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Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) and Minister for Urban Development, Prakash Man Singh, today left for Cairo, the capital of Egypt, to participate in the World Urban Forum programme.

He is leading a Nepali delegation to the programme. The World Urban Forum (WUF) is the premier global conference on sustainable urbanization. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, bid him farewell at Tribhuvan International Airport this morning.

DPM Singh is the high-level official to attend the programme in which more than 150 countries are participating.

The ministers related to urban development will be participating from other countries whereas Singh, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister, is attending from Nepal, according to the Ministry of Urban Development.

DPM Singh will be addressing three sessions of the World Urban Forum, calling attention of the world on challenges Nepal is facing in the development of settlements, on the problems encountered in the face of climate change and on the achievements the country has made in terms of habitat development.

The World Urban Forum programme is taking place from November 4-8 in Cairo.

The Twelfth Session of the World Urban Forum WUF12 is convened by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) under the theme – 'It All Starts at Home: Local Actions for Sustainable Cities and Communities.' The WUF was established in 2001 by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid urbanisation and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies. The first WUF was held in Nairobi, Kenya in 2002 and has been held around the world ever since.

Representatives of national, regional and local governments, academics, business people, community leaders, urban planners and civil society representatives will be among the thousands of people are expected to attend WUF12 which is co-organized by The Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

DPM Singh is accompanied by his spouse Srijana Singh, officials of the Ministry of Urban Development. DPM Singh and his delegation will return home on November 9. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has extended best wishes to all the Nepalis on the occasion of Bhaitika, the main day of the Tihar festival, the festival of lights.

He wished happiness and enthusiasm among all Nepalis on the occasion, saying Tihar is a glorious festival of the Nepalis that spreads light in the life of all.

Wishing for the happiness, peace and enthusiasm of all sisters and brothers, the PM believed that the Bhaitika ceremony will engender additional love and affection among sisters and brothers.

"Today is the last day of this year's Tihar. May the great festival of Bhaitika that fosters love and affection among sisters and brothers spread health, happiness, peace and enthusiasm in the life of all sisters and brothers. Best wishes of Bhaitika to all," the Prime Minister posted on the social site Facebook.

On the occasion of Nepal Sambat 1145, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has expressed his respect to Shankhadhar Sakhwa, the National Luminary who started the Nepal Sambat.

In a Facebook post, the Prime Minister has said today is the first day of Nepal Sambat 1145, sincere respect to its founder Luminary Shankhadhar Sakhwa.

He has also described Mha Puja being observed today as a fundamental and significant festival of the Newar community.

Extending greetings on the occasion of Nepal Sambat New Year and Mha Puja, he said that both Nepal Sambat and Mha Puja have their own characteristics.

"Mha Puja is performed today among the Newar community, which increases the sense of pride towards oneself. On the occasion of Nepal Sambat 1145, best wishes to all at home and abroad,” reads his post.

The Nepal Sambat New Year 1145 is being celebrated across the country today amidst various programs.

The people of the Newar community have been celebrating the Nepal Sambat as New Year's Day at present.

The Nepal Sambat is an indigenous calendar of Nepal.

The Nepal Sambat or calendar year was begun by Shankhadhar Sakhwa by relieving the people of Nepal off debt during the rule of Lichchhavi King Raghavdev in 880 AD.

Recognizing the contribution of Shankhadhar Sakhwa to the country and people, the government announced Sakhwa a national luminary on November 18, 1999.

Also today, the people of the Newar community observe the Mha Puja ritual in the evening.

Mha Puja is the worship of the self. Mha Puja is based on the religious belief that the soul or self is the most important in the world and that if the soul is satisfied, the gods are also satisfied and one's life becomes meaningful and prosperous.

Likewise, the government had on October 23, 2008 nationally recognized the Nepal Sambat propounded by national luminary Shankhadhar Sakhwa.

Meanwhile, the President and the Vice-President, the Prime Minister as well as various party heads and leaders have issued statements extending best wishes to all those celebrating the Nepal Sambat today.

This day is celebrated especially as the new year of Nepal Sambat and as a special festival by the majority Newar population residing in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Banepa, Dhulikhel, Bahrabise and Dolakha. 

Gai Puja or cow worship, Goru Puja or ox worship and Govardan Puja are being observed throughout the country today on the fourth day of the five-day-long Tihar festival celebrated by the majority Hindus in the country.

The Gai Puja and Govardhan Puja rituals are observed today with the replicas of the Gai and Govardhan Mountain made out of the cow dung.

