Tamangs exchange 'Year of Sheep' greetings

By Tejasuee Rajbhandari

KATHMANDU, Feb 2 :"Happy Sheep Year". This greeting may sound unusual to most people however it is nothing strange to the Tamangs who usher in their new year, the Year of the Sheep, or more specifically, the ‘Female Water Sheep Year.’

Today, the Magh Shukla Pakshya Pratiprada, the first day of full moon is the beginning of the new year for many Buddhists who base their calendar according to lunar cycle. China, Japan, Mongolia and Korea also celebrate their New Year on the same day.

Lhochhar (New Year) is celebrated as the Spring Festival around the world and Tamangs too believe that the day brings in Basanta Ritu (spring).

Along with the other Buddhist communities, the Tamangs also believe in the twelve-year cycle, represented by animals, which is known as Lho. The twelve year cycles are again unitised into five different natural elements, Earth, Iron, Fire, Water and Wood, which are known as ‘Kham’. The combination of the animals and the elements combine a bigger cycle of 60 years, with each year belonging to a specific Kham and a specific Lho. The Kham again can be either male or female.

Parashuram Tamang, Chairman of Nepal Tamang Ghedung said that Lhochhar Eve is taken as the day to free all the bad effects of the whole year. The day is celebrated by making idols of twelve animals out of flour, which also includes the rituals to be performed by Lamas. The ritual destruction of the flour animals signifies the conclusion of the year and commencement of the new year.

The day is recognised by the government as a national festival and most Buddhist people are of the opinion that this recognition has brought optimism among non-Hindu into the national entity.

However different indigenous groups like the Gurungs and the Sherpas celebrate New Year in different months. Gurungs have already celebrated their festival a month back and Sherpas and Tibetans will be celebrating their ‘Lhosar’ a month after.

However, Tamangs believe that this is the correct day to start their new year especially as Magh Shukla Pratipada is an "International Lhochhar’ day.

Other indigenous communities in Nepal like Hyalmo and some Sherpa communities also celebrate Lhochhar today.

"On this particular day all Tamangs hoist the Buddhist Flag, which symbolises the wish for welfare of the whole world and it also indicates the resurrection of the culture", apprised Tamang.

The day was celebrated with various cultural and non-cultural programmes. Several organisations like Nepal Tamang Ghedung and Nepal Tamang Rastriya Mahasangh also celebrated the day by organising cultural programmes and other events like interaction programme on the ‘Problems of Tamangs in the current situation of the country and its Solution’.

Though the exact date of the origin of this festival is not clear, it is believed that it was developed along with the Chinese Civilisation, 4700 years back.

The Tamangs have blended other rituals with their own culture, and one aspect common to all cultures, is the feasting that accompanies the festivities.

Duchi, one of the most important foods, is prepared by mixing Ngarsum (sugar and honey), Karsum (milk, curd and butter), and Sersang (water, purified by iron, copper, gold and silver).

The other delicacies are Chhemar, Khapse, Bhaldu, Aalum, Baber, Guthupa, fruits and non-vegetarian dishes.

"Altogether, the day is celebrated joyously by all the people. Today is the auspicious day, the starting of good things and the end of bad effects. It is the day to get together, have fun and eat," said Swarnim Lama, a student at the Tribhuvan University.

Parties should prioritise national interest: Devkota

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KATHMANDU, Feb 2 : The announcement of the cease-fire between the Maoists and the security agencies seems to have acted as a catalyst for different organisations to press forth their viewpoints on the next course of action.

While organisations, considered apologists of active monarchy, have tended to suggest that political parties could be ignored for the time being, in the interest of the peace process at the highest level; the political parties still insist that it is the people who decide how the talks should be conducted.

While C P Mainali, Chairman of CPN-M (Reorganised) insists that the talks should be held only after the formation of an all-party government, Rajeshwore Devkota, Chairman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP-Nationalist) maintains that parties must prioritise national interests rather than their own.

