Buddha Jayanti is also known as Buddha Purnima (the day Lord Buddha was born). It is one of the most sacred festivals of Buddhist religion and Nepali people. It is celebrated in remembrance of Lord Buddha. Lord Buddha is the great person who founded Buddhism in this world. This day falls on the full moon of the fourth lunar month (month of Baisakh) i.e. April or May. This day commemorates three important events of Buddha’s life i.e.

• His birth in 623 BC
• His enlightment i.e. attainment of supreme wisdom, in 588 BC
• His attainment of Nirvana i.e. the complete extinction of his self at the age of 80

Lord Buddha is said to be the ninth avatar (incarnation) of Lord Vishnu (Preserver in the Hindu Holy Trinity of Creator-Preserver-Destroyer). Lord Buddha lived and died in about fifth century before the Christian era. Buddha means “the enlightened one” – someone who is completely free from all the faults and mental obstructions.

The teachings and practices of Buddha are solely to liberate human beings from misery and sufferings of life. According to Buddha, sorrow and desire are the main causes of all evil and suffering of this world. Lord Buddha advocated the Eightfold Path consisting of precepts like right conduct, right motive, right speech, right effort, right resolve, right livelihood, right attention and right meditation to gain mastery over suffering.

It is only after following this path one can reach the ultimate aim of Nirvana. Nirvana is the transcendental state of complete liberation. Gautama Buddha lived and taught in Nepal in the 6th Century B.C.

Buddha used to travel far and wide teaching hundreds of followers. Even after his death his followers continued to spread his teachings.

Rich and poor people both were attracted by the simplicity of Buddha’s teaching and his emphasis on complete equality of all.

Though Buddhism originated in Nepal, the religion has gained tremendous popularity throughout the Far East in Asia, there are many people practicing Buddhism in the world. The number of Buddhists in the world ranges from less than two hundred million, to more than five hundred million.

Anuradha Koirala has received several awards for the glorious initiatives taken so far regarding social issues concerning children and women. Some of the awards include German UNIFEM Prize 2007, Queen Sofia Silver Medal Award Spain , The Peace Abbey, Courage of Conscience Sherborne, MA, USA .

The CNN Hero award is awarded every year to those eminent personalities who make outstanding contributions in issues related social, political, human rights, health matters.

It is an unprecedented opportunity for Maiti Nepal and all its supporters , well wishers to achieve the global recognition of its contribution through this prestigious award. The winner is selected though global online voting on www.cnn.com/heroes.

Maiti Nepal appeals to all of its partners and well wishers to join in this campaign of getting recognized for what has been contributed or achieved so far by work of the organization.

The organization highly values your genuine support and contribution in the campaign of protecting vulnerable children and prevention of trafficking as well as rescue , repatriation, rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficked survivors.

“Friends of Maiti Nepal USA” stands as an official partner of Maiti Nepal in the United States. It maintains 501(c) (3) status.  If you are interested to contribute for the noble cause initiated by Maiti Nepal, please send your contribution to FOMN ( Friends of Maiti Nepal, USA) . You can get more information about FOMN by logging into www.friendsofmaitinepal.org

Alternatively, you can directly send it to the following address.

Standard Chartered Bank Nepal limited
Address: Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal
Bank swift code : SCBLNPKA
Account Number:01-0184012-10

We appeal to all the global community of our well wishers, partners to kindly vote for Anuradha koirala by logging into www.cnn.com/heroes

• Minimize impact.
• Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect.
• Provide positive experiences for both visitors and hosts.
• Provide direct financial benefits for conservation.
• Provide financial benefits and empowerment for local people.
• Raise sensitivity to host countries’ political, environmental, and social climate.

Tourism business of Nepal must also be aware that eco-tourists are generally well educated and possess a higher level of income and so they must be able to furnish to the needs of this more sophisticated and learned spectators.
World Tourism Organizations has declared the future of tourism in Nepal. It says cultural and rural tourism and nature-based travel in pristine regions of Africa and Asia are going to be the most wanted destinations over the upcoming decades. Here lies the future of tourism industry in Nepal also. Study has shown that the tourists are switching from established areas like the Carribean, Hawaii and the Mediterranean to more interesting destinations like the Indian Ocean and Himalayas of Southeast Asia, among which Nepal could be the best.

