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Traditions are pots of happiness and togetherness. Traditions are intended to be a commemoration of pleasure and joy, an occasion that unites people rather than inflicting the deaths of helpless, innocent creatures and leaving a select few wretched and lonely for the rest of their lives. A newspaper recently published an article inviting people to engage in the ‘cruelty’ custom of the ‘Gadhimai festival’.  The Gadhimai Temple in the Bara area of Nepal hosts the greatest animal sacrifice in the world once every five years in our nation. This ritual has been done in Nepal for a long time and is nothing more than inhumane treatment disguised as tradition. Innocent and vulnerable lives are lost. Countless defenseless creatures meet their horrible fate every year due to religious dogma, which is irrational in and of itself. We, as humans, should be sensible enough to discontinue something that causes nothing but misery. Giving something the name of ‘tradition’ doesn’t make it right in any way. Despite the country's reputation for being a devoutly religious and spiritual nation, many Nepali people are guilty of treating animals cruelly. The mistreatment of animals is especially prevalent in urban areas, where pets and livestock are often kept in cramped and unsanitary conditions. All in the name of ‘tradition’, animals are then brutally murdered. Torture and murdering helpless animals should not be considered a tradition. People have long attempted to rationalize heinous acts by citing tradition. Tradition, on the other hand, does not make anything correct. Gadhimai festival is a barbaric blood “culture” that should have been abandoned to the annals of history long ago. It is a torture, mutilation, and slaughter of animals for amusement and thrill, according to many, regardless of its history. Thousands of buffaloes are slain in the hope of bringing prosperity and putting a stop to sin. Isn’t the act of murdering animals itself evil? If we are the cause of evil, how can it eradicate it and offer wealth to us? No religion endorses the practice of animal sacrifice. Hindu religious scriptures even state ‘love others, serve others, aid others, hurt never’ as the foundation of religion. Animal sacrifice is not a religious practice; rather, it is a societal atrocity that is rooted in myths and goes against the teachings of Hinduism, which uphold the principle of non-violence.  Hinduism’s central tenet is the idea that God dwells within every living thing, even vulnerable animals. Giving these barbaric acts the label of ‘religion and tradition’ is thus an act of human folly and lack of self-awareness. The use of animals for entertainment purposes is also a problem in Nepal. Elephants, in particular, are often subjected to cruel treatment in order to entertain tourists. Many elephants are kept in cramped and unsanitary conditions, and are subjected to physical abuse in order to make them perform tricks. Stray animals are another group that are often subjected to cruelty in Nepal. Stray dogs, in particular, are often beaten, kicked, and thrown stones at by people who see them as a nuisance.  There are also reports of people poisoning stray dogs in order to get rid of them. Despite these issues, there are also many individuals and organizations working to combat animal cruelty in Nepal. Animal Nepal, for example, is a non-profit organization that works to improve the welfare of animals in Nepal through education, advocacy, and direct care. Similarly, the Kathmandu Animal Treatment Centre provides medical care and shelter to stray dogs and other animals in need. According to me, we as a society should come up with an alternative for this extremely cruel act named tradition. People in the city can arrange a fair where people can come dressed up as any historic figures they like and hold campaigns or acts in the same area to attract media attention. It also gives a fantastic chance to raise awareness about the suffering that animals endure during religious events. It allows us to reach out to those who are unaware of the cruelty that occurs during these festivals. The fair will give people a joyful, fun-filled alternative to these events that is devoid of brutality. Those who wish to celebrate are welcome to attend the fair and give their contribution to the cause. This can be done every year and will fulfill all the requirements that a tradition needs to have, i.e.; a sense of togetherness and joy. Overall, the practice of killing animals for the sake of religion should be discouraged and outlawed. Animals are living entities with the ability to act, and as such, have the same rights as us, human beings. Respect should be shown for their right to coexist peacefully with others and the environment. Never will a god call for the blood of one of his creations. Animal sacrifices are a primitive, evil, and purely superstitious tradition. Animal torture committed in the name of superstitions and rituals cannot be justified by religion. Making the lives of innocent people unhappy and hurting animals for your amusement is an act of selfishness and cruelty, and calling it tradition doesn't make it acceptable. While animal cruelty remains a serious issue in Nepal, there are also signs of progress and hope for the future. By raising awareness of the issue and supporting organizations that work to protect animals, it is possible to make a difference and improve the lives of animals in Nepal. As indicated above, the alternative will help people unify while also serving the objective of raising awareness against animal abuse. Let’s make it a tradition, and let’s do it right this time. Ananya Shri Mundara Grade 11, Pathways World School

