Maghe Sankranti
Beginning of Holy Days

Maghe Sankranti or Makar Sankranti, the first day of the month of Magh according to the Nepalese calendar, which marks the changing of the sun’s course to the Northern Hemisphere, is one of the widely observed festivals of the Nepalese. Irrespective of religious beliefs, almost all the Nepalese from the high hills to the lowland of the kingdom celebrate this occasion with great fervour.

The day is considered as the beginning of the holy days as most of the religious ceremonies that could not take place in the preceding month of Poush are held on this month and onwards. One of such highly important religious ceremonies is the observance of Swasthani, a month-long fasting observed with unfailing holy bath and worshipping and recital of the Swasthani scripture.

Maghe Sankranti, though one of the coldest days of the year, is much awaited by the people especially those poverty striken- people who live in the hilly areas, as it heralds the coming of the warmer days. This day is also an occasion for family reunion as the married daughters, their husbands and children are invited to the parental home especially for blessings and feast.

After taking an early-morning bath, Brahmins, the upper caste people, go on fasting and consume sacred food items like the sweetened balls of sesame seeds, clarified and spiced molasses, refined butter, sweet potatoes, sugarcanes, oranges and other fruits available in the evening. Khichadi, a mixture of rice and black gram, cooked in water is also eaten on this day. Non-Brahmins, apart from taking those holy food items, also take mutton, pork, and chicken along with wine. But they too take food only after taking a sacred bath early in the morning and observing a daylong fast.

Offering of sesame seeds to Gods holds special significance, as it is the favourite of Lord Shiva. People observe fasting on this day and stay awake at night lighting oil-fed lamps at major pilgrimages and break the fast taking a holy dip in the rivers and consuming sacred food known as Prasad or oblation.

Notwithstanding the coldest day of the year, devout Hindus take a dip at the confluences of streams or rivers on this day, which is considered as the most sacred bathing. Those who are physically unable to take such a holy dip either sprinkle holy waters on them or wash their face with the waters.

Some people take a sacred bath at the nearby confluences of rivers while others go for more famous pilgrimages for the same purpose. People in Kathmandu bathe at Sankhamul, a point of the holy Bagmati River and circumambulate the Rato Machhendranath temple while some others visit the temples of Lord Shiva or Mahadev, the great God.

Tens of thousands of staunch Hindus throng Devghat, a well-known pilgrimage at the tri-junction of Chitwan, Nawalparasi and Tanahun districts, to take a holy bath at the confluence of the Trishuli and the Kali Gandaki rivers, braving the ice cold waters.

It is believed that a dip in the sacred waters of the rivers not only washes away sins committed throughout the year, but also brings effervescence to the bathers. Acharya Kishore Gautam of the Society of Nepalese Sages, says, "A pre-dawn dip at the confluence of Trishuli and Kali Gandaki rivers cleanses sins and keeps skin diseases at bay".

The Trishuli River is said to have originated from the trident of Lord Shiva and the Kali or Krishna Gandaki is the only river in the world that produces Shaligrams - the best images of the Gods on pebbles. It is believed that when the sun moves towards the Northern Hemisphere, even the gods take a holy bath at Surya Kunda (pond) at the confluence of the Trishuli and Kali Gandaki rivers at Devghat and they bestow the rivers with ambrosia or amrit. Hence, a dip at the confluence of the rivers is highly acclaimed with spiritual significance and health benefits.

Legends have it that the souls of those who die on the day of Maghe Sankranti would go directly to heaven, getting rid of endless cycle of birth and death as this is one of the holiest days.

Apart from its immense religious significance, Maghe Sankranti is also important from social and cultural viewpoints. This day not only heralds the changes in the weather, but also decides the fate of some of the ethnic communities in the Terai, as the bond for household labour is fixed on this day.

