Gathan-Muga

This year Gathan-muga is on 8 Aug 2010. It is also called Gathemangal. At the time when local community used to rely heavily on agriculture for livelihood, they were very superstitious about evil spirit spelling evilness onto their harvest. They consulted a famous Tantric to permanently ward off this fear. People were told to put on iron rings on fingers and hammer iron nails into door lintels to drive away evil spirit.

Gathan-Muga

This year Gathan-muga is on 8 Aug 2010. It is also called Gathemangal. At the time when local community used to rely heavily on agriculture for livelihood, they were very superstitious about evil spirit spelling evilness onto their harvest. They consulted a famous Tantric to permanently ward off this fear. People were told to put on iron rings on fingers and hammer iron nails into door lintels to drive away evil spirit.

Friendship Day

Friendship day its still new in Nepal but still its great fun and good excuse for get-together, party, meeting friends.....

Friends are like melons. Shall I tell you why? To find a good one, you must a hundred try. -Claude Mermet
“Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.”
“Truly great friends are hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget.”
A real friend never gets in your way - unless you happen to be on the way down.
Friendship is always a sweet responsibility, never an opportunity- Kahlil Gibran
What is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies. – Aristotle
Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow.
Don't walk behind me, I may not lead.
Just walk beside me and be my friend.-- Albert Camus
"The best mirror is an old friend."
--George Herbert
Friendship doubles our joy and divides our grief.-- Swedish proverb
In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.
-Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929-1968)
"It is better to be in chains with friends , than to be in a garden with strangers." Persian Proverb
Best friends are the ones that when you're having a bad day, you go to them and after they say something totally stupid...you forget all about your problems!

Teachers' day

Today is Teacher's day in Nepal a very specially day for the teachers. On this day students organise a various singing and dancing programs at the school. At the same time students gift to the teachers: pen, pencil, note book, flowers, cards..... So in short this is the only day when teachers sit and relax....

Coming more........

Slide from Nepal...

Just funny

Shrawan: a very special month

Shrawan is the fourth month of the Nepali calendar. It is a holy month related to Lord Shiva. At the same time it is more important for me, after all its my birthday........ Yes, the most important day when I came to earth....... And I am so thankful to my parents, friends and people around me...... I have no words to thank them.......

When I try to remember those days when I was in school - giving candies to class mates and teachers, having a nice meal with my family...... dad who brings yummy food and mum who worships for my good health and prosperity...... ohh its so lovely! But I remember one particular birthday when I invited all my classmates for dinner to celebrate....however, I forgot to inform my parents. I actually thought that only one or two would turn up...so imagine the surprise of me and my parents when we were inundated by teenagers!

Now this year’s birthday, my wife gave me a surprise with lot of gifts at the stroke of midnight. And then in the morning I got a surprise call from my parents to wish me a happy birthday...... as well as from friends...... That’s so amazing and I do really feel it’s a special day for me....... and these are all special people who made it special...... My birthday is not finished yet as I will have to go home this coming Saturday so that I can make my nephew happy with lots of cake and chocolate...... little version of Bipin ha haaaaaa oh thank you so much to all.

I have attached the best gift from my wife too (picture of me and her, Gill)

Bhanubhakta Acharya - known as the First Poet of Nepal (1814–1868)

Bhanubhakta Acharya - known as the First Poet of Nepal (1814–1868)

Bhanubhakta Acharya was born in Chundi Ramgha in the district of Tanahu and was educated at home by his grandfather.
Bhanubhakta is considered the first poet writing in the Nepali language. Usually poets wrote in Sanskrit, which was not as accessible to many people. His most famous work was translating the Ramayana, (the great Hindu epic) from Sanskrit to Nepali

He wrote many poems but sad thing is most of his works are lost. The majority of the poems are written in a simple, lucid, style that is easy to understand. The most popular work is Ramayan, but some other titles are: Ayodhyakanda, Kiskindha Kanda, Sunder Kanda, Badhusikchha.

Nepal Tourism Year 2011

Government of Nepal in consultation with Nepalese Tourism Industry, concerned organizations and experts decided to launch a national tourism campaign "Nepal Tourism Year 2011". This announcement reflects the government anticipation to bring into at least one million international tourists in Nepal by the year 2011 and spread the benefits of tourism to the people at large. The national campaign also indicates the tourism industry exigency to organize a tourism promotion campaign having wider impact.

Asar Pandhra: Farmers’ festival

Farmers: eating, singing, dancing and playing with mud.

Asar 15 (the 15^th day of the third month of Nepali year) is also known as Asar Pandhra. This festival is related to the planting of rice paddy fields, and is celebrated all around Nepal by eating rice flakes and curd. The best spot to see and enjoy the farmers playing with water and mud within the Kathmandu Valley are in Harrisiddhi, Kirtipur, Chapagaon, Bungmati, Sanogaon and Bhaktapur. Farmers will be playing holi (festival of colours) but instead of using coloured powders they will be using mud or water mixed with mud. It will be nice to see them throwing mud at each other but make sure you are out of the way else they will start throwing it at you ......

Asar Pandhra actually indicates the beginning of the monsoon in Nepal. Yes, it is certainly the best day for paddy planting. This day is also known as national paddy day (Nepal government declared that a few years back)

Another attraction is Ashare bhaka, (this is a special traditional Nepali song sung on this day or while planting), which adds some extra charm to this day.

Have you enjoyed your rice flakes and curd today?

Bhoto Jatra (Festival of Vest):

Bhoto Jatra (Festival of Vest):

Once there was a Nag Raj (King of the Snakes) whose kingdom was in Karkotaka daha (pond), which is located at the southern part of Nepal. One day he went in search of a baidhya (traditional doctor) as his wife, Nagin (Queen of the Snakes) was ill. He came across a Farmer (who was knowledgeable about herbs and medicines) and the farmer healed the Nagin. King Nag became very happy and rewarded him an beautiful bhoto (vest) decorated with precious stones, diamonds and gold.

The farmer was working in the field as usual, but unfortunately one day his bhoto was stolen by somebody. But when that farmer was attending Machhindranath festival at Jawalakhel, he saw someone wearing the same bhoto (given by Nag Raj). A quarrel ensued between the farmer and the man wearing the vest. Finally both were taken to the King’s court for the final settlement. The king was not satisfied with either side’s evidence so in the end the king decided to demonstrate the vest during Machhindra Jatra. There would be a huge gathering during the festival and the vest would be handed over to the person who could prove that the vest belonged to him or her.

This is the same bhoto, which is demonstrated to this very day in Jawalakhel, Lagankhel Kathmandu……………… till now nobody has succeed to claim it so maybe it can be yours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love from Nepal

Coming soon