Furthermore, Mainali advocated a round-table conference to untangle the imbroglio, even as he flayed the incumbent government as being merely an advisory council.

Devkota, however, while refraining from billing the Maoists as a terrorist organisation, argued that the 1990 constitution of the country was already defunct since 1999.

He said this by way of brushing off the demands to revive the constitutional and political process as demanded by the Nepali Congress (NC). He was also against a round table conference.

However, it was Machya Shumshere Rana of Rastriya Ekta Parishad who flayed the political parties for their misdeeds and failures of the last twelve years and said that any future arrangement could be done without taking any cognisance of their aspirations.

"They should not be allowed anywhere near the conference table. Neither should they be taken into any government formed in the future," he said. Speaking at the interaction programme organised at the Reporter’s Club, he reiterated that interim government so formed should be allowed to continue for at least four years, (while the nation enjoys a political holiday), to spring-clean the political malady that exists.

White Lotus honours Irish poet

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KATHMANDU, Feb 2 : White Lotus Book Shop today organised a poetry reading in honour of world famous Irish Poet Cathal O Searcaigh.

Speaking at the occasion, O Searcaigh congratulated Nepali Poets and praised poets like Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Gopal Prasad Rimal, and Bhupi Sherchan.

On the occasion, he also revealed his plan of publishing Nepali poetry in Ireland in his mother tongue. Talking to the audience, Yuyutsu R D Sharma praised O Searcaigh for his effort to preserve the cultural heritage of Irish speaking public.

Other poets like Prahlad Pokhrel, Rasa, Vishnu All Shrestha, Bimal Bhaukaji, Buddhasagar Chepain, Swagat Nepal, Krishna Sigdel, Chunki Shrestha, Pramod Snehi were also present at the function.

Cease-fire welcomed

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KATHMANDU, Feb 2 : Various organisations have welcomed the latest cease-fire between the government and the Maoists. Issuing a statement the Nepali Congress (Democratic) has said that the latest development has vindicated the stance of the party that the issue could be sorted out through talks. Nepal Human Rights Organisation (NHRO) has said that the latest development could go a long way in restoring peace even as human rights observance could benefit.

Nepal Intellectual Council too has welcomed the move and said that the issue should be resolved by all-party talks. Yet another organisation which has hailed the cease-fire is Alliance for Human Rights and Social Justice. Similarly other organisations which have welcomed the move are All Nepal Democratic Youth Association, Nepal Arts Association, Informal Sector Service Centre, Nepal Academy of Economic Studies and Nepali People’s Party.

Diligent hands from abroad clean neglected Tundikhel

By Bikash Sangraula

KATHMANDU, Feb 2 : Though Tundikhel has shrunk in size due to unplanned urban expansion, it is still popular with youth and elders alike. For city folk, it is the most accessible clearing for cricket tournaments, football matches, and idling around. Hardly anything can be done about its size now; but we can at least keep it clean. It does not take much to do that. Just stop littering the place and clean it once in a while.

This is precisely the message that a team of around 85 volunteers, staff and children associated with various organisations, conveyed today afternoon, as they moved southwards from the open theatre in Tundikhel, meticulously picking up the litter dispersed hopelessly, on the only open breathing space in central Kathmandu. There were 19 international volunteers among them, all associated with Students Partnership Worldwide (SPW), a youth-focused development organization operating in Nepal since 1991.

"It is better to become an example than go around citing one," said Ravindra Shakya, country director of SPW, stressing the need to start taking the helms of development on our own hands.

When inquired about how he came up with the novel idea of cleaning up Tundikhel, Shakya told The Kathmandu Post, "SPW is involved in conducting educational and environmental programmes in rural communities in Nepal. While returning from Godavari after giving training on environment-conservation issues, our staff-team passed Tundikhel and commented on the litter there. One of our staff members observed that the litter-cleaning campaigns our volunteers initiate in rural villages could be very useful in managing this urban problem."

SPW soon found like-minded organisations like Sathsath, Kathmandu 2020, and Ward 34 Disaster Management Committee. When they informed Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) about the idea, they found a positive nod. KMC even agreed to provide trucks for transporting the garbage and it delivered indeed.

