- Saturday, 6 December 2025
Kathmandu, Sept 30: Nepal has won the Unity Cup T20 series with one match still to play, following a commanding 90-run win over two-time T20 world cup champions West Indies.
The match took place at Sharjah Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates late night of September 29 , where Nepal delivered an all-round performance. Nepal had also won the first match on Monday by 19 runs, marking a historic first-ever win over the West Indies.
Batting first after winning the toss, Nepal scored 173 runs for the loss of 6 wickets in 20 overs. Opener Asif Sheikh was not out with 68 runs from 47 balls, hitting eight fours and two sixes. Sandeep Jora added 63 runs from 39 balls with five sixes and three fours. Mohammad Adil Alam contributed 11 runs.
In reply, the West Indies struggled from the start and were all out for just 83 runs in 17.1 overs. Jason Holder was the top scorer with 21 runs off 15 balls, including two sixes. Ackeem Auguste scored 17, and Amir Jangoo made 16.
Nepal’s bowlers put on a strong show. Adil Alam took 4 wickets, Kushal Bhurtel took 3, while Lalit Rajbanshi and Dipendra Singh Airee picked up one wicket each.
For the West Indies, captain Akeal Hosein and Kyle Mayers took two wickets each, while Jediah Blades took one.
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02- Maha Astami Festival today
Kathmandu, Sept 30: Hindus throughout the country are observing the eighth day of the ten-day long Bada Dasain festival as the Maha Astami festival today by worshipping Goddess Durga Bhawani.
On this day, people offer special worships to the goddesses Mahakali, Mahalaxmi and Maha Saraswati. This day of the Dasain festival is considered a special day when Goddess Durga attained power.
On the occasion, people perform religious rituals at the Dasain Ghars and armouries and offer worship to goddess at various shrines by offering sacrifices of different animals. The people also read the Durga Saptashati scriptures.
Devotees throng various goddess shrines in the Kathmandu Valley from early morning today for offering worships and sacrificing goats and ducks.
Similarly, people throng the various goddess temples throughout the country today to offer worships, sacrificing goats, ducks and roosters.
Special Durgapuja worship and prayer ceremonies are held at the Dasain Ghars. People also worship the weapons, vehicles and machines.
People who do not sacrifice animals offer sacrifices of various vegetables and fruits in place of animals.
Also on this day, a special Kalaratri worship is held at midnight at the Dashain Ghar of Hanumandhoka in the capital city.
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03- Weather forecast for today: Rain expected across country
Kathmandu, Sept 30: Light to moderate rainfall is expected in all provinces today due to the influence of monsoon and local winds across the country.
The Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology states that the hilly regions of all provinces will be generally cloudy today, while the remaining areas will experience partly cloudy conditions.
Rain is likely in the hilly regions of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Lumbini, Sudurpaschim, and Karnali provinces, as well as at a few places in the Terai region.
Moderate rainfall accompanied by thunder and lightning has been forecast at one or two places in the Terai region.
Heavy rainfall may occur at one or two places in the hilly regions of Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces, the Division said
Tonight, the weather will remain generally cloudy in the hilly regions of Koshi, Madhesh, and Bagmati provinces, while other areas will be partly cloudy. Moderate rainfall is also expected at a few places in Koshi, Bagmati, and Gandaki provinces, and in the remaining areas.
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04- Women shoulder heavier load during festivals’
Durga Devkota/ RSS
Tikapur, Sept 30: Family reunions and gatherings are central to the Dashain festival, and Tikapur is no exception. As in many parts of the country, people who were away for work or abroad have returned home to celebrate. While these reunions bring happiness and restore family bonds, they also come with an increased workload especially for women.
Despite being a time of joy, festivals don’t feel festive for everyone. Traditional gender roles still dominate household dynamics, where women are primarily expected to take care of all domestic responsibilities. During festivals, these expectations multiply from deep-cleaning the house, to cooking large meals, to serving guests from morning till night. For many women, the festival season brings physical exhaustion and mental stress rather than joy.
Sadhana Saud from Bhajani municipality says she is overjoyed to have her husband home after two years working abroad. But at the same time, she admits her routine has become overwhelming. “Our house is full of guests. I barely find time for myself,” she shared. “I had planned to go out with my husband after he came back, but I haven’t been able to manage even a few hours.”
