Nepal

Kathmandu, November 2

The third day of Chhath, the greatest festival of Mithila community, was celebrated today in Kathmandu valley by offering prayers to the setting sun and wishing for happiness, well-being, good health and prosperity.

Thousands of Hindu devotees, from the Tarai and hills alike, thronged the water bodies in the valley to perform Chhath rituals. Ponds and river banks in Kamal Pokhari, Gaurighat, Kalimati, Balkhu, Kupandole, Hadigaun and Bhaktapur witnessed huge footfall of devotees.

These places have been decked up with colourful lights. President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, as the head of the state, reached Gaurighat to worship the setting sun. According to Chhath Organising Committee, the festival is celebrated for four days. Nahay Khay, is the first day of the festival. Kharna, the second day of the festival, was observed yesterday.

Offerings are pictured during Chhath festival at a pond in Kathmandu, Nepal on Saturday, November 02, 2019. Chhath festival is dedicated to the sun and ancient Vedic Goddess for ones good health, well being and prosperity. Photo: Skanda Gautam/THT

Fast-observers clad in colourful costumes carry thakuwa (sweet dish made from wheat and rice flour), bhushuwa, fruits and holy threads, among others, as prasad in a special bamboo basket during Shasthi Puja, the third day of Chhath, on the river banks and ponds before offering argha to the setting sun.

The festival will conclude tomorrow with the worship of the rising sun. Special security measures have been put in place in and around the designated festival spots to prevent any untoward incident, police said. Third day of the Chhath is considered the main day of the festival.

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Kathmandu, November 2

The National Security Council Bill, which is awaiting passage from the House of Representatives, allows the government to mobilise the Nepali Army in development activities, disaster management and overall security of the country.

The bill was drafted and registered in the Parliament Secretariat in accordance with Article 266 of the constitution which stipulates a provision of a seven-member National Security Council headed by the prime minister. Other members include minister of defence, minister of home affairs, minister of foreign affairs, minister of finance, chief secretary and chief of army staff. It has been tasked with the responsibility of recommending to the Council of Ministers for formulation of a policy on overall national interest, security and defence of Nepal, and for mobilisation and control of the NA.

As per Section 6 (2) of the bill, the president shall declare mobilisation of NA according to the decision of the Council of Ministers on the recommendation of the council if deemed necessary due to external invasion and armed rebellion in the country. &Notwithstanding anything contained in Section 6 (2); if serious national crisis arises or the meeting of the council cannot be held immediately for making recommendation to the council, the chairperson (prime minister) may recommend to the government mobilisation of the NA,& Section 6 (3) reads. The government shall submit such recommendation to the president for final approval.

There shall be a secretariat of the council in Kathmandu valley. The bill requires the government to provide necessary employees and budget to the secretariat. The council shall liaise with the government through the MoD. The bill has also defined the functions, responsibilities and powers of the council. They include formulation of policies related to national security and defence; mobilisation of the NA in development activities, disaster management, overall national security, national priority projects and heritages; obtaining information from relevant security agencies for formulation of national security policy, and formulation of short-term, mid-term and long-term national security strategy and action plan.

Similarly, the council shall suggest that the government use defence diplomacy for safeguarding national interest and strengthening the security of Nepal, develop action plan for modernisation of NA, formulate policy related to weapons and logistics required for security agencies, and conduct study and research on national security and defence.

The bill makes it mandatory for provincial and local governments and all government and public bodies to cooperate with the NA to make its mobilisation more effective. The bill also empowers the council to form committees as per necessity.

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Kathmandu, November 2

Irked by illegal encroachment of Khula Manch, Kathmandu locals and activists are all set to launch ‘Occupy Tundikhel& campaign.

The campaign is being launched in a bidto exert pressure on the government to vacate Khula Manch, which is a part of Tundikhel.

The open space locatedin the eastern side of the ancient settlements of Kathmandu such as Basantapur and Ason areas have been completely occupied for various reasons, especially, after the 2015 earthquakes.

The open space at the heart of the city, which had provided refuge to thousands of people during the 2015 earthquakes, is now almost occupied.

Almost half of the Khula Manch area has been occupied by construction materials used for construction of Darahara and Durbar High School. The area has been covered by tarpaulin on all sides and a ‘no trespassing& sign is hung at the eastern gate. A couple of excavators can also be seen at Khula Manch.

The other half of Khula Manch area was converted into a bus park, after the government, in March 2015, handed over a contract to build a view tower at the Old Bus Park. Construction of the view tower was expected to be over within five years, but considering the snail-paced construction work, it is verylikely to take a few more years.

Moreover, many illegal structures have been built at Khula Manch near the bus park area for commercial purpose with tacit support from Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Although the government had removed the illegal makeshift tents set up at Khula Manch in April, new stalls have already been set up and rented out to private vendors.

Irate public of the area have thus decided to launch the campaign to make the government realise the importance of open space.

According to activists, the government must vacate Khula Manch. Biraj Shrestha, coordinator of the campaign said that Khula Manch had cultural, political, and environmental significance.

&The leaders must not forget that major political changes in the country were brought about from the Khula Manch. We cannot allow the government to occupy the open space with construction works. It must be vacated at the earliest and be opened to the public,& Shrestha said.

Shrestha further informed that they had decided to organise a mass rally around Tundikhel area and surround Khula Manch with a human chain on November 9.

Activist Ganapati Lal Shrestha said that illegal encroachment of the area had been a big hindrance to celebration of jatras and festivals.

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KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has offered prayers to the temple of Chhathi Mata (the goddess of power) set up in the middle of the Bagmati River at Guheshwori today.

In order to offer Chhath worships, President Bhandari reached the temple established in the mid-part of the pond which was created after diverting water current of the Bagmati river from Gaurighat to Guheshwori.

Worships along with arghya are offered to the setting sun in the evening on the main day of the Chhath today.

Over 650 pooja sites have been arranged along the banks of the river in the area. Both the sides of the river have been illuminated with electric lights.

The festival celebrated from the sixth day of the lunar month of Kartik (October-November) had begun on last Thursday. It is the four-day festival that is dedicated to the God of Sun and Goddess of Power (Chhati Mata).

According to the Hindu Scripture, Mahabgarata, Draupadi along with five Pandavas (the mythological character) had offered worships to the god of Sun wishing their exile life a success. The festival began since then.

There is a belief that fasting observed during the Chhath festival would relieve people of trouble and starvation.

The festival is being celebrated with fanfare on the banks of rivers, including Guheshwori, Gahanapokhari, Kamalpokhari, Bagmati, Balkhu, Nakhkhu and Bishnumati in the capital city of Kathmandu.

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