Age no bar when it comes to preserving tradition

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 30 - Shashank Tamu had all the more reason to come to Nepal this year. Having spent the entire good half of his life in Hong Kong, he was completely oblivious of the traditions and culture that his ancestors so proudly relished. But all this changed as he finally had the opportunity to dance to the tune of Sorathi today. "Only now, I do feel like belonging to a community", he said.

And Shashank was just one of the several hundred Gurungs who gathered at the premises of the Birendra International Convention Centre (BICC) in the capital today to live up to their identities. From all over the Kathmandu Valley and places as distant as Rumjatar and Pokhara, all these people had come to celebrate their much-coveted festival, Tamu Lhochhar.

Prior to the actual assemblage at the BICC, a parade of people, dressed in traditional Gurung attires had also walked all their way from Bhrikutimandap. This procession, which was led by a rickshaw carrying a monkey mannequin, included several performers and musicians playing indigenous Gurung instruments. It also carried the banners of several organisations that helped to organise the event.

While at the BICC itself, several stalls had been set up to cater the needs of the overwhelming turnouts. Interestingly, some of these stalls housed traditional Gurung priests - the Polcha, Zhabris and Lamas, where willing enthusiasts could, supposedly, get a glimpse of their future.

Lhochhar, which is celebrated at the last day of the lunar year, also marks the yearly changing of the animal signature that represents, foretells and predicts every incident of the year. As such, this Lhochhar has ushered in the year of the monkey and bid farewell to the year of the sheep. "The monkey’s years should be a time of peace and prosperity." said Chomba Tamu to The Kathmandu Post. One can only hope that he is right. In a short formal programme, organised prior to the actual celebration, Sekhar Tamu, the co-ordinator of the main organising committee, handed out prizes and certificates to the winners of the oratory, writing and sports competitions organised a day before. "The increasing interest of the youths in their culture is a positive step forward", he said.A horde of interesting cultural items, including the dhote, shipta and sorathi were also presented on the occasion. And making them even remarkable was the fact that some of the performers were well past their 60s. Age, it seemed was not a factor when it comes to preserving tradition.

At the end of the day, the most engaging and enjoyable programme, by far was the Dohari competition. Dohari, a uniquely Nepali style of singing usually involves two groups where each group takes a turn to tell something, almost anything to the other in prose. The group that fails to come up with an appropriate sonnet soon enough loses to the other.

Book on freedom fighters released

PR

KATHMANDU, Dec 30 - Mukunda Prasad Acharaya of Nepal Television (NTV) released a book entitled Nepal Ka Prajatantrik Andolan Ma Dui Shikhar Purus at a function organised here today by the Employees Union, stated an NTV press statement.

According to the statement, the book written by Jivan Nath Dhamala, programme producer of NTV, carries the information about the public hero Bishweshwor Prasad Koirala and senior leader of people’s movement -1990, Ganesh Man Singh.The book is divided into three parts and includes the life history of the personalities and their contribution to democracy.

Philatelic exhibition on mountains held

By Saurav Jung Thapa

KATHMANDU, Dec 30 - An exhibition of stamps bearing the images of Nepali mountains related to people and places was held at the Hanumandhoka Durbar Square this morning.

Along with the first of its kind exhibit, renowned photojournalists who have done much for the cause of promoting mountain tourism in Nepal through their photographs too were felicitated.

Ang Chhiring Sherpa, president of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) and deputy-chairperson of the World Mountaineering Federation, who was the chief guest on the occasion, awarded tokens of appreciation, certificates and shawls to the photojournalists.

Those awarded on the occasion are famous Nepali names working for the country’s national publications, such as Min Bajracharya of Nepali Times, Bhim Gurung and Rajesh Dhungana of Gorkhapatra, Chandraman Maharjan of Rajdhani, Sagar Shrestha of Spacetime and Sundar Shrestha of Nepal Samacharpatra.NMA president Sherpa lauded excellent works these journalists have done by taking breathtaking shots of the Himalayas which had helped the tourism industry attract more visitors to the country every year.

The awards function was followed by a stamp exhibition. In the historic setting of the Durbar Square, freelance heritage photographer Padmasagar Kakshyapati displayed her huge collection of stamps to the assembled enthusiasts and mediapersons.

Stamps dating back 50 years and bearing images of scenic mountain views, historical figures and famous places were displayed in postcard-size paper which were blow-ups of the original stamps exhibited beside them.

