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Hindus across the country are observing the Maha Astami festival (eighth day of the Bada Dashain festival) today by worshiping Goddess Durga Bhawani.

On this day, people offer special worship to the goddesses Mahakali, Mahalaxmi, and Maha Saraswati.

This day of the Dashain festival is considered a special day when Goddess Durga attained power.

On the occasion, people perform religious rituals at the Dashain Ghars and armories, worship the goddess at various shrines by offering animal sacrifices and read the Durga Saptashati scriptures.

Devotees throng various goddess shrines in the Kathmandu Valley from early this morning to offer worship and sacrifice goats and ducks.

Similarly, people throng the various goddess temples throughout the country today to offer worship, sacrificing goats, ducks, and roosters.

Special Durgapuja worship and prayer ceremonies are held at the Dashain Ghars. People also worship 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.

Maha Nawami festival today

The Maha Nawami festival is being observed today with fervor by worshiping goddess Durga Bhawani and making offerings.

As per the lunar calendar, this festival is observed on the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Asoj. It is also marked as part of the 10-day Bada Dashain festival.

Special worship is performed to Durga Bhawani today on the occasion of the Maha Nawami and the 'jamara' which has been germinated is offered to the goddesses at various shrines.

He-goats, ducks, roosters, and he-buffalos are sacrificed at the various temples dedicated to the goddesses. Those who do not have the tradition of offering animal or bird sacrifices, offer the sacrifice of fruits and vegetables to the goddess. 

The Durga Saptasati and Devi Strota scriptures are also recited at home and in temples on this day.

As mentioned in the Markandeya Purana scripture, the Goddess Chamunda had slain the demon Raktabij on the day of Mahanawami. So, the special worship of the goddess on this day with the offering of animal sacrifices.

On this day, the security forces also perform what is called the 'kot puja' or worship of the armories.

The Taleju Temple located at Hanumandhoka in the capital is also open for the devotees to pay homage on this day. It is opened only on the occasion of the Maha Nawami.

The people of the Newar community also worship Bhimsen, a Hindu deity, by making animal sacrifices today on the occasion of Maha Nawami.

This time, the Maha Astami and the Maha Nawami festivals fall on the same day.

More than 200, 000 Nepalis who had gone to different places of India for employment have entered Nepal through the Jamunaha border crossing near Nepalgunj, to celebrate the Dashain festival.

People had started coming home using this border transit point since the start of the Dashain festival.

It has been learnt that 235, 556 Nepalis have entered Nepal from India through the Jamunaha inland border crossing in a period of 22 days from September 17 to October 8, said Police Inspector Upendra Bahadur Budhathoki, the Chief of the Area Police Office, Jamunaha.

"There is a long line of Nepalis, who had gone for work and returned from various places of India, at the border crossing in Jamunaha each day, waiting to enter Nepal on their way home for the Dashain festival. The number of those leaving Nepal for India is relatively less than that of those entering the country from India," he said. 

According to him, 165, 281 Nepalis have crossed the border via the Jamunaha border transit point in the last 22 days.

A traveler help desk has been set up at the transit point in coordination with the District Traffic Police for facilitating the India-returnees. The Nepal Police has also conducted a public awareness to prevent the India-returnees from being duped by the hoteliers, taxis and transport entrepreneurs.

Mostly people from Surkhet, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Salyan, Rukum, Rolpa, Pyuthan and other districts of west Nepal go to different places of India for work.

In the Summit of the Future, held on September 22-23, 2024, world leaders agreed to take bold, ambitious, accelerated, just, and transformative actions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).

An international group of more than 50 experts offers three foci at the science-policy interface to implement this agreement in Nature Communications.

The article is based on a workshop held at the Rudolf Agricola School for Sustainable Development, University of Groningen, in the Netherlands, with participants from various countries representing researchers and policymakers. “Due to silo approaches, the integrated and indivisible principles of the SDGs are facing implementation challenges,” argues Dr. Prajal Pradhan, assistant professor at the University of Groningen and the lead author of this study.

He continues, “Now, SDG implementation strategies must be changed. To break the silo approaches, we offer three foci at the science-policy interface to support implement the integrated and indivisible nature of SDGs.”

Three science-policy interface foci are a way forward

First, the experts call for actionable strategies to navigate the complex interactions between the SDGs and develop coherent, systemic solutions that align economic, social, and environmental objectives. Understanding SDG interactions is crucial to designing strategies that promote multiple SDGs simultaneously, ensuring that efforts in one area do not conflict with progress in another. Policymakers can create more comprehensive and effective plans to meet SDG targets by identifying synergies between goals and minimizing potential conflicts.