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 6. 90 points to close at 1,926.40 points on Sunday. Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 52 points to close at 363. 26 points. A total of 3,163,389 unit shares of 259 companies were traded for Rs 1. 06 billion. Meanwhile, Manushi Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited, Unique Nepal Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited and Shuvam Power Limited were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Sanima Growth Fund was the top loser with its price dropped by 8. 56 percent. At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 78 trillion.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is seeking a vote of confidence in the Parliament meeting at 1 pm on Monday. House of Representatives Speaker Devraj Ghimire said that the Prime Minister is scheduled to seek a vote of confidence in the Parliament meeting at 1 pm tomorrow. Dahal, who was elected as the Prime Minister on December 25, sought a vote of confidence on January 10. Prime Minister Dahal is seeking a vote of confidence again after the CPN-UML, who gave a vote of confidence to PM Dahal at that time, left the government with the support extended to it. A 10-party alliance has agreed to give a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Dahal. A meeting of the coalition held in Baluwatar on Saturday decided to give a vote of confidence to PM Dahal. The 10-party alliance consists of Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), CPN (Unified Socialist), Janamat Party, Rastriya Janamorcha, Nagarik Unmukti Party, Janata Samajbadi Party, Democratic Socialist Party, Nepal Samajbadi Party and Aam Janata Party.    

The Bill on Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Third Amendment), 2079 has been tabled in the Parliament on Sunday. Government spokesperson and Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma on behalf of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal tabled the Bill in the Parliament meeting this afternoon. Now, the clause-wise discussion will be held in Bill.

The CPN (Unified Socialist) has decided to give a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. A Secretariat meeting held at the party office in Tinkune decided to give a vote of confidence to PM Dahal and sit in the ruling party’s bench in the Parliament. Party spokesperson Jagannath Khatiwada said that the party, however, has not made any decision to join the government yet. Prime Minister Dahal is scheduled to seek a vote of confidence on Monday. Similarly, the party has nominated General Secretary Beduram Bhusal as the Vice-Chairman and Ghanshyam Bhusal as the General Secretary, Khatiwada said. Bhusal, who was nominated as the General Secretary, had joined the CPN (Unified Socialist) recently.

The Rastriya Swatantra Party has decided to give a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. A joint meeting of the Parliamentary Party and Central Committee held in the party office in Basundhar on Sunday decided to continue its support extended to the government to take the issues raised by the party ahead, RSP central member Ramesh Prasain said. Though no decision has been made to join the government yet, the party said that the issues of people should be taken ahead by joining the government.      

A Parliamentary Party meeting of the Nepali Congress has decided to give a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal. Congress Chief Whip Ramesh Lekhak said that the meeting has made a decision to give a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Dahal. Prior to the Parliamentary Party meeting, a Central Work Execution Committee of the party held this morning had decided to give a vote of confidence to Prime Minister Dahal and join the government. The Parliamentary Party meeting upheld the same decision. Similarly, the meeting has decided to join the Dahal-led government. With the decision to join the government, the Congress will sit in the ruling benches. The Central Work Execution Committee had also set four criteria as the basis for selecting ministers. Party spokesperson Dr Prakasharan Mahat said that competence, contribution, inclusiveness and regional balance will be considered as the basis for selecting ministers.  

Gold price hit a record high of Rs 110, 000 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers' Association, the yellow metal has increased by Rs 2,900 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 107, 100 on Friday, the Association said. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 109,600 per tola today. Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 35 per tola and is being traded at Rs 1,345 per tola.