In terms of eco-tourism potential, Nepal is blessed with prosperous and diverse vegetations, culture, beautiful and varied landscapes and as such destinations are going to be the top eco-tourism destinations in few years, opportunities abound Nepal for developing eco-tourism products, tour and trekking packages, climbing and expedition packages, adventurous sports, cultural festivals, accommodations, guiding services, transportation and to other indirectly benefited areas too.
Until now, despite the potential, eco-tourism has not developed and the number of eco-tourist arrivals in Nepal has not reached an optimum because priority is still given to tourist destinations which already attract the bigger portions of the market. Despite the challenges, the potential for eco-tourism in Nepal is very minimally realized or still unrealized but, for the time being, in judging the success of eco-tourism, it is the quality impact achieved that is more important than the quantity figures. The situation is going to be changed in the near future, and Nepalese eco-tourism industrialists should always be optimistic on eco-tourism and sustainable tourism. Nepal is going to be the best destination in the world for eco-tourism very soon.

Everest

World record holder Legendary mountaineer Apa Sherpa witnessed water while in South Col route of Everest at an altitude of 8000 meters. Lakpa Dorje Sherpa memorizes quenching his thirst melting the ice even in Everest base camp some years before, but during this year’s expedition, he saw plenty of small lakes around the same spot. Dawa Steven Sherpa also says that there was no existence of Imja glacial lake until 1960, but it is now at highest risk of outburst. Peak climbers are frightful that soon the mountaineering will be changed into rock climbing because the snow line is growing up higher very fast.

Unfortunately, experiences of the used-to summiteers and the radical changes in Himalayas have shown Nepal to be in high risk of effect of climate change. The effect of climate change has already affected the Himalayas, but it could be more severe in the future too near. Although Himalayas are suffering most from the effect of climate change, these have never got the rightful attention of international community on climate change debates.

Most of us know that factors that aid to climate change and global warming are greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide (CO2), level of which are raising more and more day by day.

Nepal’s role in CO2 generation is only 0025% of the total amount whereas the industrial and highly developed countries like USA and China produce 20% and 21% of CO2 respectively. Countries like Nepal are facing the side effects of poison the industrially developed countries are producing more than they themselves.

However, whoever is the faultier, the mistake has been done already and its result has started to affect the countries like ours maybe due to our geographical setting. Study has shown that the Himalayan region has got increase in temperature by 0.6% during the last decade and in the time frame of 100 years, it is estimated to raise the temperature by up to 5.5 Celsius.

Importance of Mountains
Most of us may not know that mountains cover one-fifth of the globe, and almost half of humanity depends on the mountain ecosystems directly or indirectly. The Hindu Kush Himalayan region is an essential part of the global ecosystem. This mountain region is rich in biological diversity and environmental resources and serves as a water source for the region, and the world. Nine Himalayan river systems flow along these Himalayan ranges and provide direct basis for livelihoods for over 150 million people. They support the being of over 1.3 billion people – a fifth of the world’s population. Nevertheless, this environment is now under constant threat as a result of environmental degradation and effect of climate change. These have aggravated environmental hazards such as landslides, floods, GLOFs, and droughts.

Carbon Emissions
Rich nations are in charge for most of the gases that are already heating the planet. Until 1990’s statistics, countries like USA and UK were ahead in carbon emissions but in the latest days, china has surmounted them. China refused to decrease its CO2 production in the past reasoning that it was its turn to develop.

USA, which is now world’s second CO2 producing countries even, turned to be most reluctant and refused to sign in the Kyoto Protocol. Had signed in the protocol the developed nations had to bring their production of greenhouse gases down by 5%.

But, ahead of the 15th UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen USA and China has already given their word to reduce their greenhouse gases fabrication by 40-45% until 2020. If pursued, this decision would be boon for the earth.