The Tharu, an ethnic tribe of the southern low land, especially from Banke, Bardia, Kailali, Kanchanpur and Dang districts, celebrate the occasion as a day of freedom. They call it Maghi. On this day they decide whether they would continue bonded labour, which the government has banned, but still exists in some places. They decide on sending or calling back their sons and daughters to and from landlords on the first day of Magh.

Those who want to break free from their landlords, pay off the loans and those who are forced to be bonded, sign or in most cases agree on verbally to be a labour at least for another Maghi. After finalizing the affairs, the Tharus gather at their homes and rejoice with food and wine, purchased by the money they borrow or get from the dealing.

Apart from the Tharu communities in the Terai, people in the hilly region also have the practice of borrowing or repaying the loans on this day. They sign a Tamasuk, a bond for the repayment of loans taken at various points of the year on Maghe Sankranti. However, the manner of celebrating the occasion varies from place to place and community to community.

Treasure of Surkhet

If Lumbini is regarded as greatest archeological site of Terai then Surkhet can be considered as one of the oldest archeological site of Inner Terai. Located in the Surkhet district of Bheri Zone, Surkhet is a valley blessed with numeral places having historical, cultural and archeological importance, which is best proved by the presence of Kakrebihar with its own unique feature and growing as the center of attraction of the mid-western region.

Strong historical evidences disclosing the construction and destruction of Kakrebihar is still not found. There are lots of opinions about who constructed and who destroyed the Kakrebihar, each with own explanations but all of them lack evidences.

Similar confusion is encountered while explaining the destruction of Kakrebihar. Numeral opinions and saying prevails about the dissolution nevertheless only three of the opinions are much closer to the truth but still detail research is required to come to conclusion. The present status of the ruins also elucidate this fact i.e. the images seem to be demolished intentionally to take away the elegance like some images have lost facial part, while some don’t have hand and leg etc. his intention must be destroying the monastery of religion other than Muslims. According to another saying, followers of Shaiba religion must have demolished the monastery to build Shiva temple. Findings of Shiva images together with Buddhist images are the reasons behind these assumptions

Kakrebihar, embracing a unique model of ancient art and craft together with rich treasure of Biodiversity and cultural resources within itself, is waiting for the conservation taken in well-coordinated manner.

The main problem associated with it is community living around the VDCs are under poor living condition. They lack awareness about Biodiversity and natural resource conservation as well as scarcity of alternative income sources and capacity, causing them to encroach the Kakrebihar forest for fulfilling their basic requirements of fuel-wood and timber, collecting fruits and hunting animals.

Similarly, the wild animals in the forest invading the local’s agricultural land and settlements in search of food induced by habitat destruction and thinning of forest. It is leading towards animal, people conflicts indicating the requirement of harmonization between nature and people through awareness and capacity building together with enhancement in alternative income sources and income generating activities to uplift the living condition of community to lower the pressure on natural resources as well. Conservation through people’s participation has been conceived as best method for conservation and management of natural resources and exactly follow up of similar strategy is the need of the area for effective outcomes.

Tharus, Brahmins, Chhetris, Damai, Sarki and Raji inhabit the Latikoili VDC where the Kakrebihar locates and 35 percent of population is Tharus, which is highest. Tharus dominate inhabitation in the settlements adjoining around the Kakrebihar. These Tharu families have very minimum land holding percentage. Inspite of tolling hard on their small piece of land for the entire year, the production is not sufficient to overcome their hand to mouth problem.

Likewise, considering the unexplored rich Biodiversity resources, the detail study of wildlife to prepare complete inventory of Biodiversity should be taken into immediate action with regards to conserve indigenous and rare species that might be present and falling into threat of extinction due to lack of information and inventory.

Furthermore, the stone monuments and sculptures in the Bhagnabasesh area need immediate measures for protection from the deterioration by natural and physical sources like rain, sunlight.

Last and most important is detail research and study, through experienced, expert and skilled archeologist who have undergone research in similar complex and inexplicable archeological investigation is required. Also and to come out of the mystery and suspense associated with the ruins, and that might come up with intensely essential historical informsation and clue to the unexplored historical events in preceding period.