She says her day starts at 4:00 am and doesn’t end before 11:00 pm. “All day I’m either in the kitchen or serving guests. I don’t even get time to sit down properly.”
Draupadi Timilsina from Tikapur said, “You’ll see women rushing around, cleaning, cooking, and attending to everyone, while the men are out enjoying, playing cards, or just relaxing. It’s the same every year.” She adds that women hardly get time to read, explore new things, or simply rest.
However, Draupadi considers herself relatively ‘fortunate’ as her husband supports her and shares the household responsibilities, especially during festivals. “We plan things together. We divide work and make financial decisions jointly. That helps reduce stress,” she says.
For working women, the challenges are even greater. Janaki Kuwar points out how balancing a job and festive duties is almost impossible without support at home. “If the family doesn’t step up, the festival becomes a burden rather than a celebration. Everyone deserves to enjoy the festival not just men.”
Rights activist Chandrawati Sharma raises concerns about how society tends to normalize men indulging in alcohol and gambling during festivals, while women are expected to silently take care of everything at home. “Festivals are for everyone, but the way our traditions work, it ends up being unequal. That needs to change.”
“When women are burdened with all the household work and men spend their time gambling or drinking, it often leads to family disputes and conflict. But when responsibilities are shared, festivals can truly bring happiness to all members,” she added.
Another rights advocate, Kaushalya Khanal, viewed how patriarchal values continue to shape household roles. “The traditional division of labour is not only unfair, but also largely violates the human rights of women. It reinforces inequality and leads to various forms of violence against women.”
She added, “We need to raise our children, regardless of their gender, with a sense of shared responsibility at home. Everyone should contribute according to their ability.”
Health professional Hema Gyawali has a simple but important piece of advice for women: don’t forget yourself. “It’s okay to take time for personal care. Festivals shouldn’t come at the cost of your health. Find a little time to rest, to do yoga, or just breathe.”
She stressed, “Festivals are for joy, for family, and for creating memories, but that joy should be shared equally. We need to build a culture where household duties are shared, spending is thoughtful, and decisions are made together. When the entire family members including women are happy, it obviously brings peace and harmony to the home and the wider community.”
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05- Dashain brings no joy for Banahara Camp families
Kanchanpur, Sept 30: The country is already immersed in the festive spirit of Dashain. With Tika, one of the main highlights of the celebration, just around the corner, households across Nepal are bustling with excitement. Today marks Mahasthami, the eighth day of the festival.
But for the residents of Banahara camp in Shuklaphanta municipality-11, Kanchanpur, which just off the East-West Highway, the festival brings no joy and newness. For this community, where even securing two square meals a day is an uphill battle, the arrival of Dashain only adds salt to the wound.
“We are landless. I’m growing older. Work isn’t always available, and I barely earn enough working one day a week to feed myself,” bemoaned 65-year-old Mathudevi Damai. “I dream of eating delicious food and wearing new clothes during Dashain. But dreams don’t fill stomachs. We will have to live and die like this.”
Banahara camp is home mainly to the elderly, women, and children. Most of the youth from the area have gone to India in search of work. But even during Dashain, they haven’t returned.
“They said they haven’t earned enough to make the trip home this time. They’ve promised to come during Tihar instead. So for us, this Dashain won’t be a celebration,” she said.
Medical care is another challenge. There’s often no one available to take sick children or elderly people to health posts or hospitals when needed.
“We haven’t bought new clothes in over a year. Thinking about festive food is like chasing the wind. For us, managing just two meals a day feels like a big achievement,” Mathudevi added.
Their shelters featuring makeshift huts along the Banahara River, are roofed with tents provided by donors. But these are far from ideal. In the summer, the heat becomes unbearable, forcing them to seek refuge under the nearby bridge.
“Some of us sleep in the open on khatiyas (traditional cots) and sacks to avoid the heat,” said Ranjit Rawat. “There are so many mosquitoes. We hardly sleep at night.”
This community had shifted to the roadside two months ago due to flooding fears. Now, with the waters receded, they’ve returned to their fragile shelters.
“Our struggles go on year after year,” said Dal Bahadur Bohara. “We’ve spent nights under the bridge for years now. But no one seems to care. We have approached the local government many times asking for mosquito nets, tents, and torches, but all we ever get are empty promises.”
Twenty-eight families from the Camp have applied for land and permanent shelter through the Land Problem Settlement Commission. But after two decades of living here, their wait continues with no end in sight.
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