Second, utilizing scientific models can facilitate the implementation of the SDGs. Many models related to the SDGs are available, which help policymakers analyze the long-term impact of policies. These models assist in designing future-focused strategies and identify additional measures needed to achieve the SDGs. The current scenario modeling provides knowledge of the actions required to accelerate SDG progress. The experts call for further development of SDG models and their utilization in SDG policymaking.

Third, various tools can translate scientific findings from SDG interactions and models into practical solutions for policymakers. These tools make monitoring and optimizing SDG progress easier, supporting integrated decision-making. However, limited tools are developed to guide integrated SDG planning and decision-making. Also, SDG tools should include stakeholder-specific actions to make SDG progress. Thus, the experts call for co-developing tools with stakeholders to support SDG implementation.

Addressing trade-offs and enhancing collaboration required

One of the key challenges highlighted in the article is addressing trade-offs, such as balancing economic growth with environmental sustainability. The experts provide policymakers with guidelines for navigating these trade-offs, helping them create sustainable and equitable strategies. The article also stresses the need for collaboration and inclusivity. Successful implementation of the SDGs requires input from diverse stakeholders, including scientists, policymakers, and local communities. The experts call for more inclusive decision-making processes incorporating these perspectives to create better, more sustainable outcomes.

Looking Beyond 2030

While the 2030 deadline for the SDGs is fast approaching, the experts also offer a long-term vision, providing policymakers with insights that go beyond 2030. By planning for the challenges and opportunities that will arise after 2030, policymakers can ensure that sustainable development efforts continue in the decades to come. As a contribution to implementing agreements at the Summit of the Future, the three foci equip policymakers with new insights to accelerate SDG progress. By embracing these foci, governments worldwide can ensure a safer, more sustainable, and equitable future. The experts call for urgent, systemic action as the window to meet the 2030 goals narrows.

The incessant rainfall that took place mostly in central and eastern parts of the country on 27 and 28 September has inflicted damages worth Rs 730 million to the public transport sector.

According to the information shared by the National Federation Transport Entrepreneurs Nepal, the damage has been estimated to be around Rs 729.80 million.

Among the damages, Western Nepal Passenger Bus Entrepreneurs Pvt. Ltd. suffered a loss of Rs 118 million, Namaste Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Pvt. Ltd. lost Rs 28.5 million while Gorkha Daraundi Transport Service Company Rs 6 million.

Similarly, Bagmati Tipper Traders' Association has suffered Rs 270 million, Nepal Truck Tipper Traders' Association has incurred a loss of Rs 200 million, Mahakali Multi-Purpose Company Pvt. Ltd. has suffered Rs 66.5 million and property worth around Rs 40 million was damaged at the Rasuwagadi border point.

General Secretary of the Federation, Deknath Gautam, said that the details of the damage incurred by the public transport sector across the country have been submitted to the Ministry of Home Affairs and Department of Transport Management on Wednesday.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has described Bada Dashain as a festival that strengthens unity among communities, institutions, families and individuals.

In a message of best wishes on the occasion of Bada Dashain festival, President Deuba said that the country has been affected by floods and landslides with significant loss to human lives and property, and prayed that may Durga Bhavani gives us the strength and determination to at this time of calamity.

Stating that Dashain is our religious and cultural festival, he mentioned that the festival gives an eternal message of the victory of justice over injustice and truth over falsehood.

On the auspicious occasion of Bada Dashain, the former Prime Minister has also extended his auspicious wishes for happiness, peace, prosperity and progress to all Nepali sisters and brothers on behalf of Congress and on his own.

Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav has expressed his belief that prayers and pooja performed with faith and sincerity on the occasion of Bijaya Dashami would help make one's spiritual life worthwhile.

Extending his best wishes on the occasion of Bijaya Dashami in a message today, he wished that may this festival of joy, happiness and unity put an end to bad behavior in everyone's life and spread new energy and enthusiasm in the society.

Stating that festivals have helped to preserve and promote our cultural traditions, he mentioned that Bijayadashami also known as Dashain, Bada Dashain, Dushera, Durga Puja, Navratri etc. according to geography, region, class and community is celebrated as a symbol of the victory of truth over falsehood. "It conveys a message of the victory of virtue over evil, the victory of truth over falsehood, and the victory of light over darkness", Vice President Yadav said, "It also teaches that those who commit injustice and oppression in the world will always be defeated and the just and righteous will always be victorious.”

Vice President Yadav has also expressed his belief that Bijaya Dashami will help in increasing unity, love and goodwill in families and society by providing an opportunity to forget mutual enmity and bitterness and exchange good wishes.

Meanwhile, the Vice President's Secretariat has announced the timing for offering tika and prasad to high-ranking personalities and ordinary citizens on the occasion of Bijaya Dashami. According to a press note issued on Wednesday, the time for receiving tika and prasad from the Vice-President for high-ranking people and ordinary citizens will be from 2:30 pm to 4 pm on October 12.