Rara ki apsara

"Rara Ki Apsara", by Gyanendra Bibas is a book which is based on the traveler of the author along with his four other friends Deependra Bhandari, Rabin Manandhar, Ajay Shrestha and Ajay Shrestha. In other words it is a recollection of natural beauty of Mugu District of Karnali Zone which is situated at Midwestern Region of Nepal.

Rara Lake, is the most popular tourist destinations and moreover it is the precious ornament of the Karnali Zone but it sounds remote, far and sangrila land as it is geographically inconvenient. Due to lack of means of transportation and accommodation it has become isolated place. Whatever be its hindrances, the lake is a natural heaven and gift to the earth and also the pride of Nepal.

The book has in total twelve topics, which are very interesting, and it consists of every aspect of the village and villagers. The topics are entitled as "Sisno Ko Jhol Le Pett Puja", "Koltebata Kuhineto Katepachi", "Marekuchhe Bhrahe Sangha Maritari Ukalo", "Jahain Garho Tyehi Thado, Bato Katnai Ghado", "Rara Ko Serophero", "Prithvi Ma Prakrity ko Swarga", "Durgam Chhetrama Saundarya Ko Subas","Harsha Ra Bismatt Ko Dosadh Ma", "Rara Ko Saundarya Ra Sampada" etc

It seems, this place is still remote because of rich heritage and poor development, and the concerned personalities and their poor vision to this sector neglect the place, which is prosperous in natural beauty. The story of the locals, their sufferings, and the village which yells to hear its appeal of development but the voice disappears before it reaches the city and remains unheard, states the author.

In most of the chapters, the village life of the children has been clearly reflected. The chapter gives the scenario of whole livelihood and describes the social practices, religious thoughts and traditional believes. In the opening chapter a child marriage of a half fed and half clad innocent boy, and a poverty stricken, suppressed live of villagers and the exploitation of land owner is shown.

The villagers are very concious on their culture and on the special occasion they perform "Deuda Songs and Dance".The songs have very thought provoking meaning if one could understand it and a group of men and women perform the dance in artistic way. The Deuda is very much similar to the earlier times english sonnets, which basically describes the historical events, deeds shown by great heroes, love and tragedy etc.

Lastly, apart from the natural beauty and eyecharming sites the author has mentioned that the locals are overshadowed in supertitious. They believe in faithhealers, untouchability and daughters-in-law are strictly prohibided to see the face of their father-in-law while taking bath or early in the morning.They dont have sense of hygiene, health care and health education. Pashupati Shahi of Mugu says that if the member of family gets sick they would rather perfer to shamans than doctors.

In his concluding words he writes, these all show that the concerned authorities should bring package programs that create awareness, education and gives them light of knowledge so that such beliefs be eliminated from the minds of new generation.

Handshake Summit and beyond

By Rudra Sharama

People say it was SAARC summit. For commuters, it was a Shark Summit, for, they were the ‘genuine and sincere ‘ ones who had to bear the burnt of the SAARC. Rather, it was a handshake summit. All the delegates shook hands to each other and of course, Vajpayee and Musarraf did the same. They had had brunch, although, they unfortunately missed the lunch at Nagarkot. The delegates of course did a lot for the sake of regional Cupertino and they contributed to make a history too. A history of successful handshake. To count, the Summit was bold enough to direct its subordinates. It left no stone unturned to direct its subordinates : the Council of Minister, Standing Committee so on and so forth. Besides directing its subordinators, another significant achievement of the Summit was that it laid emphasis on several issues. To add more achievements,it pointed out the need to combat terrorism trafficking.

