Their Majesties receive prasad, tika and jamara

Kathmandu, Oct. 10 (RSS): Their Majesties the King and Queen received the Prasad, Tika and Jamara of Navadurga Bhawani from Badagurujyu Keshari Raj Pandey at a Vedic ceremony held at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace at the auspicious hour of 8:15 AM on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami Sunday.

On the occasion, a 31-gun salute was presented.

His Majesty the King gave Tika and Jamara to Her Majesty the Queen on the same occasion.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and His Royal Highness Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah were also present.

At the start of the function held amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns for Their Majesties’ good health, happiness and prosperity, Their Majesties were sprinkled by the Badagurujyu and Moolpurohit with holy water from a jar kept at the Dashainghar at Hanumandhoka since the day of Ghatasthapana.

Likewise, Their Majesties the King and Queen, on the occasion of Bijaya Dashami, gave the auspicious Tika and Jamara to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince at Narayanhity Royal Palace Sunday morning.

On the occasion, Their Majesties also gave Tika and Jamara to Their Royal Highnesses the Princes and Princesses and other members and relatives of the Royal Family.

Similarly HRH the Crown Prince also gave Tika to Their Royal Highnesses the Princes and Princesses and other members and relatives of the Royal Family.

Earlier, HRH the Crown Prince received the prasad, Tika and Jamara of Durga Bhawani from the Bada Gurujyu.

Her Majesty the Queen Mother and HRH Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah also received the prasad of Durga Bhawani from the Bada Gurujyu on the same occasion.

Earlier, Their Majesties the King and Queen and HRH the Crown Prince received Tika and Jamara from Her Majesty the Queen Mother.

Her Majesty the Queen Mother also gave Tika and Jamara on the occasion to Their Royal Highnesses the Princes and Princesses and other members and relatives of the Royal Family.

At the function Their Majesties gave Tika to high ranking Royal Palace officials and gazetted officers also.

HRH the Crown Prince and Her Majesty the Queen Mother also gave Tika to the high ranking Royal Palace officials and gazetted officers.

His Majesty then gave Tika to Royal Palace non-gazetted and other officials.

Similarly, on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami, Their Majesties the King and Queen gave the auspicious Tika and Jamara to the distinguished persons from the political, economic and social sectors at the Narayanhity Royal Palace Sunday afternoon.

On the occasion Their Majesties the King and Queen also gave the auspicious Tika and Jamara to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

Likewise, Their Majesties gave the auspicious Tika and Jamara to Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, Chairman of The National Assembly Dr. Mohammad Mohsin, Chairman of The Rajparishad Standing Committee Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, leader of the main opposition party Madhav Kumar Nepal, the former prime ministers, the ministers, the MPs, the heads of constitutional bodies, the former ministers, the high ranking officials of His Majesty’s Government and other distinguished persons.

His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and His Royal Highness Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah were also present on the occasion.

His Majesty the King gave the Vijaya Dashami Tika to the Nepalese and foreign nationals at the Royal Palace Sunday afternoon.

Likewise, Her Majesty the Queen also gave the Vijaya Dashami Tika to the Nepalese women at the Royal Palace Sunday afternoon.

A large number of people from different parts of the Kingdom including elderly persons, handicapped and children had gathered at the Royal Palace to receive the Vijaya Dashami Tika and Jamara from Their Majesties from early morning.

Their Majesties pay homage to Shaktipeeths

Kathmandu, Oct. 10 (RSS): Their Majesties the King and Queen paid homage to various Shaktipeeths (shrines of goddesses) of Kathmandu on the occasion of the Mahastami last Thursday.

His Royal Highness the Crown Prince also paid homage at the Shaktipeeths along with Their Majesties.

Their Majesties were accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Nirajan Bir Bikram Shah.

Their Majesties had visited Naxal Bhagawati,Guheswari, Maitidevi, Kalikasthan, Bhadrakali, Sankata, Mahankalsthan, Naradevi, Shobha Bhagavati and Indrayani and offered prayers and worship at the shrines of the goddesses.

