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Singing bowls, dating back to China’s Shang dynasty (16th–11th centu­ries BCE), have been used for healing and meditation pur­poses since ancient times. The use of metallic objects to produce healing sounds is now gaining in popularity in the West. Nepalis are practic­ing it too. Sajan Thapaliya, the owner of the Om Singing Bowls and Healing Hub in Thamel, has been involved with singing bowls for 26 years. He recalls his father selling these bowls, as antique pieces. It was much later that Thapaliya heard about their healing prop­erties, and it has been only seven years since he started practicing singing bowl ther­apy. “I am not a trained thera­pist, and my clients know that. Yet they choose to come to me for help,” he says.

The price of a therapy at Om Singing Bowls starts at Rs 3,500. The sessions may involve meditation with sing­ing bowls, self-healing tech­niques, and massage with singing bowls.

The bowls are made up of seven different metals: mer­cury, iron, tin, gold, silver, copper, and lead. There is a variation in the proportion of these metals depending on the kind of singing bowl, each with its unique heal­ing properties, that is being designed. Singing bowl ther­apy is based on the belief that energy vibrates at different rates in the body, and by alter­ing the rate of vibration we can change the state of the body itself.

Singing bowls produce sounds which evoke a deep state of relaxation, helping you meditate. According to therapy practitioners, they help restore the normal vibra­tory frequencies of your mind, body, and soul.

The sound vibrations directly impact the nervous system, releasing stress. Other benefits include deep relax­ation, balance in the chakra system, purification of emo­tions, cleansing of negative feelings, and release of emo­tional blockage.

Thapaliya says currently only foreigners come for therapy at this center. Even though the technique was introduced in Nepal around half a century ago, it is yet to gain in popularity among locals. “The therapy is becoming popular in the West and in other Asian countries, but not here surprisingly,” says Thapaliya.

Practitioners say this therapy could be employed as an alternative to the use of medications for var­ious disorders—and unlike medications that only boost your physical health the sing­ing bowl therapy also helps with your spiritual and emo­tion wellbeing. 

Is a vegan diet healthy and nutri­tionally complete?

A vegan diet contains plants such as vegetables, grains, nuts and fruits and foods made from plants. As veg­ans don’t eat foods that come from animals, including dairy products and eggs, there is a risk of deficien­cy of Vitamin B12, Omega 3, Vita­min D, calcium, iron and protein. But you can have enough of these nutrients by consuming the right vegan food.

Where do vegans get their protein from?

Soy products such as tofu, tempeh, and edamame are among the richest sources of protein in a vegan diet. Other sources are len­tils, chickpeas, peanuts, almonds, spirulina and quinoa. But if you have thyroid or hormonal imbalance, you will need to monitor your intake of soy products.

What about other nutrients like calcium, iron and Omega 3 that you earlier talked about?

Vegans can get iron from foods like soybeans, lentils, lima beans, kidney bean, chickpeas and green leafy vegetables. Likewise, calcium can be derived from fortified milk, tofu, and orange juice and green leafy vegetables.

Meeting Omega 3 requirement can be quite hard especially if you don’t use fish oil supplements or get EPA or DHA from your diet. However, you get plenty of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), a type of Omega 3, via plant sources such as soy, walnuts, canola oil, and chia, flax, and hemp seeds and their oils.

Can anyone be a vegan, for exam­ple pregnant women, children and athletes?

This is a subjective question. I would not recommend pregnant/ lactating women/children to become complete vegans, as it is a phase of growth and development for the child and compromising on nutri­ents would stunt growth. There is a potential for low intakes of certain nutrients on a vegan diet. But gen­erally, if it’s a well-monitored and nutritionally calculated vegan diet, then anyone be a vegan.

What is the best milk substitute for veg­ans?

Ranking in the order, almond, soy, rice, and coconut milk. Almond milk is one of the most popular vegan choices. But make sure you read the labels and pick the one which is for­tified with calcium and Vitamin B12.

Can you give a balanced diet meal plan for a vegan?

Plans are customized as per client body parameters like height, weight, fat percentage, muscle percentage, and medical conditions, if any.

Something that you’d like to sug­gest for those interested in turn­ing into vegans.

Consult a nutritionist first. A nutri­tionist will help you plan a proper diet and take care of all the essential nutrients so as to avoid any defi­ciencies.

The concept of being a vege­tarian is not new in Nepal, a Hindu- majority country. Even though Hinduism does not explic­itly forbid meat-eating, the religion recommends ahimsa, or non-vi­olence against all life forms. (As does Buddhism, for that matter). At least of a third of all Hindus are vegetarians, according to various surveys in India. Perhaps a similar proportion of Nepalis refrain from eating meat. But what is new to Nepal is veg­anism, a lifestyle choice in which you consume only a type of veg­etarian diet that excludes meat, eggs, dairy products, and all other animal-derived foodstuff. Animal clothing is shunned too.