What is Greenhouse gas?
Greenhouse gases are gases in an atmosphere that absorb and emit radiation within the thermal infrared range. This process is the fundamental cause of the greenhouse effect. The main greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere are water vapor, CO2, methane, nitrous oxide, and ozone. Greenhouse gases greatly affect the temperature of the Earth; without them, Earth’s surface would be on average about 33 °C, colder than at present. Human activities since the start of the industrial era around 1750 have increased the levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere causing global warming and climate change.
All gases stay in the atmosphere for a certain length of time before they are removed by their sinks which is known as atmospheric lifetime of a gas. Sink is a method by which a gas can be removed from the atmosphere. CO2 has several sinks within the atmosphere, including trees and plants. Hence the process of deforestation removes an important sink for CO2. In addition to this, if the wood is then burnt as in the ‘slash and burn’ technique the CO2 is released through the burning process. Another sink for CO2 is the ocean. The ocean is both a source and a sink for CO2. The ocean acts as a big reservoir holding CO2 within its watery depths. A molecule of carbon may stay in the ocean for anything up to 200 years.
CO2 has an atmospheric lifetime of between 50 – 200 years. This means that CO2 will be present in the atmosphere for at least 50 years before it is absorbed by a sink or becomes part of another chemical reaction. Consequently, CO2 emitted into the atmosphere today could cause global warming for up to two centuries to come.
Before the Industrial Revolution, the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere had barely changed over hundreds of years. This was because the amount of CO2 removed from the atmosphere by the CO2 sinks equaled the amount released to the atmosphere from the CO2 sources. Human activity has resulted in CO2 being released from sources faster than it can be absorbed by the sinks, so the concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has increased.
The amount of CO2 in earth’s atmosphere has reached more than 3.64 trillion tons, which is the highest level in 800,000 years and is increasing continuously at the speed of 800 tons per second. The amount of greenhouse gases released by human activities – such as the burning of fossil fuels for energy and forest clearing – is called our “carbon footprint”.

As a whole, people are currently releasing far more greenhouse gases into the atmosphere than ecosystems can immediately absorb. In other words, our carbon footprint is exceeding nature’s capability to deal with it. Atmospheric carbon is already at least 383 ppm, As a result, these gases are building up in the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise, consequently causing climate to change.

Continued emissions of greenhouse gases could see the average global temperature rise by more than 4°C by the end of this century. The impacts of such a rise are the biggest threat to nature and humanity in the 21st century.

“Hope” to come
At the latest days with USA president Barak Obama’s commitment to decrease their carbon emissions, environmentalists are hopeful of Cop-15 Conference. The Copenhagen Conference is viewed as humanity’s future. December 11 which will be marked and celebrated as “Mountain Day” in the cop-15 Conference has brought plenty of hope also to the Himalayan nation like ours.

A commitment to fairly significant cuts in carbon emissions is inevitable. Negotiators in Copenhagen will have to agree on how to fight the climate disaster.

Nepal Effort- Summiteers Summit to Save the Himalayas on the Mountain Day

Twenty-two Mountaineering Sherpas and renowned Everest summiteers have already started their campaign to adjoin celebrities, global audience to their march campaign to discuss and highlight the threats of Himalayas on the eve of International Mountain Day coinciding with the conference of United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Copenhagen which could be an excellent opportunity to draw the attention of the global community. Summiteers Summit to Save the Himalayas will bring in mountaineering celebrities form Nepal and around the world to Copenhagen to jointly call the attention of the international population to focus on the threat of climate change in the Himalayas. The program will be organized as an accompanying event of the Cop-15 Convention on Climate Change to celebrate the International Mountain Day on December 11, 2009. Mountaineering icons, marching in summit gears on the streets of Copenhagen, will be joined by many mountain lovers in issuing a declaration to save the Himalayas from the impacts of climate change.

The ‘Summiteers Summit to Save the Himalayas’ is an awareness-raising campaign to urge leaders of national governments, international agencies, and the public at large to take urgent action to save the Himalayas from the impact of global warming and thereby protecting the livelihoods and welfare of hundreds of millions of people of the earth. Further specific objectives of the marching campaign of December 11 via “Summiteers Summit to Save the Himalayas are:

• To draw the attention of the global community to identify the vital role of the Himalayan mountain region in regulating global climatic system.
• Emphasize the ecosystem of Himalayan mountains on which millions of people depend on.
• Make the global community identify that Himalayan Mountains are as vulnerable as other vulnerable regions of the world due to effects of climate change.
• Identify and take action to address the multiple problems and risks due to rapid melting of glaciers and the danger it poses to the lives and livelihoods of local communities.
• Give the mountain people and Himalayan environment a chance to survive the unfolding challenges of climate change.