"We need help from everyone to keep the city clean. We are thankful that SPW, Sathsath and Kathmandu 2020 have joined hands with us. We are especially thankful to our foreign friends for showing concern and lending their helping hands in the way of cleaning up Tundikhel," said a jubilant Shanta Ram Pokhrel, chief of environmental department, KMC.

Sarah Macmillan, programme coordinator of SPW in Nepal, finds it a privilege to be a part of an activity of public significance in Nepal. "It is wonderful that volunteers from abroad are making themselves useful to a cause that concerns all," she said. However, the main objective of this commendable gesture surfaced when she told The Kathmandu Post, "This gesture is significant in terms of telling people that cleaning public places is our common responsibility."

Rupendra Maharjan of Kathmandu 2020 has much more to say. "If foreigners can clean Tundikhel, why can’t we?" He adds that a wider campaign is warranted in the city to ensure that clean-ups do not remain isolated events. "We should reward such works so that more and more people are interested in it. We should make it a national culture."

Whatever the impact of today’s cleaning programme on the future of Kathmandu’s cleanliness, Tundikhel definitely breathed a deep sigh of relief today. And that is a rarity these days.

Khapangi dismisses doubts over peace talks

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KATHMANDU, Feb 2 : Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Gore Bahadur Khapangi dismissed as baseless the doubts raised over the government’s sincerity towards peace dialogues with the Maoists.

"Some people want their involvement in the talks as mediators, facilitators and even participants so as to take the credit of the talks. As long as the government is capable of playing all those roles, what is the need to involve them," questioned Khapangi, speaking in a programme organised in the capital to discuss the status of child health in Nepal.

"The cabinet delegated Narayan Singh Pun to initiate cease-fire and talks. We already have some concrete results. As long as results are visible, it is meaningless to pry into his undertakings. Let him do his job. Even I, a member of the present government, do not pester him by asking unnecessary questions," said Khapangi adding that everyone should be allowed to do their job undisturbed.

According to Khapangi, it is meaningless to raise suspicions over the ‘intentions’ behind current developments. "They are saying that we are being too secretive and hence the grounds for suspicions. This is nothing but the narrow mentality of those who only believe in first hand observation," he said assuring that the government is serious about yielding positive outcomes.

"I implore all to believe that peace and security shall prevail in Nepal. Sovereignty will be transferred to the people," he further added.

Cease-fire raises hope of peace in rural areas

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RAJAPUR, Bardiya, Feb 2 : The cease-fire between the government and Maoist outfit has raised hopes of peace among the people displaced from their homes in the 11 Village Development Committees in the Karnali delta and other parts of the country, according to reports.

The displaced people in Rajapur area are preparing to return to their homes five months after their forcible eviction and hundreds of students who were deprived of education now are optimistic that they can continue their studies.

Sahebdin Chaudhary of Manpur VDC who was taking refuge at the district headquarters, for the last five months, said that he has decided to go back to his home following the mutual cease-fire announcement. Chaudhary was forced out of his home simply because his son was employed in the Nepal Police. The rebels did not allow him to harvest paddy and wheat last year. More than 270 family members of the security personnel were evicted from their homes from the 11 VDCs.

The people in this Maoist-controlled area, surrounded by the mighty Karnali River from all sides, now seem to be moving freely even in the evening and sharing their views with one another regarding prospects of the cease-fire. The only concern of the local people is that the cease-fire should not be disrupted on any pretext and peace talks between the government and the Maoists should be able to restore peace in the country.

"This is the happiest moment for us," said Arjun Baral of Kalika VDC. Before the cease-fire announcement, the rebels had imposed curfew at night hours and had banned movement of all public and private vehicles in the area. But the big landlords who hold a large chunk of land are sceptical about returning to their homes, fearing that the rebels could target them even after the cease-fire.

