Gaijatra being observed today

Kathmandu, Aug 10: Gaijatra, a cultural festival of the Kathmandu Valley and other parts of the country, is being observed today with various programmes filled with fun, humor, and satire.

The eight-day festival typically begins on the first day of the waning moon in the month of Bhadra (Bhadra Krishna Pratipada) and concludes on Ashtami, according to the lunar calendar. Gaijatra is dedicated to commemorating those who have passed away within the one year.

The tradition involves cows or people dressed as cows parading through the streets. Observers offer them milk, fruits, beaten rice, traditional bread, curd, grains, and money. It is believed that such rituals help the deceased in their ‘heavenly’ journey.

The origin of the festival dates back to the reign of King Pratap Malla. Following the death of his son during a smallpox epidemic, the king initiated Gaijatra to console his grieving queen. He encouraged his citizens to engage in humor and satire and public performances throughout the city so as to make her realised that such loss is a universal human experience.

Over time, Gaijatra evolved as a means of satirical expression, often targeting political and social anomalies and malpractices.

The festival was banned following the royal ‘coup’ in 2017 BS but was revived in 2033 BS by the then Nepal Royal Academy (now Nepal Academy).

In addition to the three cities of the Kathmandu Valley, Gaijatra is also observed in Banepa, Dhulikhel, Panauti, Barhabise, Trishuli, Dolakha, Khotang, Bhojpur, Chainpur, Dharan, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Hetauda, and Pokhara, particularly by members of the Newar community.

The government has announced a public holiday in the Kathmandu Valley today on the occasion of the Gaijatra.

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Heavy rain likely at one or two places of  Koshi, Gandaki today

Kathmandu, Aug 10: A monsoon trough is presently located near its average position.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the weather will remain generally cloudy across the country this afternoon.

Moderate rainfall is expected in some areas of the hilly parts of Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces, as well as in some areas of the hilly and Terai regions of Madhesh Province and other provinces. Similarly, heavy rainfall is likely at one or two places in the hilly areas of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces.

Likewise, the weather is expected to remain generally cloudy across the country tonight, with a forecast of moderate rainfall in some areas of the hilly regions of Madhesh, Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces, as well as in parts of the hilly and Terai regions of the remaining provinces. Heavy rainfall is also likely at one or two locations in the hilly areas of Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki Provinces.

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28 gates of Koshi Barrage opened following rise in water level

Dharan (Sunsari), Aug 10: Continuous rainfall over the past few days has led to a significant rise in the water level of the Saptakoshi River. With this development, 28 out of 56 sluice gates at the Koshi Barrage have been opened.

According to the Armed Police Force (APF) Nepal No. 4 Headquarters, the water flow at the Koshi Barrage was recorded at 200,430 cusecs (cubic feet per second) at 9:00 pm on Saturday.

A red warning light has been activated, as the water flow exceeded the danger threshold of 150,000 cusecs.

Security officials have confirmed that, so far, no water-induced damage was reported in the area until last night.

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Country records 2,675 disasters-related incidents in four months

Kathmandu, Aug 10: Over a period of four months (mid-April to mid-August), the country recorded a total of 2,675 disaster-related incidents. The number of households affected from such incidents stands at 4,725.

As updated by the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA), such incidents resulted in 117 human casualties and 564 injuries.

The segregated data shows that 198 were flood-related incidents that resulted in 16 deaths and 21 cases of missing. Floods alone affected 1,313 households.

There were 281 reported cases of landslides, resulting in 13 deaths and 17 injuries. In addition, 174 incidents were attributed to heavy rains, 244 to lightning strikes, and 74 to snakebites. Fire-related incidents totaled 1,066, including 158 wild fires.

Likewise, 276 incidences were due to windstorm followed by 153 from animal attacks, 41 cases of high-altitude sickness, and five earthquake-related incidents. Overall, these disasters affected 4,725 households, with 22 people reported missing.

Furthermore, on August 9 alone, the country recorded 35 disaster-related incidents. Of them, the highest 13 cases were from the landslides, followed by  five from continuous rains, two from the altitude-sickness, one each from lightning strike and animal attack. These incidents caused six injuries.

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NA Vice- Chair extends best wishes on Gaijatra festival

Kathmandu, Aug 10: Vice Chairperson of the National Assembly (NA), Bimala Ghimire, has stressed that it is our collective responsibility to protect our cultural heritages and preserve the essence of festivals like Gaijatra.

