesh temple, there are four important Ganesh temples in the Kathmandu Valley to which devotees go in large numbers on the Tuesday of this month. These temples are Karjya Vinayak (Bungmati), Surya Vinayak (Bhaktapur), Jal Vinayak (Chovar) and Ashok Vinayak (Kathmandu).

Adjacent to the Ashok Vinayak temple, there is a huge temple of Kasthamandap, one that is believed to have been constructed out of a single tree. At the four corners of the temple’s centre, reside four Ganesh statues, which take the names of the four above-mentioned temples.

There is also the belief that these four Ganeshes are the protectors of Kathmandu Valley. Says a woman devotee at the Ashok Vinayak temple: "These four Ganeshes surrounding the central arena of the temple are actually defending the Kathmandu Valley from external harm. I worship and pray to Ganesh to give security to the Valley "

Around 20,000 devotees visit each of the Ganesh temples on Magh Tuesdays, says a priest at Kamaladi Ganesh.

RNA’s contribution to development works

RSS

KATHMANDU, Feb 5: The involvement of Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) in the development works is expected to make significant contributions to accomplish the onerous task of the nation.

RNA has been carrying out development works assigned to it with utmost sincerity.

At present, RNA is playing a catalytic role in improving the law and order situation in the country which has deteriorated with destructive activities unleashed by the Maoist terrorists.

Notwithstanding the remoteness, diverse environment and availability of scarce means and resources, the Royal Nepalese Army personnel have been fully devoted to constructing feeder roads as well as expanding the existing road network in various parts of the country.

Works on construction of a bridge over Marsyangdi river which lies between Lamjung and Gorkha districts is going on speedily and the target is to complete it by Baisakh, 2059 B.S.

According to the Royal Nepalese Army Headquarters Development Work Directorate, construction of wall along the Katari-Okhaldhunga Road which was washed away by the Bhandari river during monsoon has been completed.

Likewise, construction of the structure of Manebhanjyang-Walethumka portion is underway.

Similarly, RNA also has completed construction of a road up to Jhulaneta in Rukum under Salyan-Musikot Highway. Transport services have already been started on the 56-km portion of the highway.

Stone cutting in Sankh area under the Musikot-Burtiwang Road is being carried out with promptness by armymen.

In addition, works on opening up of a seven-km track under the same road is taking place, according to the Directorate.

The construction of about 26-km portion from Dhankuta-Leguwaghat under the 82-km Hile-Bhojpur Road has already been completed.

Similarly, in the course of building the Beni-Jomsom Road, RNA has opened the two way traffic by constructing a 75-metre temporary bridge over Myagdi river.

Construction of the three-km gravelled road is being carried out speedily along with afforestation alongside the river banks by RNA in order to keep the river free from pollution.

Meanwhile RNA will start construction work of the Drabya Shah Highway in Gorkha district, Gorkha-Mankamana Road, Arughat-Arukhet Road and a Bailey bridge at Arughat in Dhading in the near future.

The Royal Nepalese Army had been mobilised in development work before the restoration of democracy in 2046 B.S.

Book on Newaa culture, festival released

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Feb 5 - Chancellor of Nepalbhasa Academy Satya Mohan Joshi released a book on Newaa culture and festival, Newaa Tajilajii Nakhaa wa Jatra amid a function here yesterday.

He said that cultures and festivals are the main identities of the people in any part of the globe.

"Cultures and festivals give people their proper identity and identify their origin. Unless you have this, your identity will be unclear no matter how rich you become and how important post you obtain."

Cultural expert Baladev Juju said that the festivals and other forms of our cultural activities are in no way the waste of time but they have their significance in our social life also.

"Every festival has its own social value. It brings the family members together and also keeps the people of a city or a village closer to their fellows. This reminds you that you are not alone in the city and keeps you aware of your worldly duties as a civilised humanbeing," Juju said.

The writer said that his book would shed light on many aspects of the culture of the Newaa people that have been neglected even by the community.

The around 100 page-book contains articles on temple, Gathaamuga, Nagpanchami, Aajudyo, Gunupunhi, Silutirtha, Saapaaru, Tithi Pyakhan, Chathaa, Yenyaa Punhi, Kumari Jatra and so on.

Call to check human trafficking

RSS

LALITPUR, Feb 5: A regional research workshop on human trafficking kicked off here Monday under the joint auspices of Asia Partnership for Human Development (APHD) and Caritas Nepal.

Fifteen representatives from Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan are taking part in the regional workshop.

The workshop aims at finding out ways to collect accurate data of girls being trafficked in a month or in a year and at facilitating rehabilitation of the rescued girls.

Inaugurating the workshop, Australian Ambassador Chrispin Conroy noted that concerted efforts should be made in order to clamp down on human trafficking, a global problem.

Under Secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare Ishwari Bhattarai hoped that useful suggestions on controlling human trafficking would be made by the workshop.

The inaugural function was chaired by Head of Caritas Anna Kiousis.

Focus on balanced development of all VDCs

RSS

LALITPUR, Feb 5: One-day symposium was held here Monday on the occasion of the Sixth Founding Day of the National Federation of Village Development Committee, Nepal.

The symposium was held with the objectives of deliberating on the amendment of acts and regulations contrary to the Local Development Act-2055 BS in order to make local bodies strong and powerful, the role of the federation and its effective functioning and slashing of grant assistance provided to the VDCs.

Inaugurating the symposium, Minister of State for Local Development Duryodhan Singh Chaudhary said a bill has been registered at the Parliamentary Secretariat to amend the acts that contradict with Local Autonomy Act-2055.

He also expressed the hope that the proposed bill will be passed by the winter session of the Parliament.

Minister of State Chaudhary stressed the need for making structural changes in the local bodies to attain balanced development of all the VDCs.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party local department chief Rabindra Nath Sharma said that it would be a mistake to cut the grant assistance of the VDCs at a time when there was a dire need of delegating more powers to the local bodies.

Member of National Planning Commission Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel informed that the government has not given instructions to cut the grant assistance being provided to the VDCs. "NPC is now mulling a policy to build up the capacity of the VDCs", he added.

Lalitpur DDC Chairman Madhav Prasad Poudel argued that the government should reduce the national budget by 50 percent instead of slashing the grant assistance of the VDCs.

He said that some 23 acts that are contrary with the Local Autonomy Act should be amended immediately.

Secretary at the Ministry of Local Development Uday Raj Soti suggested reducing the number of VDCs in order to run the VDCs more effectively and reduce the administrative expenses.

At the function chaired by chairperson of National Federation of Village Development Committee Mahin Limbu, executive director of Local Development Academy Dr. Yagya Prasad Adhikari, general secretary of the federation Pradip Thapaliya and others expressed the view that development of the country was not possible until the local bodies were made efficient.