The mountains depicted ranged from the world-famous to unheard of peaks. Everest, the Annapurnas, Machhapuchhre, Api, Pumori, Amadablam, Lhotse, Makalu, Dhaulagiri, Cholatse, Nayan, Ganesh Himal, Langtang-Lirung Cho-Oyu, Nilgiri, Jugal Himal, Nuptse, Jannu, Pabil, Tukuche and Kanchanjunga and other gigantic peaks had been captured in their full glory in the stamps.

Along with these colossal mountains, there were also images of national personalities. Among them were the late King Mahendra, Nepal’s first elected prime minister Bishewshwor Prasad Koirala, King Birendra, the first Nepali woman Everest summiteer Pasang Lhamu Sherpa and celebrated mountaineer Babu Chhiri Sherpa too were featured in the exotic stamps galore of the avid collector Kakshyapati.The picturesque tea gardens of Ilam with Kanchanjunga looming over them, images of rare creatures such as the Lynx, Great Himalayan Berbet and Snow Leopard, the Tsho-Rolpa and Tilicho lakes, the exquisite Rara National Park, the Sagarmatha satellite-earth station too were depicted on the stamps collection.

The stamps exhibit was a daylong affair, attracting hundreds of stamp collectors, mountaineers, tourists and inquisitive passers-by.

Tailoring-cum-adult education programme for army widows

BY SHRISTI SHRESTHA

KATHMANDU, Dec 30 - The death of Bhogendra Bahadur Limbu in Mangalsen, Achham, when the Maoist rebels overran the military barracks, not only took away Dil Kumari Limbu’s soul mate but also the only breadwinner of her family.Dil Kumari is not an exception in facing such an inconsolable grief. With the armed struggle going on in the country, there are many others who are in a similar plight.

To make Dil Kumari and others self-reliant, the Army Wives Association (AWA) initiated the sewing training-cum-adult education programme.

Wives of ex-army personnel are contacted through district divisions and those interested are brought to Kathmandu for the training.

Trainees are facilitated with the basics including accommodation, meals, entertainment, and health check-ups during the 3-month-long training.

If the trainees have children below school-going age, they are allowed to bring one child with them during the training period. All the requirements of the child are met, including weekly visit by a paediatrician. They even have childcare facilities while the mothers are in class.

"If they have more than one child or in case of school-going children, they have to make provisions for them on their own at home or wherever convenient," said Sharmila Rana, treasurer of AWA. She added, "Due to the lack of space and expenses, we cannot permit more than one child per person."

Founded nearly a year before with the concept of Kamala Thapa, president of AWA, the training centre, constructed in a former kitchen of the Chhaunni Barracks has already produced two batches and is currently training the third group.

Presently, 27 army-widows, including Dil Kumari, are receiving training at Chhaunni. Professionals from Namuna Institute of Fashion Technology are training them.

"The training has given me hope. Previously, I used to feel helpless but now I think I can do something for my children and myself," said Sabitri Karki who hailed from Nuwkot. "After the completion of the course, I plan to open a small tailoring shop of my own back home."

Likewise, Ganga Adhikari who heard about the training from her two friends namely Dilmaya and Pratima plans to join them after the training. Her friends who also received the training from the centre are running small tailoring establishment of their own.

The cost for this good cause is solely met by what comes as donations from generous contributors. "Pakistan Embassy is one of our major donors," said Himali Chand, Member Secretary of AWA.

According to Chand, the wife of the Ambassador of Pakistan donated Rs. 300,000. Similarly, Madam Musaraff, wife of president of Pakistan, made a contribution of U.S. $ 5,000.

"We not only provide training, but also give them a sewing machine and NRs 5000 so that their skill doesn’t go waste," said Chand. She further said, "Donations are pouring in as we are going in an authentic way. But we still need more for furthering this project in a smooth manner. "Other remarkable works of AWA include Bijeswori School opened for the girl-children of lower ranking personnel, who otherwise are excluded from education opportunity. According to an AWA member, "The school currently caters to day-scholars only. We

are planning it into a residential school soon so that even those from remote areas are benefited."

NPI panel formed

RSS

KATHMANDU, Dec 30 - The fourth general assembly of the Nepal Press Institute (NPI) concluded today after electing a new working committee.