Dashain celebrated with great enthusiasm

Kathmandu, Oct. 10 (RSS): Vijaya Dashami, the most important festival of the Nepalese, was celebrated with great enthusiasm throughout the Kingdom Monday.

Sunday was the 10th day of the vijaya Dashami festival.

Legends have it that Lord Rama killed a demon named Mahishashur on this day and thus Vijaya Dashami is observed in celebration of triumph of good over evil.

Though this festival is one of the important festivals of the Hindus this is observed by people of other faiths also thanks to the religious tolerance among the Nepalese people.

Bajracharyas, Shakyas, Manandhar, Dangols and other communities who are the followers of Buddhism also celebrated the Dashain festival with great enthusiasm all over the kingdom. They receive auspicious Tika and organize feasts for their relatives until the full moon day.

Vijaya Dashami Tika and Jamara are received from the elders and respectable persons who bless them with the strength to destory their enemies as Lord Rama did.

The people receive Tika and Jamara for five days till the full moon day.

It is believed that one need not seek and auspicious hour if one undertakes any new assignment, campaign or journey on the auspicious day of Vijaya Dashami.

As people working abroad or out of their homes return and join their family in celebrating the Vijaya Dashami by forgetting their problems, this festival is of special importance to the Nepalese.

Devotees thronged the Dashainghars, Shaktipeeths, Kots, Hanuman Ddhoka, Kumarighar and temples of gods and goddesses to offer prayers and worship and receive Tika.

In Gorkha, on conclusion of Navadurga Tika ceremony, the Phulpati at the Dashain Ghar of Gorkha Durbar was consigned to the pond at Malepani today.

A colourful procession carried the Phulpati to the pond which was thronged by a large number of people to watch the consigning of Phulpati.

Before the procession was taken out the idol of goddess Navadurga Bhavani was shifted from the Dashain Ghar to the Kailash Kotha (chamber) amidst chanting of Vedic rituals.

Gupta appreciates contribution of UPU

Kathmandu, Oct. 10 (RSS): Minister for Information and Communications Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta has stressed the need for the postal service to further persevere to face up to the challenges of the changing times and provide more reliable and quality services.

In a message on the occasion of the 126th Universal Postal Union Day Monday, Minister Gupta appreciated the Universal Postal Union’s (UPU) contribution to improving the quality of services and building necessary infrastructure for Nepal’s postal service.

As per the government’s policy of expanding postal service to every VDC and Municipality, 20 Ilaka and 100 additional post offices have already been established in the country, he said, adding efforts are under way to help postal services reach every nook and corner of the country.

In a similar message director general of Postal Services Department Mukunda Sharma Poudyal said the department has already initiated diversification of postal services with a view to keep pace with the rapid progress being made in the field of communitations.

At present, the country enjoys direct airmail link with 29 countries and express mail service link with 26 countries.

In his message on the same occasion, Director of General of UPU Thomas E. Leavey said the fundamental mission of the upu is still valid today despite the enormous technological progress that has taken place during the past 126 years.

Being attentive to customer needs goes to the core of a service organization like the post, he said, adding it should not be treated as a short-term programme, but rather as an entire approach to the way we do business.

RCDS team to visit Nepal from Oct 14

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Oct 10: An international delegation from the UK Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) is to visit Nepal 14 to 21 October 2000 as part of a study tour to South Asia. The team, which includes senior Armed Forces, Civil and Diplomatic Services Officers from the UK, Canada, Guatemala, Netherlands, Sweden and Tanzania, has already visited Mauritius and India. After their visit to Nepal, the delegation will move to Sri Lanka to complete their tour of the region. They are one of eight RCDS teams currently studying different regions of the world at first hand, according to a British Embassy press statement released today.

The delegation will also call on the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Foreign Minister, Defence Minister, Chief of Army Staff, Inspector General of Police and the Secretary General of SAARC.