People prepare a mixture of the cow dung and ochre formed into a paste and apply on the courtyard of their homes and on the floors.

The cow is revered as mata or mother by Hindus and is sacred for them. Modern science has also proved that indigenous breeds of cows absorb the energy from the sun and the moon in their hump which is transmitted through milk to humans.

The cows are fed with sweets and delicacies as part of the Gai Puja rituals.

There is the tradition of tying the sacred thread that is tied around one's wrist on the occasion of the Janai Poornima festival on the tail of the cow while performing Gai Puja.

It is believed that doing so the cow would help the person's soul cross the Baitarani River, a mythical river, to heaven, after the person's death.

The rituals are linked to the Hindu God Sri Krishna who, according to the legend, lifted the Govardhan Mountain by his hand and protected the people of a place called Gokul from torrential rains caused by Indra, the God of rain.

It is believed that the rain God was angered and thereby caused the heavy downpour.

Similarly, the ox is also worshipped today as it is a very useful animal in different agricultural works in Nepal which is a predominantly agricultural country. 

High demand of electricity (peak demand), 1,602 megawatt, has been recorded in Laxmi Puja of this year's Tihar festival.

According to the Nepal Electricity Authority, the peak demand was recorded at 6:25 pm on Thursday, the day of Laxmi Puja.

The peak demand of power was recorded 1,438 megawatt on Laxmi Puja last year.

The high demand of electricity was more by 164 megawatt this year as compared to previous year.

The NEA added the recorded peak demand of electricity was except of industrial customers as industries, factories remain closed during Tihar.

The electricity was supplied by generating power from power houses of the country in order to meet the demand of power on the day of Laxmi Puja.

The surplus 253 megawatt of electricity was exported to India by fulfilling the demand of power of the country during peak hour.

Overall demand of 1,855 megawatt electricity was recorded in import was recorded on Lamxi Puja this year which was 1955 megawatt last year.

The trend of setting off firecrackers in celebration has not stopped in Kathmandu Valley during this Tihar festival despite the tight supervision of the security bodies.

Especially the youths let off fireworks in celebration during the Tihar festival.

It is said celebratory explosion of fire crackers is high in the inner-alleys than on the main streets and in the outlying areas of Kathmandu Valley this time.

The pace of exploding pyrotechnics has increased since Thursday evening when the Laxmipuja rituals were observed and it will likely continue today as well.

Sharan Sharma, a resident of Chandragiri in Kathmandu said exploding fireworks non-stop has caused sound pollution in the environment while it has also increased the risk of outbreak of fire. "I could hear the sound of explosion of firecrackers up until 12 pm. It was really disturbing. I could not sleep. I can hear the loud sound of firecrackers exploding even in the morning. I think the security agencies should make their monitoring more effective to check this trend," he said.

According to him, although there is the presence of the security personnel on the main streets and core areas in Kathmandu, their patrolling is only nominal in the inner alleys and the outlying areas in the Valley.

Sharma said the smuggling of firecrackers and letting off fireworks continues due to lax monitoring by police.

However, Nepal Police has claimed that it has upped security vigilance at all the 10 transit points of the Valley and intensified checking at various places with the goal preventing the smuggling and explosion of fireworks. Nepal Police central spokesperson Dan Bahadur Karki said security vigilance has been stepped up in view of the likelihood of increased gambling and explosion of firecrackers during Tihar.

He said the police will take under control and initiate legal action against anyone involved in such activities.

Spokesperson for Kathmandu Valley Police Office, Senior Superintendent Binod Ghimire said that the police has arrested and taken action against some people involved in fireworks on the charge of smuggling and letting off explosives.

Assistant Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Anil Poudel, warned of legal action against anyone involved in hooliganism and disturbing public peace, decency and security by drinking alcohol and engaging in other unruly activities during the festival. 

The Newar Community in Bhaktapur district is celebrating Mha Puja (the worship of the self) today and Bhai Tika (Kija Puja) tomorrow.

The Newar Community is celebrating Mha Puja today and Bhai Tika tomorrow after Bhaktapur municipality decided to celebrate Mha Puja today, as the Kachhalathwo Pratipada Tithi as per lunar calendar commences after 5:15 pm today and Bhai Tika tomorrow as Dwitiya Tithi falls after 7:00 pm tomorrow.

The municipality called on district folks to celebrate Bhai Tika and Kija Puja on November 2.

However, the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee has determined that Bhai Tika should be observed on November 3.