P. Kharel, Durga Nath Sharma, Shova Gautam, Gokul Pokharel, Dhruba Hari Adhikari, Pushkar Lal Shrestha, Tirtha Koirala, Rajendra Dahal and Lal Deusa Rai have been elected to the nine-member working committee.

There is a provision for the nomination of office-bearers of the working committee from among the elected members.

Addressing the general assembly prior to holding the election, chairman of the institute Gokul Pokharel said it has become necessary to move the institute ahead more vigorously in line with the growing opportunities and challenges in the journalism sector.

He added that the institute has bought its own office building for its regional media resources centres in Biratnagar and Nepalgunj and was thinking of building its own office at the centre also.

Press institute's general secretary Bharat Datta Koirala, presenting the progress report, said the institute is making efforts for making journalism training activities in Nepal more effective and competitive with the cooperation of various national and international agencies.

Treasurer Rajendra Dahal said the institute received Rs 21,670,000 from DANIDA and Rs 4,671,000 from other agencies for conducting its various programmes in 2003.

Maoists loot industrial bank in Chitwan

POST REPORT

KATHMANDU, Dec 30 - A group of armed-Maoists today looted around Rs 1,50,000 in cash and other valuables from the main banking office of Narayani Industrial Development Bank at Ratnanagar in Chitwan. Bank manager Birendra Shrestha said that 17 Maoists, including two women, robbed the bank taking all the bank staff under control at gunpoint. The rebels made off with cash, jewels and computers within five minutes.

Meanwhile, a report from Dharan said that Maoist rebels have demanded Rs. 300,000 as ransom from the families for the release of their near and dear ones who are in Maoist captivity for the last two months.

The rebels had captured Suraj Lama, Binod Tamang, Binod Rai, Ranjan Rai, Abinash Rai and Deepak Tamang on charges of killing 62-year-old Padam Bahadur Rai about two months ago. Dhana Shobha Lama, mother of Suraj, said the Maoists had made several phone calls to her demanding Rs 50,000 in cash if she wanted to see her son released from their captivity.

Meanwhile, in Gulmi, the rebels have severely beaten up six cadres of the Peoples Front Nepal in Gwagha VDC.

In Dang, security officials handed two motorcycles seized from a Maoist hideout over to the family members of those killed by the rebels amidst a function held today in Ghorahi, the district headquarters.

The rebels had seized the motorcycles belonging to teacher Shri Hrasha Subedi of Manpur and Keshav Pun of Tribhuvan Municipality after both of them were shot dead about three months ago. The security forces recovered the bikes while carrying out a search operation at Simaltara Village of Rampur VDC.

Another report from Khotang said that two persons - Roman Karki and Bharat Khatri, both of the Chisapani VDC - have disappeared after the Maoists charged them with passing wrong information to the army against three civilians, including a teacher, who were later shot dead by the army. Teacher Hari Parasad Bhattarai and his two close relatives, Durga Koirala and Dakmani Koirala, in Chisapani were killed by the security forces three weeks ago on charges of being the Maoists. In a news bulletin aired by Maoist-run mobile FM radio, the rebels had warned of taking severe action against the accused if they failed to turn up before the Maoist court within a period of one month.

Maoists kill 3 securitymen

POST REPORT

TAULIHAWA, Kapilvastu, Dec 30 - Three armymen were killed and another one was wounded when rebel-Maoists opened fire at their vehicle carrying cash of the state-owned Rastriya Banijya Bank from military barracks here this morning.

The army used to keep the bank’s cash and other valuables in its barracks at night for security reasons. Local authorities said the rebels opened fire at them from three sides at about 10:40 am while unloading the safe containing cash and valuables from the escorting vehicle in front of the bank.Eyewitnesses said a group of seven or eight rebels fled the scene southward on motorcycles. However, the rebels could not loot the cash, according to bank officials. Security officials suspect that the rebels had attacked them with automatic weapons.

Casualties on the Maoist side could not be ascertained as the rebels fled the scene shortly after the incident that panicked the entire district headquarters throughout the day. Taulihawa bazaar fell silence for fear of further untoward situation.

Children below five years to be administered polio drops

RSS

BIRGUNJ, Dec 30 - About 110,051 children below the age of five years will be administered polio drops on January 3 and February 23 under the Intensive National Immunisation Day 2060.

All the necessary preparations to make the 8th National Immunization Day successful have been completed, according to the District Public Health Office, Parsa.