Besides, all of the Heads of State or Government laid special emphasis on economic co-operation and trade facilitation in the their Summit address. More importantly, they did and most of them repeatedly used the word " WTO" ( World Trade Organisation) in their speech. It seems that the move of trade liberalisation is moving towards to the goal of multilateral trading system as envisaged by the World Trade Organisation since some of the SAARC members are already member of WTO and others too are in a process to acquire the membership of the world trading body.So , it is SAARC. Its summit has never had small talks, thanks to its name itself that tunes to Shark. It is probably because of the Shark mania the delegates in it Summit always have big lips while participating in the SAARC ( Shark?) Summit. There is a long storey of the big talks.

The SAARC member states had entered into the SAARC Preferential Trading Agreement (SAPTA) on April, 1993, some 8 years ago with the objective of promoting trade in the region. The SAPTA preamble states that the member states were "motivated by the commitment to promote regional Co-operation for the benefit of their people, in a spirit of mutual accommodation, with full respect for the principles of sovereign equality, independence and territorial integrity of all states."Although SAFTA was formed after eight years of the evolution of South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation(SAARC) in 1985, it had cost several lobbying and meets when it was finally took a full fledged shape in 1983. It’s not all about the regional Co-operation mission. SAFTA, once ambitious scheme turned out to be incomplete and insufficient and the ideologues began to work out other more comprehensive plans in a bid of accelerating regional Co-operation. The heads of States or Government at the Ninth SAARC Summit recognised the importance of achieving a free trade area by the year 2001 AD, and reiterated that the steps towards trade liberalisation must take into account the special needs of the smaller and Least Developed Countries and that benefit must accrue equitably. Besides, the Male Ninth SAARC Summit constituted a Group of Eminent Persons (GEP) comprising 12 eminent persons of the region. The Summit also mandated the Group to undertake a comprehensive appraisal of SAARC and to identify the measures including the mechanism to further vitalise and enhance the effectiveness of the Association in achieving its objective. The GEP submitted its report highlighting the main issues requiring to be focused attention of the SAARC leaders and also identified measures needed to impart a new vitality and a sense of direction to the Association.

The major recommendations made by the report are focused to economic Co-operation. The report states " The goal should be to establish a South Asian Economic Union(SAEU) by the year 2020 in successive stages.

Before establishing the SAEU, the report recommends series of stages and the SAFTA ( South Asian Free Trade Area ) is the first one. However, the transition from SAPTA to SAFTA must see hefty efforts including several comprehensive inter-governmental negotiations in conformity with Article XXIV of the WTO (World Trade Organisation). All the developments seen over the years in the field of regional economic Co-operation show that they are moving towards a trade felicitation eliminating tariff or non-tariff barriers of trade.

If so happens, it could be hoped that the trade practice will be in the conformity of Nepal’s bid to accede to WTO which requires national treatment and the treatment of Most Favoured Nation to each member country. If SAEU is to be developed in future, it requires more comprehensive economic approach beyond the traditional scope of SAARC that is directed by Article 10 of the SAARC Charter.

This provision , though it is a heart of the SAARC Charter, may undermine the greater purpose of establishing SAEU. It should be reconsidered in time if SAEU is to be established as envisaged. Unanimity in each and every steps may not be effective for the functioning of a regional organisation like SAARC. We have a glaring experience of League of Nations which had failed probably because of a the its provision of unanimity in decision making process.

United Nations which succeeded the League has quite flexible provisions in its decision making process. Therefore, SAARC also needs more liberal and flexible regimes at least in the area of economic operations.

Forget about the stories and big talks. The stories are there for stories’ sake and the talks are there for talks sake. Let’s not dream that talks will match with reality one or another day. Still , if someone wants to ponder about SAARC, it is better to imagine how meticulously the Mussaraff came down from the podium and extended his hand to Vajpayee.

Last but not least, it is futile to deal all about its charter, policies and reports. Because, the SAARC or Shark will be in hibernation till next year when it will finally shudder up in Islamabad hopefully next year. Better talk about how the Indo -Pak bosses will shake their hands in Islamabad NEXT YEAR ?

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