Saraswati Rashmi Shakya, 24, adopted a vegan diet when she learned about how animals are harassed and abused by humans. “Our education system never taught us about where the milk we consume comes from,” says Shakya. “I found out about it only when I was 20. Imagining a calf deprived of its opportunity to have mother’s milk traumatized me, and I decided to become a vegan.”

Shakya says even if one addition­al person becomes a vegan, over 100 animals a year will be saved from slaughter. “My only regret is that I didn’t turn into a vegan sooner.”

Durga Nath Dahal, a social activ­ist and the director of Nayajiwan Paropakar Samaj, an NGO, has long been fighting for animal rights and spreading the message of vegan­ism. “As a birthplace of Lord Bud­dha, we in Nepal should be try­ing to promote peace rather than violence by killing creatures that cannot stand up for themselves. As sentient beings, humans are supposed to look after them, and adopting a vegan diet helps this cause,” he says.

Others opt for veganism on health grounds. As vegan diets are naturally low in calories, they are effective at promoting weight loss, without having to actively focus on cutting calories. Many people prefer a vegan diet for this reason alone.

Ananda Baskota, 32, has been working out for the past few months to lose weight. “I have been following a vegan diet for past three months and I have already seen a significant change in my weight,” he says. “I’ll eventually go back to my non-vegetarian eat­ing habit, but for now vegan diet is helping me reach my desired health goals faster.”

By contrast, Jagdish Aarohi, 70, has been a vegetarian all his life and turned into a vegan four years ago after he found out about its health benefits.

A vegan diet reduces the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, is par­ticularly effective at reducing blood sugar and helps prevent prostate, breast, and colon cancers. “My health has gotten much better after I turned vegan. I also feel more spiritually fulfilled,” Aarohi says. “It is no less gratifying to know that I save the environment and many animals.”

One common myth about veg­an diets is that they are poor in nutritional value and lack essen­tial vitamins. But that need not be the case. A vegan diet is by no means restrictive. There is a whole range of fruits, pulses, vegetables, legumes, and healthy fats that you can have to get all the needed nutri­tion (See the interview alongside).

As the number of vegans is increasing by the day, specific industries have cropped up to cater to them. Recently, a vegan dairy, Vegan Dairy Nepal, start­ed its services in Teku. It offers a wide range of vegan products like soy yogurt, almond milk, cashew milk, coconut milk, cheese spread, and vegan rasgulla in lieu of reg­ular dairy products. With grow­ing demand, restaurants have also started including vegan alterna­tives in their menu.

Being a vegan is not as hard and demanding as it used to be O

 You can call Blenders the new­est and the most happening refreshment stop in Kath­mandu. The milkshake bar is located at City Center, Kamalpokhari, in an adorable little stall with aesthetic interiors—filled with clever quotes and creative decoration. To give it a touch of culturally rooted authenticity, Blenders has three different colored “sarangis” on its walls, all painted to represent the colors of the drinks it serves. A traffic light hangs right outside the stall to indicate a mandatory stop at the ‘milkshake bar’. This unique emphasis on physical aesthetics and drink designs helps it stand out in the crowd.

The various flavors of milkshakes at Blenders are handed out in reus­able take-away bottles shaped like light bulbs, filled with 350 watts (sic: ml) of liquid delight. Blend­ers currently offers 15 different milkshake flavors to choose from, all with catchy names like Mint-Oreo-de-Janeiro, Havana Banana, Man­go-Lia, Choco-Holm-Chips, Straw­berry-Stan and many more. Their signature drink of Bounty Hanoi is something one will find nowhere else but at Blenders.

The owners of Blenders, Basanta Bakshi and Bivechan Khanal, claim it is the first milkshake franchise of Nepali origin and speak of their aim to spread all across the country. “All the raw materials we use are Nepal based, and we promote authenticity. We are expanding as well. We’ll open a new store in next two months,” says Bakshi.

The straw that Blenders uses and the milkshake bottles are both man­ufactured in Nepal. This unique con­cept of serving milkshake in such a unique filament tube is the first in the country and has not failed to impress the valley’s otherwise finicky foodies.

The milkshake menu that Blenders serves is simple, fun and straightfor­ward delicious. It guarantees quan­tity along with quality, hygiene and affordability. A bottle will cost you anywhere between Rs 189 to Rs 289. The straws are well-packed and pro­tected from the dust outside, and the bottle well-sealed. Moreover, you can see the staff prepare your drink right in front.