Necessary training to the health technicians of the primary health centres, health posts and sub-health posts have been completed and the works of sending necessary medicines is in the final stage, the office stated.

There are 872 immunisation centres in 82 Village Development Committees and Birgunj sub metropolitan city for the purpose of the immunisation.

About 744 volunteers, 83 local and 15 district level observers will be mobilised to monitor the polio administration programme.

Son and mother turn husband and wife

RSS

SINDHULI, Dec 30 - Oedipus, an imaginary story of a husband-and-wife between a son and a mother comes out true in ward No-2 of Ambote VDC in Sindhuli district.

Forty-year-old Hasta Bahadur Damai and his 45-year-old step mother Kanchhi Damai have become true characters of the oedipus story.

Hasta Bahadur’s father had married for the second time after his first wife died. Likewise, both Hasta Bahadur and his step mother are widower and widow.The two widower and widow confessed to the villagers of their relationship and told them that they wouldn’t live separately from one another. The villagers expelled them from the village. Local intellectuals here believe that such incidents could invite anomalies in the society.

Crown Prince’s birthday observed nationwide

RSS

KATHMANDU, Dec 30 - Reports of various programmes organised on the occasion of the 33th auspicious birthday of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev have been received from different parts of the country.

In Itahari foundation stone of the building of Officers’ Club of Dharan was laid at Dharan Municipality-13, Amarhat, on the occasion of the birthday celebration of the Crown Prince.Likewise, in Dharan, Mayor Kumar Bahadur Karki, SSP Krishna Bahadur Thapa and others spoke on the importance of the monarchy in the national unity and national integrity on the occasion.

In Mahottari, different office chiefs, party representatives, social workers and intellectuals wished for good health and prosperity of the Crown Prince amid a function held by the District Development Committee.

CDO Bimal Prasad Dhakal was felicitated by Youth Talented Award -2003 on the occasion.

Similarly, in Janakpurdham: a tablaux with bands and placards started from the local Janaki temple passed through different parts of the city before converging into a celebration mass meeting at local Tirahutiya.

Dhanusha DDC chairman, Bala Ram Subedi, Rajparishad Member Kari Yadav, Mayor Sravan Kumar and others offered flower and vermillion powder on the portrait of the Crown Prince wishing for his good health, long life and prosperity.

In the same way in Kalaiya, various persons offered flowers on the portrait of the Crown Prince on the same occasion held by Bara District Development Committee.

District Judge Damber Bahadur Shahi, Mayor Bharat Bahadur Malla and others shed light on the contributions of the Shah rulers and the personality of the Crown Prince on the occasion.

In Baglung, a pair of pigeons was flown and Brahmins recited verses from the holy scriptures today morning at local Kalika temple wishing for the longevity and prosperity of the Crown Prince under the auspices of the district main birthday celebration committee.

Fruits and juice was distributed to the patients of Baglung Hospital on the occasion.

In Gorkha, different individuals including District Judge Kashi Nath Pokharel and Mayor Rudra Raj Pandey wished for good health and prosperity of the Crown Prince at a celebration programme held today by the district main birthday celebration committee.

Poaching reduces Red Panda popuation

By Binod Tripathy

BAGLUNG, Dec 30 - The poaching of the rare species of panda called Red Panda from the Dhorpatan wildlife conservation has intensified in the last few years. This was revealed when employees of this conservation park found a Red Panda caught in a trap set by poachers who smuggle these wild species which feed on bamboo leaves.

It is learnt that every year, employees of this wildlife conservation office have been deployed to make rounds of the jungle starting from mid-November to mid-January. During this year’s trip too, like that of last year they found a red panda caught inside a trap set by poachers.According to Dhan Bahadur Adai, field officer, 33 such traps were located inside the conservation area this year, while a year ago, 53 had been recovered from this region alone. The Department of National Park and Wildlife prohibits on the poaching of the red panda.

These species of pandas, which are considered very rare in the world, has been reported from Langtang, Sagarmatha, Kanchunjunga, Makalu and Dhorpatan region of the country. After the shifting of the conservation office to district headquarters, the data of the office showed sudden rise in poaching and smuggling of this rare animal species, contends the head of this office, Subansha Prasad Chaudhary.

The office was shifted after the Maoists destroyed the office in 2001. The employees of the office point out that it is not possible to patrol inside the conservation area and provide security without the help of the security personnel.

