Banks in Nepal

Grand Finale of Miss Tamang was held onÂ 14th Magh 2068 (January 28, 2012) in Tudikhel open theater amongst the celebration of Duk Loshar. A beauty from Kabhrepalanchowk, Miss Sumi Moktan was selected the Miss Tamang 2012.

Nepal Banda photos – protest by student wings of parties including ruling party

Posted on January 25, 2012January 31, 2013 by Anand Nepal

As announced earlier, 13 student wings of nine different political parties, including the ruling party, have forced-close the Kathmandu valley on January 25. There are no vehicles on the street and the businesses are also closed. The only vehicles allowed on the road are press vehicle, ambulance, and vehicles of foreign embassies.

The youth organizations have announced that they won’t even sit in negotiation table until the government takes back the recent price hike. Here are some of the scenes seen in Kathmandu streets:

protest_against_price_hike

Best value Copy-Paste offer ?

Posted on January 22, 2012 by Anand Nepal

Art students copy the arts of renowned artists to learn and understand the technique. Such a practice is not meant to stealÂ other’s creativity and say that it is their own creation.

After witnessing such unethical practices in Nepali movies, it is time other sectors also resort to stealing other’s creations. Shuphal Kafle of Ujyaalo 90 network has found that the popular Republica advertisement was in fact copied from the advertisement of a Ukraine based company Kiev Assist.

The advertisement of Nepali newspaper reads “Best value offer! perfect combination of information and & entertainment” instead of the original “KIEV ASSIST UKRAINE”. Does that mean, Republica offers the “best value” copy-paste offer?

I am not 100% sure that the photo was the Ukrainian website’s original creation. Similar types of photos are also available for purchase for the use in print and digital media and this photo might be one of them. Even in such cases, using such photos for it’s own advertisement shows the lack of maturity and dedication of the media house, as big as Republica.

Such a copy-paste practice is very common in Nepali movie industry. The posters of Nepali movies Premika, Ghamanda, Hifajat, K Yo Maya Ho, Tridev etc. were found to be exact copies of different Hollywood and Bollywood movies. It seems, other sectors are joining the copy-paste trend!

Prachanda's new house / Everest Bank building / owned or leased ?

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Anand Nepal

The CPN Maoist chairman Prachanad has moved to a new residence in Lazimpat from his earlier home of the last five and half years, in Naya Bazar.

Kantipur published a photo of a red brick house as Prachanda’s new house. But, Prachanda son, Prakash Dahal, has posted a facebook wall post, accusing the newspaper of publishing the building of Everest Bank as their home.

Although various media have told that the new residence is their own, Prakash said in his Facebook profile that the new house is also rented for a limited time. To the question about the rumor that the house was their own, Prakash replied:

The photo below is the actual residence of Prachanda (Photo credit – Nagarik).

In Nepalese context, it is not easy to believe in politicians. These days, it is even harder to believe the newspapers or media.

Talking about irresponsibility of Nepali media, Nepal Samacharpatra and Avenues TV published a "Research Based" news by researching a comedy article – saying that Bollywood actor Amitabh Bhachchan has Nepali roots. But, even after a lot of ridiculation, the media houses haven’t felt the need to clarify their news.

Let’s hope, Nepali newspaper will act a
bit more matured in the future and we we will always be told the truth!

Maghe Shakranti different moods and modes of celebrations

Posted on January 17, 2012October 30, 2015 by Anand Nepal

Maghe Shakranti is celebrated in various ways in different parts of Nepal. By default, it is about eating various delicacies and enjoying the day in the best way possible. Here are some of the highlights of this year’s celebrations.

The following dance party organized to mark Maghe Shakranti is in full swing (photo credits Dilli Limbu):

In the following photo a huge crowd in Taruka, Nuwakot is waiting to witness a bull fight (Photo credits – Janak Raj Bhatta).

Although bull fight, popular in France is reticulated for brutality and inhuman killing of bulls, the Nepali version of bullfight doesn’t involve any blood-shed and is fun for people. People from all over Nepal (specially from Kathmandu) come to enjoy the event.

Earthquake Safety Day – 16 January

Posted on January 15, 2012November 13, 2014 by Anand Nepal

The 14th National Earthquake Safety Day is being marked by organizing various events starting January 16, 2012.

Young mountains and geotectonic has made Nepal susceptible to severe earthquakes. Historical data show that devastating earthquake have a 100 year return period, and the next such earthquake is expected to occur in the near future. A earthquake in September 2011 wasn’t that severe, and we can’t be lucky every time. Hence, earthquake awareness is very important in Nepal.

Some of the highlights of the January 16, 2012 event are:

ESD Memorial Meeting on January 16 at 10:00AM,at Bhugol Park, Newroad
Earthquake Safety Rally: to be held on January 16, starting from Lalitpur Sub Metropolitan City at 11:30AM and assemble at Jawalakhel at 1:00PM walking all the way across inner city areas of Patan
Earthquake Safety Day National Meeting, to be held on January 16 at 1:30PM, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur (The Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai is scheduled to address the ceremony).
Earthquake Safety Exhibition: January 16-19, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur, Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai is scheduled to inaugurate the Exhibition.

Maghe/Makar Shakranti, festival of ghyu, chaku and tarul

Posted on January 14, 2012February 3, 2013 by Anand Nepal

The first day of the month Magh is celebrated as Maghe Shakranti or Makar Shakranti. On the day, the most popular ingredients to make delicious food in Nepal are ghee, chaku and boiled yam (locally known as ghyu, chaku, and tarul).