Extending her best wishes to all Nepali sisters and brothers at home and abroad today on the occasion of Gaijatra, a cultural festival particularly celebrated by the Newar community, the Vice Chair of the Upper House described Nepal as a beautiful country with ethnic, cultural, linguistic, and religious diversities and uniqueness.

She expressed her hope that the Gaijatra festival would inspire all of us to further nurture positivity among ourselves and always follow the right path while upholding religious tolerance.

She also highlighted that any expression of humor and satire aimed at addressing social and political anomalies during Gaijatra celebrations should not undermine national sovereignty, harm personal dignity, or become a cause for ethnic or gender-based discrimination.

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37 players contracted by eight teams for second edition of NPL

Kathmandu, Aug 10: A total of 37 players have been picked by eight franchises through a competitive player auction held for the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL)-2025. The selections were made from among 164 shortlisted cricketers.

During the first round of the auction, 26 players were selected by the teams, while the remaining 11 were picked later from the teams’ wishlist.

Four players from the Grade ‘A’ category: Dev Khanal, Arjun Saud, Adil Alam, and Pawan Sarraf attracted the highest bids, each fetching a maximum of Rs 1.5 million. Due to multiple franchises bidding for them, their final selection was determined through a lucky draw.

 Khanal and Saud will be representing the Chitwan Rhinos, Alam will play, representing the Kathmandu Gurkhas, while Sarraf has been signed by the Karnali Yaks.

Likewise, Dilip Nath and Sher Malla have been auctioned by the Lumbini Lions; Hemant Dhami by the Sudurpaschim Royals; Surya Tamang by the Biratnagar Kings; Santosh Yadav by the Kathmandu Gurkhas; and Yuvraj Khatri by the Karnali Yaks. They each fetched Rs one million.

Likewise, Mayan Yadav has been auctioned by the Janakpur Bolts at Rs 775,000 while Akash Tripathi has been contracted by the Kathmandu Gurkhas at Rs 700,000.

Narayan Joshi and Sahil Patil have been picked by the Biratnagar Kings, Arjun Kumal by the Pokhara Avengers, Bishal Patel by the Lumbini Lions and Aditya Mehata by the Janakpur Bolts. They each fetched Rs 500,000.

Likewise, Tek Bahadur Rawat and Dipendra Thapa have been contracted by the Sudurpashim Royals, Abhishek Tiwari and Krishna Poudel by the Pokhara Avengers, Sachin Bhattarai by the Janakpur Bolts, Tul Bahadur Thapa by the Kathmandu Gurkhas, and Imran Sheikh and Deepak Dumre by the Karnali Yaks with an offer of Rs 200,000 each to them.

Originally, 458 players had registered their names for consideration in the auction, according to the Cricket Association of Nepal.

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PM extends best wishes on Gaijatra festival

Kathmandu, Aug 9: Prime Minister KP Sharma has extended his best wishes to all Nepali citizens on the occasion of the Gaijatra festival.

Taking to the social platform today, the Prime Minister expressed hope that families grieving the losses of loved ones will soon find relief from their sorrow. He also wished that those observing the festival through humor and satire would enjoy it in good spirits.

In his message, the Prime Minister wrote that the tradition of participating in the Gaijatra festival helps bereaved families heal psychologically. The festival symbolizes that death is a universal and inevitable part of life, he added.

The eight-day Gaijatra festival typically begins on the first day of the waning moon in the month of Bhadra (Bhadra Krishna Pratipada) and concludes on Ashtami, according to the lunar calendar. It is primarily celebrated in the Kathmandu Valley and some other parts of the country to commemorate those who have passed away within the past year.

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Speaker Ghimire extends best wishes on Gaijatra festival

Kathmandu, Aug 10:  Speaker of the House of Representatives, Devraj Ghimire, has extended his best wishes to the entire Nepali citizens on the occasion of the Gaijatra festival today. He expressed hope that the festival celebrations would inspire all of us to strengthen unity in diversity, helping preserve Nepal’s unique cultural heritage.

He added that the festival is expected to encourage everyone to contribute towards building a society rooted in peace, compassion, and cultural pride.

Highlighting the significance of Gaijatra in promoting social harmony and goodwill, he stated that humor and satire, key elements of the festival, are not merely for entertainment. “Rather, they serve as subtle and thoughtful tools to point out social and political anomalies.”

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