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Rajapur Municipality-5, Bardiya, is alive with the festive charm of the traditional Sakhiya Naach performed by the Tharu community. Beginning before Dashain and continuing for several days after the festival, this dance adds vibrancy to Tharu villages.

According to village elder Pradesi Chaudhary of Khallajaypur, the Sakhiya dance begins as soon as Dashain starts. In this dance, young women perform while young men play the madal (traditional drum). The more intensely the madal is played, the livelier the atmosphere becomes. Around 20 to 25 young women participate, dressed in white fariya (skirt), red choliya (blouse), and red ribbons.

Linked to stories from the Mahabharata, the Sakhiya dance is performed collectively with madal and manjira (cymbals), accompanied by songs. The songs invoke the names of various deities of the Tharu community, highlighting the dance’s cultural and religious significance.

“We perform this dance every year to preserve our tradition because the younger generation is gradually forgetting our culture,” said elder Pradesi Chaudhary.

Text & Photos: Nepal Photo Library

Minister for Home, Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Om Prakash Aryal inspected the Nepal Police Disaster Management Office at Samakhushi on Friday and instructed the police personnel present. During the visit, Minister Aryal observed a simulated disaster rescue drill, inspected the disaster response equipment and the Police Disaster Response Team, and received a briefing on related activities.

Speaking at a program held after the inspection, Minister Aryal praised the efforts of Nepal Police in disaster management despite limited resources and training. He instructed the personnel to remain on constant readiness with high morale to be mobilized immediately to minimize loss of lives and property in case of potential disasters.

On the occasion, Additional Inspector General (AIG) Siddhi Bikram Shah, head of the Operations Department at Nepal Police Headquarters, expressed gratitude, while Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Santosh Kumar Bhattarai, chief of the Disaster Management Office, gave a presentation on disaster incidents, police mobilization, monsoon preparedness, response plans, requirements for effective response, and future strategies.

The program was attended by AIG Dan Bahadur Karki, chief of Kathmandu Valley Police Office, senior police officials, and police personnel.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has reported that more than 1,000 Nepali citizens are currently serving sentences in foreign prisons.

In a response to a parliamentary question, recently published by the Federal Parliament Secretariat, the ministry stated that 1,171 Nepalis are behind bars abroad. Among them, seven have been sentenced to life imprisonment.

However, the ministry has not provided further details, including the countries where the Nepalis are detained or the charges they face.

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced the 15-member national squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier, to be held in Oman.

The team, led by Rohit Kumar Paudel, was announced on Friday, CAN spokesperson Chhumbi Lama said. The squad includes Dipendra Singh Airee (Vice-captain), Kushal Bhurtel, Lokesh Bam, Kushal Malla, Aasif Sheikh, Mohammad Aadil Alam, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sandeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Lalit Rajbanshi, Gulshan Jha, and Sompal Kami.

The qualifier will take place from Oct 8 to 17 at the Al Amerat Cricket Academy Ground in Oman. Nepal is placed in Group 2 and will face Kuwait and Japan in the group stage.

Altogether, nine teams from Asia and East Asia–Pacific have qualified for the tournament, divided into three groups of three teams each.

Two people were killed and 26 others injured in a bus accident in Mahottari on Friday morning.

According to the District Police Office, Mahottari, a passenger bus (Na 6 Kha 1464) heading towards Kathmandu met with an accident at Bardibas Municipality-10, Khayarmara. The accident claimed the lives of a pedestrian and a passenger on board.

Police confirmed that 65-year-old local resident Chulhai Chaudhary, who was walking by the roadside, died on the spot after being hit by the bus. Similarly, 10-year-old Pramis Khadka of Ishworpur Municipality-12, Sarlahi, who was traveling in the bus, died while undergoing treatment at Shubha Swastik Hospital, Bardibas.

The crash also left 26 passengers injured, including 13 women. They are currently receiving treatment at Shubha Swastik Hospital.

District Traffic Police Chief Laxmi Raj Joshi said the bus lost control, crashed through the wall of Laxminarayan Secondary School in Khayarmara, and hit a coconut tree before halting.

The exact cause of the accident has not yet been determined, police spokesperson DSP Shailendra Kumar Bhatta said, adding that further investigation is underway.

On the second day of Dashain Tika, people across the country continued receiving red tika and jamara from elders as a symbol of blessings and prosperity. The day coincides with Papankusha Ekadashi of the lunar calendar, during which many devotees also observe fasting. Those observing the Ekadashi fast are expected to receive tika tomorrow.

According to the Nepal Panchang Determination Committee, the practice of receiving tika and jamara as the prasad of Goddess Navadurga begins on Vijaya Dashami, following nine days of worship from Ashwin Shukla Pratipada to Navami. The ritual continues until the full moon day, allowing relatives living far away to visit their elders and receive blessings until then.

Meanwhile, traffic in and out of the Kathmandu Valley increased from early morning today as travelers began returning after celebrating Dashain in their hometowns. Compared to Wednesday and Thursday, the main roads witnessed heavier congestion today.

The weather across the country is presently influenced by both monsoon and local winds.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the weather will remain generally cloudy across the country today, with chances of moderate rainfall in some hilly and Terai regions of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces, as well as in a few places in the hilly and Tarai regions of Madhes Province.

Likewise, heavy rainfall is expected at one or two places in the hilly areas of Karnali and Bagmati provinces, and in the Terai region of Lumbini Province.

Tonight, the weather will also remain generally cloudy across the country. Moderate rainfall is likely in the hilly areas of Koshi, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces, in a few places of the Tarai region, in Madhes Province, and in the remaining provinces.

In view of the forecast for heavy rainfall at one or two places in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Lumbini, and Gandaki provinces, the public have been urged to take necessary precautions against potential risks from the rain.

The District Administration Office (DAO) has urged the public to remain highly cautious from Oct 3 to 6, citing forecasts of active monsoon conditions across several provinces.

According to the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology’s Forecasting Division, heavy rainfall is expected in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces.

Following this forecast, the DAO has advised heightened preparedness. Authorities have particularly warned that sudden floods could occur in small rivers and streams of Kathmandu Valley, Kavrepalanchok, Makwanpur, and other districts.

The risk of floods, inundation, landslides, and soil erosion remains high. Travelers on the Kanti Highway and roads linking Bagmati Rural Municipality, Konjyosom Rural Municipality, and Mahankal Rural Municipality have been asked to exercise extra caution.

The DAO has further suggested avoiding nighttime travel unless absolutely necessary. Residents in vulnerable areas are urged to remain vigilant from Oct 3 to 6, take precautionary measures to reduce risks, and follow instructions issued by security agencies or local governments.