The UN climate change conference opened Monday in an atmosphere of hope for a deal in Copenhagen. Words conveying hopes for concrete commitments from the world’s leaders have heard higher than ever just some days before Cop-15, so we can be hopeful that although Cop-15 is not everything to conclude, it is the starting point of “Hopenhagen.”

Mani Rimdu is celebrated after full moon of October, November, and December in Tengboche, Chiwong and Thame monasteries. Mani Rimdu in Nepal is not a too ancient festival. It is a recent development and started only when Zatul Ngawang Tenzin Norbu of Rongbuk came to sanctify the monastery of Tengboche. It was the first time that monks performed the dance here. It then became an annual ritual, but was moved forward by a month to avoid the cold and dull weather. Although, the original practice of Mani Rimdu was small, addition of the dances originated from tantras made it elaborated and stretched to go many days.

Phakpa Chenrezig, the god of compassion is worshipped during Mani Rimdu and prayers are chanted that is believed to benefit everyone. The Phakpa Chenrezig’s blessings are believed to bring peace and good fortune to all people. One of the rituals invokes the blessings of the god of compassion on the rilbu, the long-life pills in Chiwong Monastery. The elaborate and very meaningful dance performance attracts a large crowd during Mani Rimdu.

After the sanctification of monastery by Tulshig Rimpoche, perform the special mask dance at the place. The amazing masked dance drama played for three full days is the main show up of the feast. The masked dance performed while the feast is not just for fun but tells a story. The dance symbolizes the restoration of the set up of Buddhism in Tibet and depicts the victory of Buddhism over the ancient ‘Bon’ religion and symbolizes individual awakening.

Once on every December, Tulshig Rimpoche, a reincarnated lama, comes down to the to solemnize the Mani Rimdu festival. Besides, Tulshig Rimpoche is also regarded as the god. Thus, people come to the place to take blessing from him and in return he blesses them by touching them with the bottom of a silver cylinder, which encloses prayers inside. When he comes up to the place, monks and novices start playing a variety of instruments in his honor. Furthermore, this kind of playing of instruments also signifies the spreading of principles of Lord Buddha or Dharma.

It is believed that, in the past, during the festival, people sacrificed the animals but Buddhism strictly prohibits sacrificing the animals. But the problem was resolved when dough or torma was used as a substitute in place of sacrificing the animal. The torma is prepared by layman when the lama goes into the courtyard.
The performance by monks of the renowned “Mask Dances” during Mani Rimdu, is a spectacular and memorable event. This starts with a monk, playing master of ceremonies, dramatically pushing the audience back to clear an area around the courtyard of the gompa (Buddhist temple) for the dancers. Heralds and incense bearers appear in the gompa entrance and slowly walk down the steps in single file, followed by musicians, some blowing bugles and clarions, while others beat drums and clash cymbals. Clapping and cheering by spectators are considered unnecessary and inappropriate, so the audience watches in silence.
The first dance begins with eight dancers in vibrant costumes sweeping down into the courtyard. They move in clockwise circles around the altar making offerings of food and drink to the Buddhist gods. The following event during the Mani Rimdu Festival is a depiction by masked dancers of the Buddhist faith being protected against demon attack by the Four Protecting Kings.
The shrieking of horns and loud drumming precedes the much anticipated dance of Padmasambhaya, who is considered to be a second Buddha in Tibet. At last, Padmasambhaya slowly emerges from the gompa. In his right hand he holds a vajra (thunderbolt of the gods), while in his left hand he wields a sacred dagger to be used in fighting off the demons. This dance is symbolic of the defeat of the evil spirits of the Bon religion by Buddhism. The Dance of the Celestial Drums, which follows, is a celebration of this victory.

The remaining dances of the day depict various aspects of life, many with a humorous twist to them. As the Mani Rimdu day draws to a close, rolls of parchment with ritual prayers written on them are burnt, to the accompaniment of chanted prayers. Everyone can rest, assured that goodness and peace will reign once more – all evil demons have been banished.
The Fire-Puja, performed especially by lamas is also the main attraction of the feast. Mandala is drawn from sand on a small pedestal. At the time, Guru Tulshig Rimpoche will be crowned by a crown adorned by images of Lord Buddha. Additionally, he is also dressed as a Bodhisattwa, who achieves the rank of being ‘desireless’. After a kind of pyre is made over the mandala and lit, monks’ starts circumambulating it. At the time, offerings are also thrown into the fire. The ritual ends when the viewers take the handful of sand and ash from what is residue on the mandala, which is believed to protect their house and fields.