More details on Maghe Shakranti (posted last year)

In Nepal and India, various sweets with sesame seeds are also prepared and eaten on the day. Our own version of ‘rice kipsies,’ commonly known as "muraiko laddu" in Nepal, are also popular, specially among the kids.

In the photo above, delicious varieties of delicacies for Makar Shakranti like Til barphee, til laddoo, badam-til laddoo, til-potlis, and gud-murmura laddu (muraiko laddu) are shown. They were prepared and photographed by Anjana Rana.

Kafal gedi kutukka

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Anand Nepal

Last time we posted about Aiselu and now, it is time for another tasty wild fruit, Kafal.

Kafal, a very popular wild fruit of the Central Himalayas. Tasting sour-sweet, the all-season trees are considered uncultivable. Botanists call it Myrica Nagi and it grows in the range of 1300 to 2100 m elevation and is common in Nepal and India. A typical Kafal tree is 12 to 15 m high and the trunk diameter ranges from 90-95 cm.

Kodo and and distillation of Rakshi, a traditional Nepali wine

Posted on January 7, 2012 by Anand Nepal

Rakshi is the distilled alcoholic drink of Nepal. It is commonly made from Kodo (a variety of millet found in Nepal). There are other varieties of Rakshi made by the same procedure using other materials like fruits, corn , rice , wheat , or barley.

Kodo or millet grows in mountain region of Nepal and is considered one of the nutritious grains used to make varieties of Nepali delicacies. The foods made from Kodo is also considered a relief food for diabetics.

Distillation of Rakshi is an age old process in which the millet is cooked, left to ferment and distilled to obtain the edible alcoholic bev
erage.

Millet or Kodo is harvested in Nepal in October / November. The small grains are extracted by laying grain bearing spikes on a mat and beating by canes after drying it in the sun.

The millet grains are sieved through a colander and mixed with water before bringing it to boil. Cooked millet. after simmering lightly, is transferred to a basket to let it ferment for three days. The fermented mix is transferred to an earthenware called to remain there for the next 15 days.

Now, the mix is ready for distillation. Distillation involves special utensils and cook
ing arrangement.

Aiselu â€“ wild raspberries found in Nepal

Posted on December 24, 2011 by Anand Nepal

A common fruit in the hilly Nepal, Aiselu, is usually ripe for eating in around spring time. These delicious wild raspberries can be plucked out of bushes with a lot of thorn.

Aiselu is one of the favorite wild fruits among the locals. Those who don’t want to go hunting for the delicious fruit, can sometimes find children and adults selling the fruit on road sides in a cup or a piece of paper.

Fake MRPs

Posted on December 23, 2011 by Anand Nepal

Supposed to be secured, the MRPs (Machine Readable Passport) are the new requirements for travel. But, crooks in Nepal have managed to create fake MRPs.

Nepal Government was shocked when the Nepali Embassy of Kuwait sent two suspicious passports for the government to investigate. Passports of Anju Neupane of Kaski (no. 07467100) and Mahima Dewan of Bara (No. 05467191) proved to be fakes.

Although they mention the issue date of 10 May and 9 Feb, the passport number of Anju was never issued and that of Mahima was issued to another person.

Such fake passports create unnecessary suspicions and hassle on genuine t
ravellers.

The MRP was controversial from the start, fueled by then foreign minister Sujata Koirala. When it was finally ready for issuance, many expressed a sigh of relief. But, with such fake passport, it seems, the sigh of relief proves to be short lived. (image credit -Kantipur)

Nepal Bandha – Organizing leader became a victim

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Anand Nepal

(UPDATE: The Bandha is called back effective 4 PM after Nepali Congress reached in deal with the government)

Forceful closing of streets and business is a serious violation of human rights. Nepal is currently being forced such a day-long bandha, called by Nepali Congress. One of it’s top leaders Ramchandra Poudel’s mother died and he was stopped to drive by the bandh called by himself. If he were a true leader he should have obeyed the bandha and waited till tomorrow to go to his home. But, he choose to ask the police force to escort him to his home in Chitwan to perform the last rites of his mother.

Nepali Congress is the opposition party of the current government, but it has acted like a little kid by going the street to protest the death of one of it’s members.

(A little girl asking to stop bandha and let her go to school)

2 Slaps – Inhuman punishment; is the society going backward?

Posted on December 18, 2011 by Anand Nepal

A warning notice posted near the Bishnumati Bridge in Balaju, Kathmandu reads:

If anybody is found throwing garbage around this Bishnumati Bridge, out people volunteers will charge Rs. 5000 fine and slap 2 times.

Doesn’t the rule sound like a "Jungle Rule"? No civil society allows "local youth" to punish anybody. Punishing is the job of law enforcement officers or the police officers. Nobody else can punish anybody – that too physically.

Nobody can deny the fact that the person who
litters a public place should be punished, but physical punishment is inhuman.

Bandha returns?

Posted on December 17, 2011February 3, 2013 by Anand Nepal

It was a sigh of relief for Nepali to be able to live without Nepal Bandha or city bandha for some time. But, it seems, bandha are returning.

After bandha of few days in the Eastern part of the county (in which, wild elephant roamed in Birtamod city), Chitwan was closed yesterday (Dec 16, 2011). The strike called after the death of Nepali Congress member and Chitwan Tarun Dal’s president, Shiva Poudel. Shiva Poudel was in jail after alleged shooting spree and was attacked within the jail.

One man protests, and number of onlookers, afraid of the bamboo club he carries, obey his threatening orders!

In the photo above, a man claiming to be a Nepali Congress Party member is seen threatening a bike rider with a bamboo club in hand.

Marriages in 2014	Friday Release