- Saturday, 23 August 2025
Binu Shrestha
Masked dance makes Nil Barahi lively
The historic Malla era Nil Barahi Dyo Pyakha, a 500-year-old sacred masked dance honouring Goddess Nil Barahi of Bode, began on Monday. Starting on the day of
Newars also change Janai on Janai Purnima
Janai Purnima, one of the major Hindu festivals, is being celebrated on Saturday, the full moon day, by offering prayers to Lord Shiva, changing the janai (sacred thread), tying yellow-red threads around the wrist, and eating kwati, a soup prepared from nine different sprouted beans.
Stolen thangkas restored in place after 45 years
Three stolen thangkas -- a 300-year-old depiction of Chintamani Lokeshwar, a 575-year-old thangka featuring Gagan Simha Bharo and his wife, and a 321-year-old representation of Bhairav with Keshchandra – have been restored to their original place after 45 years.
Locals unite to protect Nil Barahi Temple
Neither a festival nor a celebration, yet for the past 11 weeks, a large number of people have been gathering daily - particularly on Saturdays - to contribute voluntary labour for the protection of the Nil Barahi Temple premises and the surrounding forest area from soil erosion.
Women fast worshipping Lord Shiva on Shrawan Mondays
As the auspicious month of Shrawan begins, the shimmer of green bangles and intricate henna designs decorate the hands of girls and women alike. From school-going students in a rural village to women in bustling cities, grace every alley and road with vibrant hues of devotion and tradition.
Tilaurakot not included in Heritage list in 47th UNESCO Session
The proposal to include Tilaurakot in the UNESCO World Heritage List has not gone forward at the 47th session of UNESCO, held in Paris, France. Nepal’s long-standing e
Eight-month long ritual dance series concludes
Last Wednesday, after eight months of performing ritual dances across various parts of the Kathmandu Valley—including areas beyond Ring Road—and blessing viewers and devotees, the Navadurga dance troupe concluded its season with a final performance at the Navadurga Temple, near Dyah Chen courtyard in Gachen, Bhaktapur.
Taleju Bhawani’s necklace awaiting return from Chicago Museum
The Taleju Bhawani’s necklace, donated by King Pratap Malla, currently held in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago (Museum), USA, was the major topic of discussion on the first day of the ongoing International Conference on Recovery of Cultural Heritage, Nepal.
Tilaurakot, Ram Janaki Temple and Panauti’s nominations on WHS in process
UNESCO’s tentative list includes 15 sites from Nepal. Tilaurakot, the capital of the ancient Shakya Kingdom, along with the Ram Janaki Temple and Panauti, are currently in the process of being nominated as World Heritage Sites (WHS).
Quake-damaged heritage reconstruction on, albeit slowly
On Tuesday this week, the 700-year-old Lakshmi Narasimha Temple was inaugurated. The temple, which had been completely destroyed in the 1934 earthquake, is located in Gahiti, Ward No. 4 of Bhaktapur Municipality. Bhaktapur Municipality completed the temple's reconstruction 91 years after it was damaged at a cost of Rs. 48.3 million—well below the estimated cost of Rs 77.7 million.
Neglected monuments within Dharahara complex
Hundreds of visitors have been visiting the new 22-storey Dharahara Tower daily since it was open to the public a few months ago.
Entertainment sector workers face risk of exploitation
Sarawati Bishwakrma, who is working at a Lok Dohori as a singer, has not received her salary for two months and has been working without a labour agreement for the past five years. She has requested the c
Dharahara draws crowd of visitors
Two Buddhist monks were watching their mobile phones sitting in the shadow of the 82-metre tall newly rebuilt Dharahara on Friday afternoon. They were probably waiting for their turn to climb the tower
Theft of idols affects traditional Jatra
This week, locals in Chapagaun of Lalitpur celebrated Marthi Jatra, almost four decades after the main idol was stolen from the temple. The Jatra was not celeb
Public transport still inaccessible to people with disabilities
Most public transportation remains inaccessible to people with disabilities, even 11 years after the 'Accessible Physical Structure and Communication Service Directive for Persons with Disabilities, 2013 was introduced.