Spectators of the Mani Rimdu will experience a special blessing ceremony given by the Trulshig Rinpoche, the highly venerated reincarnated lama. The teacher’s name means “Precious Destroyer of Illusion”, which is derived from the title of Rinpoche, which means “Precious One”, together with “trul”, meaning “illusion”, and “shig”, meaning “kill” in Tibetan.

Filmmaker and comedian, Emo Phillips says:

• ´Nepal´s one place I want to go back´
• ´Fascinated by animals´
• ´Nepal is  crazy and wonderful place´
• ´Nepalese dirt poor but dressed nicely´

His high-pitched voice and shaggy bangs are as much his trademarks as his dry, sardonic wit. And Emo Philips, 53, a comedian for most of his adult life, can´t imagine doing anything else.

“It´s just something that works for me,” said Philips, who lives in Los Angeles. “I get to travel and tell my stories onstage. It´s the ideal life for me.”

Though he was executive producer of the original 1992 version of “Meet the Parents” (the film that didn´t star Robert De Niro) and dipped his toes into film and television work, Philips isn´t looking to make a mark for himself as an actor. “I´m a good stand-up comedian and can´t say the same about my acting abilities,” he said. Philips talks about his travels, including a trip to Nepal where he got to witness — among other things — a cremation ceremony.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?

A: San Francisco is an amazing city. Lombard Street there is fantastic. But if I could just wish myself back to one place, it´d be Nepal. I loved seeing the wild dogs and monkeys in the streets. It´s so different from what I´m used to. There´ll be like 30 people riding in the back of any kind of vehicle, and people will pass on the hills going the wrong way. It´s crazy, wonderful and so much fun. A lot of Westerners will mistake poverty with spirituality. It´s interesting because many Nepalese are dirt poor, but they all dress nicely. Their pants are pressed, their hair is combed, and they´re thin and presentable. And then you see Americans earning more than the whole village, and we look like a bunch of clowns wearing T-shirts and gym shorts.

Q: What is your best vacation memory?

A: In 1995 on a riverbank in Nepal, I watched a cremation ceremony during which a few boys chatted pleasantly on a ledge 10 feet or so above the burning body, oblivious to being completely enveloped by the rising smoke. At the same time, perhaps a half-dozen yards upstream, a group of monkeys amused themselves by repeatedly jumping into the river from an overhanging tree branch.

Q: How do you try to fit in when you´re a tourist?

A: When I hung out in Paris a lot, I bought a street cleaner´s uniform and carried a local paper around and didn´t brush my teeth a whole lot, and I fit right in. Actually, it´s a myth that the French are snooty and rude. They´re very friendly actually — among the friendliest in the world. I don´t understand how they got the reputation for being rude. I don´t speak French, and they could not have been nicer to me or more helpful. I love the French!

Q: When you go away, what are some of your must-have items?

A: There is nothing I have to have with me to be OK on a trip. I always want to travel light because then you can just jump on any train. But then you´ve got to go to the store and buy everything, or you wear the same thing and wash it in the sink every night.

Q: Have you ever been guilty of being an “ugly American”?

A: No, but I have been mistaken for being Canadian. When you say “please” and “thank you” in some countries, they just assume you´re from Canada and not the United States.

Q: What have you learned from all your travels?

A: The food is worse in the U.S. than anywhere else in the world.

Source: Chicago Tribune

Tihar or “Yamapanchak,” which literally means—five days of the underworld lord, Yamara, is the feast celebrated in almost all part of the country, but Kathmandu valley has its own unique mode of its celebration due to presence of Newar community. Decorated, clean and illuminated buildings, houses, streets with various types of unblemished lights, candle and oil lamp is the very gorgeous part of this festival. People worship the goddess of wealth, Laxmi and an ethnic group, Newar has special ritual of worshipping their own body which is called ‘Mha Puja’. According to Newari calendar—it is the new year of “Nepal Sambat”. Showing reverence to animals like crow, dog, and cow is another characteristic feature of this festival unlike other festivals where only gods are worshipped. Delicious foods and sweets are prepared in every home, so Tihar is also called festival of sweets. Another specialty of this festival is ritual of brothers being worshipped by sisters with wishes of long life and prosperity of brothers.