They are to undertake a short 2 day trek to witness conditions in the hills at first hand, which is to conclude with a visit to Pokhara. The group is also to visit the NGO ‘Maiti Nepal’.

The UK Royal College of Defence Studies in London exists to "prepare selected senior officers and officials of the United Kingdom and certain other countries for high responsibilities in the direction and management of defence and security or other related areas of public policy".

The Course is centred on high level security policy issues in global context. A central theme is the challenge of managing change while preserving stability, and the relevance of political, economic and military power in this context. Emphasis is placed throughout on developing forward thinking about the shifting pattern of international political, economic and military relationships and on the implications of these relationships for world security. The primary objective of the course is to increase participants effectiveness for future responsibilities by deepening their knowledge, stimulating ideas, broadening understanding of the relationship between the differing strands of national policy and encouraging a wider understanding of national and international issues.

A maximum of 80 members selected for their potential for high office attend each course. Half are invited to attend from overseas. The members come from the Armed Forces, civilians in government service, the police and the private sector.

In the last 7 years, 3 officers of the Royal Nepalese Army have successfully attended the RCDS.

‘Desire for peace emanates from Nepalese culture’

Kathmandu, Oct. 10 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has hoped that this Vijaya Dashami would inspire all to promote a sense of national unity, find the path of reconciliation and live in peace and dignity.

Expressing best wishes to all the Nepalese people on the occasion of the Vijaya Dashami festival today, Prime Minister Koirala expressed the hope that the Vijaya Dashami which marks the victory of justice over injustice, would inspire all to refrain from mutual confrontation and malaise, and build a peaceful society.

The Nepalese people’s desire for peace emanates from the Nepalese culture and value system, he said, adding the happy occasion of the Vijaya Dashami would help all move along the path of truth and duty.

Likewise, leader of the main opposition party and general secretary of the CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal has said since the Bada Dashain inspires us to continue to fight for justice and truth, we should be able to promote goodwill, tolerance and happiness among us.

In a message on the occasion of the Vijaya Dashami, Mr Nepal noted that our festivals should be able to maintain friendship and unity among all the people.

Mr Nepal wished all the Nepalese people who are forced to live a life of deprivation and terror a happy Vijaya Dashami.

In a similar message, president of Rastriya Prajatantra Party and former prime minister Surya Bahadur Thapa has extended best wishes to all the Nepalese people with a belief that the Vijaya Dashami will inspire us to work together towards maintaining national consensus for driving the state machinery by putting aside conflicts and hatred towards each other.

Providing security to the life and property of the people has become the urgent need of the country, said Mr Thapa and spoke of the need of consensus among all political parties.

Korean teams scale Mt Sagarmatha

Kathmandu, Oct. 10 (RSS): The seven-member 2000 Korean Ulsan Everest Expedition has put its two members atop the world’s highest peak Mt. Sagarmatha on Oct. 4.

According to the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, the summiters Hwan Koo Kim and Seong Cheol Kim returned to Base Camp safely on Oct. 7.

The expedition was led by Sang Ki Jang.

Similarly, three members of the 2000 Chung-Buk Korean Everest Expedition scaled the 8848m high peak via South East Ridge on Oct. 4.

The successful mountaineers are Woong-Sik Kim, Sun-Dok Hong and Cheol-Hee Cho.

The expedition led by Kim Young-Sik scaled the mountain via South East Ridge.

Likewise, three members of the Korean Ulsan Lhotse Expedition 2000 reached the top of the 8516m high peak at 10:23 a.m. on Oct. 6.

The climbers are in Seok Jeong, Dong Sik Hwang and Gil Young Lee.

The seven-member expedition led by young Moon Kim scaled the mountain via west face.

Likewise, the eight-member 2000 Chung-Buk Lhotse Expedition has been able to put its three members atop the 8516 m high peak on Oct. 2 and 5.

The successfull climbers are Tesus Martinez Novas, Eui-Jong Jeong and Jae-Sung Heo.

The team led by Hong-Keun Yoon attempted at the peak via west face.