Blenders is a perfect place to relax in the middle of a shopping spree, especially with the biggest shopping festival Dashain just around the cor­ner. Or for a respite from the hustle and bustle all around. On its cur­rent form, Blenders could very well establish itself as the hangout hub of teenagers and young-adults

Deeya Maskey is a popular name in Nepali film, theater and, recently, on the small screen. Right with her debut on the big screen with Bhusan Dahal’s ‘Kagbeni’, Maskey was able to establish herself as a potent movie actor. Today Maskey is one of the most suc­cessful Nepali actresses and also pop­ular as a judge of the inaugural edition of Himalaya Roadies. As a child, Maskey always wanted to be a dancer and although she per­severed with her passion for long, destiny had something else in store. She ended up taking up a career in theater and acting when she met her theater guru Anup Baral, whom she even­tually married in 2014 following a decade-long love story. Maskey says her family wasn’t very supportive at the start of her acting career and asked her to choose a different profes­sion. But after she became a success­ful actress their view towards acting changed significantly and with it came the support.

We ask Mas­key to describe herself in three words. She chuckles and answers, “Impulsive, childish and honest.” She is firm in her belief and doesn’t change her stance even under intense criticism. “I do what I want, and do not care about the conse­quences or about what people think of me. If I love what I do, there is no point in stopping doing it just because people have a problem with it,” says Maskey. “If it was a man instead who had to play the role of being this bold and strong, I am sure this society would have had no problem,” she continues. “But since I’m a woman, every­one had a problem with it.”

“I come from a middle-class family and lead a simple lifestyle,” Maskey contin­ues. “I like doing all my work on my own and working for myself. Even though I might be known as a celebrity, my simple approach to life is what differentiates me.” About her outspoken personality in Roadies, Deeya says there is a boundary between her professional life and personal life and she doesn’t mix the two. Those who have worked with her vouch for her down-to-earth personality.

We ask her what she would like to say to all our readers, to which she answers “Don’t ever stop dreaming. Dream is what will keep you moving forward.” She adds, “You’ll face many obstacles on the way but don’t ever give up. If you work hard enough, you’ll surely succeed.” 

In the end, we think a rapid-fire is in order with the determined Deeya:

Q: Passion?

A: Answers at once, “Dance and Acting”

Q: Deeya?

A: Seems rather confident and answers, “Honest”

Q: Roadies?

A: Proudly exclaims, “Life-changing experience”

Q: Love?

A: Blushes and answers, “Anup Baral”

Q: Food you’re always craving?

A: Excitedly exclaims, “Dal-bhaat”

Q: Make-up?

A: “Nope, it’s only a part of my work. Else I hate it,” and makes disgusting faces

Q: Something on your mind?

A: “I’m married,” she yells at once, and starts laughing hysterically

o MUA: V-Glow skin and beauty care, Baluwatar

o Wardrobe & Location: Royal Galleria, Baluwataar  

o Photos: Pritam Chhetri

Anisha Sharma Regmi, 27, is one of the most creative makeup artists in the country. Regmi, who trained in Bangkok, is the owner of the Aesthete Makeup Acad­emy and Studio. But she is better known for starting the culture of fantasy makeup in Nepal. Fantasy, highly dra­matic, or character make­ups are used for thematic photoshoots and other cinematic and theatrical purposes. The type of fantasy makeup also depends on where the model will be seen. Stage per­formers often use oil-based products that can with­stand hot lights. Watercolor makeup works best for photography sessions, TV and films because this type of makeup typi­cally comes in bold colors and creates clean lines that translate well on camera and on the big screen.

You must have seen plenty of fantasy makeup. Some of our best TV shows and movies such as the Star Wars, Star Trek, Guardians of the Galaxy, Planet of the Apes, X-Men and Harry Potter have used fantasy makeups to create unique characters in line with their out-of-the-world stories and cutting edge VFX sequences.

While ordinary makeup materials like eye-shadows, lipsticks and blushes can be used for fantasy makeup as well, most fantasy designs are created using vivid long-lasting products that are expensive and high in quality. Many items are needed, with the total cost building up to Rs 45,000 for a single look. As the price is high, the demand for fantasy makeup in the Nepali film industry has not increased much. But with the production cost of Nepali movies get­ting bigger, it is only a matter of time before it will need at least some fantasy makeup artists.

“Fantasy makeup is not about blending in but about standing out,” says Regmi. It creates an experience where the wearers pretend to be whichever character they desire—whether it’s a mermaid, a witch, an insect, a musical instrument or even a furry animal. “It is like painting on canvas. We paint faces and we create our own rules. Sky’s the limit when you’re going for fan­tasy makeup.”

Regmi wanted to learn fantasy makeup because she thinks it provides great artistic freedom. “You have the power to totally transform an indi­vidual, often into some­thing unrecognizable,” she adds. And it is this trans­formational quality of fantasy makeup that still keeps her motivated.