Mumbai: India’s Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said on Thursday night that the last rites of industrialist Ratan Tata will be performed with full state honors.

CM Shinde said that Tata’s mortal remains will be kept at NCPA from 10 am to 4 pm on Thursday for the public to pay respect.

Ratan Tata, Chairperson Emeritus, Tata Sons, passed away on Wednesday evening at Breach Candy Hospital in Mumbai.

In a post on X, CM Shinde stated everyone will always remember the determination shown by him after the 2008 Mumbai attack. 

“His firm decisions, courageous attitude and social commitment will always be remembered. The last rites of late Ratanji Tata will be performed with full state honors,” the Chief Minister said.

Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said the demise of Ratan Tata is “great loss for the country.”

“Ratan Tata was not only a very successful industrialist, but also a bigger personality because of the way he worked for the country and society. He has not only set up successful industries but has set up a trust, a brand that has given our country a global image. A person with a very big heart has left us today, this is a great loss for the country,” Fadnavis told reporters.

The mortal remains of Industrialist Ratan Tata, were brought to his residence in Colaba in the early hours of Thursday.

The Maharashtra government canceled all programs scheduled for Thursday in Mumbai following Tata’s demise.

“All the programs of the state government in Mumbai have been canceled for tomorrow, due to the death of industrialist Ratan Tata,” Maharashtra Minister Deepak Kesarkar said while speaking to reporters in Mumbai.

Earlier, President Droupadi Murmu, Vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal also offered condolences on the demise of Ratan Tata.

In a series of posts on X, PM Modi said he was ‘extremely pained’ by Tata’s passing away and highlighted Tata’s leadership and contributions to society.

Businessperson-philanthropist  Tata, Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons, passed away on Wednesday evening aged 86.

“Ratan Tata Ji was a visionary business leader, a compassionate soul and an extraordinary human being. He provided stable leadership to one of India's oldest and most prestigious business houses. At the same time, his contribution went far beyond the boardroom. He endeared himself to several people thanks to his humility, kindness and an unwavering commitment to making our society better,” he said.

“Extremely pained by his passing away. My thoughts are with his family, friends and admirers in this sad hour. Om Shanti,” PM Modi said in the post.

Also, Reliance Industries Chairperson Mukesh Ambani, Adani Group Founder and Chairperson Gautam Adani and Google CEO Sundar Pichai among others offered their condolences.

Tata, born on 28 Dec 1937, in Mumbai, is the Chairman of Ratan Tata Trust and Dorabji Tata Trust, two of the largest private-sector-promoted philanthropic trusts in India. He was the Chairman of Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, from 1991 until his retirement in 2012. He was later appointed Chairperson Emeritus of Tata Sons.

He was honored with the country’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, in 2008.

ANI

As Dashain is approaching I’m concerned about my parents, especially my mom. They start taking unnecessary pressure about getting ready to receive guests and perhaps impress them as well. It makes for a stressful environment at home. How can I ease the pressure and tell them to relax? 

Answered by Tashi Phunjo Gurung, counseling psychologist

Your concern shows what a caring and considerate child you are to your parents. It’s nice to see that your heart is in the right place, especially during festivals, which can be exciting and daunting at the same time.

It’s not uncommon to hear and see people take the pressure due to the expectation of hosting relatives and preparing a feast. It’s a huge thing to be responsible for and it can get stressful. The brunt of the work might, no doubt, fall on mothers, so it’s natural for them to feel responsible and ensure that everything goes perfectly. This certainly can get overwhelming.

Like any other tasks, the more we plan, the less pressure we might feel. We can involve them in planning for the tasks early, so that it doesn’t become pressurizing at the last minute. Breaking the tasks into smaller, manageable steps can be much easier. Moreover, you can always let them know that you can assist with the preparations, whether it’s cooking, cleaning or organizing. This would certainly ease a lot of their stress. 

It’s also important to align our expectations accordingly. We have to set boundaries about how much we can and can’t do. It’s okay to scale down the celebration or even simplify the feast. Dashain is more about the family, rather than the activities, and it’s certainly okay if things are not perfect. We can acknowledge their hard work, and let them know that it’s okay to relax and enjoy the festival too. Give them the reassurance that the focus is on spending time together, not impressing others. This can cause a shift in perspective to actually consider Dashain as a time for enjoyment.

Reminding ourselves and others that Dashain is about family, joy and togetherness, and not about perfection or impressing others can make a lot of difference. By planning ahead, offering support, and emphasizing quality time over elaborate preparations, we can help lessen the stress, and create a more enjoyable experience for everyone involved.