Meanwhile, our reporter in Kailali said that the number of people crossing the Nepal-India border via Dhangadi customs point has reduced drastically following the announcement of the cease-fire. A policeman stationed at the customs said that there has been a complete silence soon after the case-fire.

So is the feeling in the hill district of Sindhuli, which is one of the worst insurgency-hit districts in the central region. Everybody is praying for the prevalence of the cease-fire until a political solution is found. A total of 180 people, including the Maoists, security personnel and civilians, have lost their lives since the rebels waged the People’s War seven years ago. The rebels have also set fire on almost all VDC offices, paralysed postal service and have forced hundreds of people opposed to Maoist ideology out of their homes.

Public events posing problems in MMC campus

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BAGLUNG, Feb 2 : Students at the Mahendra Multiple Campus (MMC) in Baglung district complained that their studies suffer due to the campus being used for various fairs by locals and programmes by political activists.

Other sources however, allege that the campus is unable to manage its 88 ropanis of land. Besides, weekly haat bazaar or the local weekly markets, the open ground of the campus to its north has been used as a fair ground during festivals like Dashain, Tihar and Teej.

Other than such fairs being held here are the occasional political programmes, which are adversely affecting students study. What makes matters worse, is that political events take place on the campus premises without pre-information, according to concerned sources.

"Once examinations had to be postponed due to a sudden programme at the campus premises," said Mukta Raj Upadhyaya, a lecturer at the campus and Chairman of the unit committee of Nepal Lecturers Association.

"I am ready to control the campus environment, if the locals agree to stop trespassing on the campus premises," said Govinda Prasad Sharma, the Campus Chief.

The failure to maintain a healthy environment is the weakness on part of the campus administration. There are open grounds like Bange Chaur and another at Guthi to hold such programmes, according to Dhurba Sharma, a local.

Established in 1952, the campus offers classes to bachelor level in Humanities, Management and Education. It is soon aspiring to run master level classes on Human Science and Sociology, according to campus sources.

Flights soon to resume in Humla

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SIMIKOT, Feb 2 : With significant improvement in the weather, preparations are on to clear snow from the air strip with the help of a tractor in Humla district. Heavy snowfall in the district has paralysed normal life in Humla not linked by road.

The sun’s rays that embraced the district today cheered its residents. "With the work of clearing the airstrip on, flights will resume soon," said a happy Hum Prasad Adhikari, the Chief District Officer (CDO).

The district had remained cut off from airways, the only means of transportation, after a pile of snow covered its airstrip. The snowfall also disrupted two telephones based on VSAT system, run by solar power. Public movement from villages to the district headquarters is very low. While, villagers stay indoors and their cattle are fed in the sheds.

Since it would take a long time for the snow to melt, the District Development Committee (DDC) had flown in a tractor through a chopper to the district to clear the airstrip.

Royal Nepal Army defuses bomb

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BARA, Feb 2 : The Royal Nepal Army (RNA) defused a powerful bomb from the premises of Rajeshwor Giri’s house at Parsa Wildlife Sanctuary on Friday night.

Children had spotted a suspicious object, which turned out to be a grenade, at the courtyard of the house in the evening. Residents immediately informed the Jeetpur Police Post, which in turn called in the RNA bomb disposal squad, according to Birendra Shrestha, the Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Jeetpur Police Post.

Rebels arrest and punish timber smugglers

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GAIGHAT, Feb 2 (PR) : The Maoist rebels last Saturday arrested and punished timber smugglers who had been active at the east Udayapur district posing as Maoists. The rebels arrested three smugglers with 10 bullock carts loaded with timber.

The smugglers are identified as Madan Rai and Kalasha Chaudhari of Rampur VDC-4, and another from Prakashpur of Sunsari district. The rebels handed over the confiscated timber to Ratapani Primary School while they beat the smugglers with sticks.

The rebels also took the smugglers around Rampur Bazaar area with a notice that said "I am a timber smuggler. I won’t smuggle again" on their backs and stomachs, according to eyewitnesses.

The rebels set them free on the condition that they would not carry out smuggling again and vanished into the jungle.