Her Aesthete Makeup Academy also runs classes for upcoming makeup artists to learn fantasy makeup. “Initially, it is intimidating for a newbie to imagine turning someone’s face into an artistic masterpiece, but with practice and focus, you may be surprised at what fantastic looks you can create,” she says.

When I was a kid, I hated being escorted to places. My parents asked my younger brother, one who was both physically and emotionally incapable of handling the situation even if we run into trouble, to escort me to places because having a male companion would somehow make me safer. I always wanted to be old enough to do everything on my own. But now that I’ve matured, growing up as a girl in this society has been nothing short of unending paranoia. The things that I wanted to do when I was a kid, like taking a public vehi­cle, walking on the streets or even taking a lift on my own, takes a huge chunk of courage nowadays.

The constant eve-teasing and sex­ual harassment have further wors­ened the paranoia. Eve-teasing is the most common act of public vio­lence—an unimaginative euphemism for the glares, whistles, hoots, “acci­dental” brushing-past, intentional grabbing, groping and pinching. We’ve now reached a point when we no longer feel safe on the streets but are rather habituated to the vul­gar comments, indecent proposals, unwelcome gestures, and attempts at physical contact.

According to a small survey done by The Annapurna Express, 93 out of 100 women surveyed reported facing some form of sexual harass­ment, and 88 of them said the expe­rience affected them. A full 94 per­cent of the women surveyed had been verbally or physically abused, and felt threatened and unsafe every time they ventured out.

The society condones these tendencies. It’s beyond me how a country with a Hindu majority, one of the few religions that deify the female form, could turn a blind eye to women’s daily harassment. The country that celebrates the feminin­ity of women has designed its soci­ety in such a way that women wish they were born a different gender. 95 percent of surveyed women blamed the patriarchal societal norms for this state of affairs and yet it is the women who are blamed and brutalized.

The eve-teasing and the cat-calling that men think is funny, is not. Wom­en are being hysterical, humorless, and oversensitive, they say. This might be seen as something basic, but honestly it can also be terri­fying. I suspect when voice is not raised against this kind of harass­ment and abuse, it turns into some­thing more brutal like molestation or rape itself.

Nawaraj Parajuli is really a magician, who “loves playing with words and making my emo­tions come to life”. Famous for his emotive ‘kavita con­certs’ that he performs around the world, Parajuli’s book of poems ‘Sagarmathako Gahi­rai’ was in awarded one of the most prestigious awards in Nepali Literature, the Pad­mashree in 2017. The winner of All Nepali Slam Poetry 2014 was also nominated for Madan Puraskar for the aforemen­tioned book. Parajuli initially came to Kathmandu to establish him­self as an English professor, but his career took a differ­ent turn when he discov­ered his passion for poetry and his ability to play with words. Thus, after getting his Masters in English in 2014, he emerged himself in literature and poetry.

Even though he is a Nepali poet, Parajuli has a fascinating English accent.

“The poems that I write describe me but mostly my poetry is about empathy,” he says. Quoting his favorite book, Big Magic, Parajuli says that ideas are living souls who come to you: “I do not go to poetry, poetry comes to me.” He takes a deep breath and smiles. “I know it sounds stu­pid but when I get an idea for my writing I get this tick­lish feeling like a huge black ant has walked past my feet. I record whatever comes to my mind at that time.”

Recalling his past, Parajuli talks about how poetry helped him realize his dream of paying back the one rupee that his father had given him when he was a kid. “The amount I had earned never seemed enough to repay my father. I always thought I will make more. But when I even­tually handed him one lakh [rupees] in return for that one rupee, his eyes welled up. I thought at the time, all my struggles had been worth it,” he says.

It was Parajuli who started the culture of ‘kavita con­certs’ whereby poems are performed to live music. The blend of his verses with the sound of the flute playing in the background is “like sal­vation”. He has toured the world performing poems in Europe, Australia, Middle East and South Asia. In this way he has taken Nepali literature to the international community.

Parajuli is also a theater artist associated with The­ater Village and has already performed a rendition of ‘Hamlet’ at the International Theater Festival in Pakistan in 2017 and Tagore’s ‘Malini’ in Germany and Belgium. “Unfortunately I’ve not been able to perform here in Nepal but I really look forward to it,” says Parajuli.

Often you cannot explain poetry and Parajuli is a master at playing with the minds of the audience. “Once a guest left when I was performing. Generally, I would have taken it as an insult, but I found out he had left because my poetry had him in tears and he could not handle it anymore.” According to Parajuli, there is no better feeling than seeing his audience lose themselves in his poems.

Celebrated in and out of the country, Parajuli is a symbol of hope for the youth who want to pursue art. As of now, there are only a few people who take up literature as a career, and even among them, poets are rare. “I just wish that there were more people in this field, those our upcoming generation of poets and writers could look up to,” says Parajuli. 

Pictures by Pritam Chhetri