Let us observe each day of the Yamapanchak rather closely.

Day 1 : Kag Tihar
The first day of Tihar is “Kag (crow) Tihar”. On this day, crow is worshipped. Crow is regarded henchman of the underworld Lord, Yamaraj. People bath in the early morning and cook delicious foods for them as well as for crows. Although crow is regarded inauspicious, it is worshipped and offered delicious food on this day. According to Hindu myths, the cawing of crow signifies the grief and sadness, so to avoid the sadness and grief, people worship crows. In other words, people adore crows for avoiding bad luck and bringing good luck.

Kukur Tihar

Day 2: Kukur Tihar
Kukur (Dog) Tihar (Khicha Puja in Newari) is the second day of Tihar. On this day, people adore the very loyal and best friend of humans, i.e., dogs and are specially treated on this day. The dogs are worshipped and ornamented offering red tika on the forehead and flower garlands around the neck and are fed delicious foods. According to Hindu mythology, dogs are another henchman and loyal guard of lord of underworld, Yamaraj. Additionally, the dogs are also considered as the stallion of the terrified god Vairab, god of annihilation. Thus, the dogs are worshipped on this day. Kukur Tihar is also observed as Narak Chaturdashi remembering the victory of the God Krishna over the demon of filth, Narakasur. People wake up before dawn and go to nearby rivers, take a dip and light oil lights and let them float and take away by the river. Doing this they believe they will be in safe side from going to hell.

Day 3: Gai Tihar or Laxmi Puja
Gai Tihar (Saa puja in Newari), is the third day of Tihar. On this day, people worship cow. The cow is regarded as the representative of goddess Laxmi. After bath, people prepare delicious foods. They ornament cows by tika on their forehead and colors all over her body. They offer flower leis around her neck, offer sweets and delicious foods to her. Again, people clean their houses with extra labor on this day and wipe various part of their house with Rato Mato (red clay) and cow dung. Not only this, people sprinkle a drop or two of her urine in their body. Hindus regard cow’s urine as very pristine and is used to sprinkle in order to purify in events like funeral, name giving day, and on other holy occasions. On this day, the Rakshya Bandhan which they had tied on their wrists in “Janai Poornima” is tied on cow’s tail. It is believed that if one does so, the cow will help to cross the “Baitarani River” (an imaginative river that separates hell from heaven).

In the evening, using red clay and cow dung a line is made from outside to inner section of the home where goddess Laxmi is going to be worshipped. People believe goddess Laxmi will enter the home through this line. Lights are lit, candle lights and oil lights (diyo) and even electric lights. After this illumination, people worship goddess Laxmi and offer various fruits and sweets to her. Young girls start roaming around by singing Bhailini, (a special song of girls singing during Tihar). In return, people offer money, fruits and Selroti (special kind of Nepali bread) to them.

Day 4: Mha Puja (worshiping of own body) or Gobhardan/Goru Puja
The fourth day of Tihar is known as Goru Puja and oxen are worshipped on this day. Oxen are very important for farmers of Nepal as they are only animal to aid them to plough fields. Also, Goberdhan puja is done on this day. A hill like structure is made of cow dung and is worshipped considering it as Goberdhan Hill. Among Newari ethnic group, this day is more special because of Mha Puja and the New Year of Nepal Sambat (Nepal Era). The people who are from Newar community only celebrate the day as Mha Puja (worshiping of own body). They make special kind of Mandala (Manda in Newari), decorating with various flowers, sweets, fruits, Mala (garland) and Ita (special kind of thread made to burnt as symbolizing the life span of the one). People also accept Shagun (dish consisting egg, fish, fruits, meat, sweets etc.) by the elder female members of the house. The process is meant to purify the own body. Moreover, the day is also celebrated as the beginning of Nepal Sambat, New Year of Newar’s.

In the evening, young boys start roaming around by singing Deusi (a special song of boys singing during Tihar). ). In return, people offer money, fruits and Selroti (special kind of Nepali bread) to them.