However, Prem Narayan Sharma, the Chief District Officer (CDO), says that they will arrange security for the patrolling purpose upon demand from the conservation office.

It is learnt that at times even deer get caught in the traps set for the red pandas. Red pandas are killed mostly for its skin and fur, which are used in the manufacture of luxury materials.

This wildlife conservation area stretches over 1,325 square kilometres of forest region in Baglung, Myagdi and Rukum. It is learnt that this conservation region has been divided into four blocks, and certain parts of it have been made open for hunting.

Some of the people have been hunting in the conservation region without official permission of the office. According to Chaudhary, just two years back lakhs of rupees used to be collected as revenue from the conservation region.

According to the field officer Dhan Bahadur, even the birds called Chir is on the verge of extinction, as sightings of these species of birds has fallen drastically. Red Panda and Chir have been regarded as the most important species of this region.

Police rescue minor girls

Post Report

SUNSARI, Dec 30 - Police rescued two girls, Binda Panta and Sanubaba Panta of Bharaul-3, from the Shreepur section of the Mahendra Highway last Sunday. They are students of the local Mahendra Lower Secondary School, according to the sisters.

Upon interrogation, the sisters informed that their father had deserted the family last year and that they had been searching for their mother who was missing from the house for three days. The police handed over the sisters to the Biratnagar branch of CWIN yesterday evening, according to a police source.

Badhghars face official harassment

PR

BARDIYA, Dec 30 - Security officials have been issuing date specific summons to Badhghars or Tharu community leaders in the Rajapur area of Bardiya district. This needless interrogation of the local leaders, is having an adverse impact on the centuries-old tradition of this community, according to local sources.

The Badhghars of the Tharu community stand as a symbol of unity, and authority. A Badhghar has influence over the community and plays a vital role in the effective handling and settlement of social cases, according to Gopal Dahit, Chairman of the District Development Committee (DDC).

The 11 VDCs of Rajapur have around 100 Badhghars, according to Dahit. "Tharu community responds to the calls of a Badhghar more readily than to government rulings," said Dahit.

However, frequent summons and interrogations by security personnel to the Tharu leaders have created fear amongst them, which has led most of them to flee the area.

Admitting that Badhghars were frequently summoned by security personnel, Mathura Prasad Yadav, the Chief District Officer (CDO), said that talks with security official, in this regard are in progress. He also assured that such things would not be repeated in future.

First +2 level school a boon for locals at Abukhaireni

BY Ghanshyam Khadka

ABUKHAIRENI, Dec 30 - Previously many students of this region were compelled to go to other cities of the country for higher level education after finishing school. The students of Abukhaireni have been relieved of this problem after +2 education was started in Ramshah Secondary School in Abukhaireni with the efforts of the guardians of the local students here.

"This school has now become a good example of the +2 level of education in the whole district compared to other private schools having this level of education", says Rishi K.C, the chairman of this high school.

The school, which was started with the initiation of just three students, now has more than 200 students, highest among any other high school in the district. The +2 level was introduced in this school three years ago with the financial assistance of Rs. 4,00,000 contributed by Drinking Water Consumers Committee of this district and Rs. 3,00,000 collected from among the local guardians of this region. As per stipulations of the District Education Office any school wishing to start the +2 level of education must make a deposit of 7,00,000.

It is learnt that +2 classes are being conducted during the morning while secondary level education during the afternoon. Eight separate teachers have been employed to teach the +2 students alone, and the tuition fees collected from these students go to pay the salary of these teachers. The money collected from admission fees has been utilised in the construction of two new buildings with four and six rooms respectively. Education, humanities, and management streams of education are being provided at this higher secondary school presently.

It is learnt that the students of this region are very happy to get this education without having to leave their home district. Not only local students, but students from as far as, Chyangli, Manakamana, Deurali, Dhuwakot in Gorkha, and Mugling in Chitwan have been coming to this school for higher education.

Initially Rs. 25,000 charged from the students as admission fee has now been reduced to Rs. 15,000. "During the initial stages the management was in dire need to put the school into motion, and now that it is in motion and the condition of the school has improved, we can charge less as admission fees", says K.C.

The students have even been demanding that concerned authorities should start the Bachelor’s level of education in this school so that they can be free from the hassle of going to the main cities such as Kathmandu, Pokhara, and others for graduate level studies. It is learnt that more than tuition fees the cost of food and lodging is very high in these cities.