Bhai Tika

Day 5: Bhai Tika
The final day of Tihar is known as Bhai Tika. Due to this day’s specialty, the festival is also known as the festival of brothers and sisters. On this day, sisters offer tika which consists of seven colors (Sapta-rangi Tika) to their brothers and also offer fruits, nuts, and sweets. Garland made up of Makhamali (Globe amaranth or Gomphrena globosa) is used. Use of Makhamali carries a meaning here. Sisters by offering Makhamali garland to brothers wish their long life as Makhamali does not wither they mean their brothers’ life never would wither. They also offer Shagun (made of dried fruits and nuts, and candies) to their brothers and wish for their long life with the god of Death, Yamaraj and in return they will get gifts and money from brothers.

On this day, Rani Pokhari Temple (located at the centre of Kathmandu) is opened for those who don’t have brother or sister. This is the only day the temple is opened publicly.

Hanuman Dhoka Durbar Square

Some days ago, I read exhilarating news in a daily newspaper “Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) is planning to launch a substantial project to declare Kathmandu Durbar Square (KDS) and Thamel as vehicle restricted areas.
Although I am not a tourism entrepreneur or related to hotel industrialist, or a locale, I was very cheerful to know this imposing news. I would like to thank KMC for this grand plan and would like to wish best of luck for success in materializing it.

Thamel is the main tourist hub in Kathmandu valley. The locals, shops, and businesses entities are directly or indirectly linked with tourism sector. The Thamel area which is 30 hectare in area contains 1210 house, 1581 resident families and 2576 business including 154 hotels and lodges, 233 eateries, 897 handicraft shops and 607 various tourism related services. Settled in the northern part of historic city Kathmandu, Thamel is home for several historically and archeologically important shrines, temples, monuments, and palaces. This tourist hub has been exploited by traffic, pollution, and street shops.

After the project of paving Hanumandhoka Durbar Square and Thamel area with artistic stones to link the major temples, palaces, heritage sites, and historical monuments is completed, KMC will allow only the pedestrians in those areas and declare those areas as vehicle-free zone from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. We should not overlook to thank Asian Development Bank which is lending a helping hand to KMC to materialize the concept of developing these tourist centers with artistic stone paving for the heritage walk route.

It is said that the survey has already been carried out to identify existing physical condition of road infrastructure; existing vehicular movements and pedestrian load. A household survey was conducted to collect information on business activities, ownership of vehicle etc. secondary data were collected for information on air quality in Thamel. There are primarily three types of vehicle playing in the streets of Thamel: a) transit vehicles b) visitors vehicles c) vehicle of residents. 44,925 vehicles movement were observed in eight entries of Thamel during 12 hours a day; of these movements 66.4% were motorbike, 24% were taxies, and 7.6% were private cars. More than 15,104 bicycle movements were noted during the period in these junctions. Out of the eight entries of Thamel, Sanchayakosh entry is the most populated entry from which almost 37% of all vehicles running in Thamel ply through. The survey found out that Thamel residents own 801 motorbike, 333 private cars and 42 other vehicles.

Thamel

Based on the analysis of the survey data, interaction with local representative and Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the implementation plan is proposed in three phases. Under long term plan, all roads of Thamel is proposed for vehicle-free zone from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Parking lots are proposed in the basement of Sanchayakosh building, Scout Complex, Lainchaur, Saraswiti campus, Dhobi Chaur and road side parking in Bishnunati Link Road. For the short term, roadside parking is proposed in Amrit Marg, Samakhusi entrance, Saatghumti entrance, J P Marg entrance and existing Sanchayakosh building basement. Here traffic will be allowed only for 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm and allowance of green plate vehicles carrying tourists for three months. In all cases emergency vehicles will be allowed in the area. Few Safa Tempos will be plying in the area especially for weaker strata of the community.

KMC has been coming up with such mind blowing project plans to manage Kathmandu city time and again. I think every Kathmandu resident and every Nepalese should welcome this grand project not bearing in mind personal discomfort or selfishness if any. If we encourage KMC in its grand projects, I hope it will also bring great plans to dissolve the problem of disorganized street shops and repeatedly rising garbage problem permanently until the Tourism Promotion Year 2011. We have to try our best not to give any negative impacts about us and our home to the tourists, so that they would lounge to visit Nepal again and again with their families and friends.

Ever since it was built in 1965, under Sir Edmond Hillary’s initiative, Lukla airport has been dubbed as one of the dangerous airports in the world. Not because the airfield is at an elevation of 2860m (9380ft) with a 700m (2000ft) drop at the end of the runway, but because of dynamic weather which can close in instantly (reason behind 2008 crash) and high hill at other end of the runway.

The length of the runway is 450m and 20m wide and the runway incline is 12%. So, only short takeoff and landing (STOL) fixed winged aircrafts such as DHC Twin Otter and Dornier Do 228 and helicopters are permitted to access this facility. The apron can hold 4 aircrafts and a heli-pad few meters below ATC building. There are no landing aids and Air Traffic Service is limited to AFIS (Aerodrome Flight Information Service) only. These conditions state that there is only one chance to land and no room for error.

Due to the unreliable weather, all flights are operated in the morning till noon or sometimes beyond, if weather permits. Turn over time for a plane is about 15min but during busy schedule it can be much less. It is the busiest airport in Nepal. As many as 50 flights per day are in operation. I, myself have had the opportunity of dispatching the same aircraft five times to Lukla in a day between 7am and 2pm, while working for an airline back in late 90s.

Lukla airport has seen its share of misfortunes. First was in 1973 when DHC-6 Twin Otter was damaged beyond repair while landing but crew and passengers were unhurt. Five more followed in almost four decades with about 40 human casualties. Considering the number of flights to and from, the flights can be regarded as safe as driving a car in any big city.

90% to 95% trekkers fly to Lukla before heading towards Mt. Everest. The only alternative is to hike 4-5 days from Jiri. Most travelers find the flight once in a life time experience, but few get outraged by the intensity and vulnerability of the flight. If you ask me, I liked every bit of it and can’t wait to get back on a plane and fly off to Lukla.

In January 2008, the government of Nepal renamed Lukla airport to Tenzing-Hillary airport to commemorate Sir Edmond Hillary and Tenzing Norgay Sherpa, first persons to scale Mount Everest.

According to the Tibetan and Hindu scripts, there are three species: the Raksi-Bombo (1.5m), the Rimi (some 2.5 m) and the Nyalmot (4.5 m). Although they differ in size but these species resemble each other. It is yet to be confirmed, but most believers deem its hair color to be light brown or reddish. It is rumored that it is fond of alcohols and carries with it an aura of horrible smells which was how the trekkers felt its presence at night camps.

In early 1950s, Sir Edmund Hillary funded an expedition set out to find the Yeti to cement his claims that he had seen footprints of a Yeti on his previous expedition along with his guide Tenzing Norgay Sherpa. As the entire Yeti hunt expeditions before him, his mission too was unsuccessful. But during his expedition, he came across a 300 years old artifact which was believed (at least by the monks of the Khumjung Gumba where is it kept as a Relic) to be the upper half of the skull of a Yeti. Unfortunately, after vigorous analysis the scientists came to a conclusion that it belonged to a Serow (mountain goat) which lives in Eastern Asia.

In 1951, footprints were discovered by an expedition on the Menlung Glacier in Nepal, at an altitude of 6000 meters. The photographs they took clearly showed that the imprints were 5 toed foot with the size of 33 cm by 45 cm. The heels were flat and broad, unlike humans or any animal. There were no doubts about the uniqueness of the footprints but the authenticity of the photographs was suspicious. The recent Japanese expedition in 2006 led by Yoshiteru Takahashi, has brought back photographs of similar footprints which he alleges to be of a species not known till date.

Some argues that the Yeti is a descendant of giant apes called the ‘gigantophitecus’. They came to Himalayas around 500.000 years ago. Another theory states that the Yetis are descendant of an ancient people called the ‘A-o-re’ that took refuse in the mountain in order to hide from their enemies. Due to the climate and vegetation, they changed to creature like what we now call Yeti.

No matter what skeptics say or what the outcome of these types of Expeditions may be, it is very hard to decimate the very idea of Yeti which is embedded in the cultures, religions and the way of life in these parts of the world. No scientist, no non-believers could stop the government of Nepal on declaring in 1961, the Yeti to be existent. Mothers around these regions still scare their children before tucking them to bed, saying, “Sleep or the Yeti will come”.