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 “Cats on the roof, cats inside the house, it seems like they are replacing the oth­erwise multitudinous mice these days,” says Sushant Shrestha, who lives in Kamaladi. Indeed, the ubiq­uitous street dogs have always been the talk of the town. Recently it is the street cats that seem to be garnering the attention. Street dogs usually pose a problem when you are out and about but cats can be anywhere, in the streets staring at you, in your kitchen slowly sneak­ing in to enjoy some milk, or even under your car. “Based on the increase in the average number of daily reports on cats and the growing number of cats we treat in our rescue and treatment program, I suspect Kath­mandu’s cat population is increas­ing,” says Samuel G Davies, one of the board members at the Kath­mandu Animal Treatment (KAT) Center. At the moment, KAT Cen­ter, which was established in 2004, is treating around 15-20 stray cats a month, which is “more than we used to get.”

Seema Sharma of Bafal, says, “Though cats do not usually cause any physical harm their crying and fighting at night really disturbs my sleep.” Likewise, Guneet Singh, from Kupondole, complains, “Sometimes they climb into my home and scour the dustbins in search of food. Even though the main door is locked, they enter from the terrace.” Sushant Shres­tha suspects the cats know the blue­print of his whole house. “They know where the kitchen is and all the entrances which lead to the kitchen.” Again, all these testimo­nies are indicative of an increasing cat population.

Davies attributes the increase in the number of stray cats to “rapid expansion and increasing urban­ization of Kathmandu.” According to him, most developing cities have large stray dog populations. By contrast, more developed plac­es have larger feral populations. This is true of every major city: London, New York, Seoul or Tokyo. In what Davies labels “urbaniza­tion switch,” the dog population is more controlled while the cat population goes up.

Ben Charman, the commu­nications officer at KAT Center, says that as cities develop they start spaying dogs. This decreas­es dog population, which in turn means “more free food and open spaces for cats”. Additionally, when street dogs become rare, the number of natural predators of cats is also reduced, further fueling cat population.

This raises animal welfare con­cern and increases the risk of dis­ease transmission. According to Davies, dogs are much easier to handle and effective measures can be taken to control their move­ment. “It is easier to ensure the majority of the dogs are vaccinated. But that is not the case with cats that roam more freely and are not incorporated into any successful vaccination program due to the dif­ficulty of catching them,” he says.

But is there no practical way to control cat population then? Davies encourages cat owners to get their pets spayed and neutered as “this is where the majority of breeding takes place”. KAT Center is setting up a mass feline sterilization ward, the first of its kind in Nepal. Once the ward is up and running, he urg­es locals of Kathmandu to report cats in their area and assist with their catching and transport for surgery. This, he points out, would be useful in decreasing the number of kittens being born and in con­trolling stray cat population.

 Patan, one of UNESCO world heritage sites, is a not-to-miss place if you visit Nepal. Even Kathmandu folks go to Patan to experience the rich Newari heritage. Foreign tourists in particular have of late been fascinated by the idea of going and staying in traditional Newari homes in Patan that offer warmth, coziness and rich art. It’s good business too. They are ready to pay as much as $45-$100 a night for the rich, immersive experience of living in old, traditional homes. Rather than air conditioners, televisions and oth­er modern amenities, these places offer a vintage experience. Tourists may come for short stay or longer for work.

A Newari house is characterized by the intricate wood carvings and brickwork, use of natural resources, welcoming atmosphere and low ceilings. Small entry doors that require guests to bend while entering signifies respect for the place they dwell.

If you are wondering where you can find a place to enjoy some quiet time and to experience living in a traditional Newari home, here are three hotels among around a doz­en in the periphery of the Mangal Bazar area.

Swotha

Tucked away in a quiet neighborhood of the medieval city center, Swotha is easy to spot as it is smack-dab in Swotha chowk. Just a two-minute walk from Mangal Bazar, this bed and breakfast place offers incom­parable hospitality. A beautifullyrestored 70-year-old Newari residence, there are altogether nine rooms, each with a private balcony. There is also a Swotha café which offers food and beverages in a soothing ambience. The price range of rooms is $80-$160.

The Inn Heritage Hotel

Right beside Swotha, you can enter The Inn Heritage Hotel which is another traditional Newari

boutique hotel. You enter an open private stone-paved courtyard where you can relax while having tea. This brick and timber Newari house, whose original features

have been kept intact, has been restored by conservation architect Rohit Ranjitkar. It offers 10 spacious rooms with modern amenities such as solar hot water, in-house restaurant and free wi-fi. The average room rate is $100.

Newa Chén

Just five-minute walk from Mangal Bazar, there is Newa Chén.

Even though the streets outside is full of people, as soon as you enter this beautiful tourist accommodation you will feel like you are

in a quiet home. Built during the Malla rule in Nepal, this traditional home was restored under a

UNESCO project. The Newari courtyard outside has books that one can read while sitting in a Newari arrangement. There is even a new gallery which exhibits traditional Nepali art. The prices for the eight bedrooms with personal seating areas and private suite bathrooms start at $45.

If you visit these hotels during off-season or through travel agents and websites, you can get cheaper deals. Hoteliers say they are usually fully-booked during the season, between October and March, so it is recommended that you book a room at least three months in advance. Next time you want a typical Newari home experience, you know where to go!

Photos by Pritam Chhetri

 Is it a democracy if even after a month of rape and murder of a 13-year-old girl, the perpetra­tor(s) cannot be apprehended?

Around 10 in the morning, Nir­mala Pant of Kanchanpur had gone to a friend’s to borrow a notebook and she never came back; her dead body was later found in a sugarcane field. I can­not fathom what Nirmala Pant’s mother must have felt when she came to know that her little girl had been so brutally raped and killed. Doesn’t the bereaved mother deserve justice?

If yes, why haven’t the criminals been arrested yet? It would have been suicidal for the society to keep quiet on such heinous crimes and there have rightly been protests. Yet the state seems minded to brutally suppress people’s voices rather than act against the culprits. Five people were injured and 14-year-old Shani Khuna of Bhimdattanagar was killed when police opened fire at a demonstration in Kanchanpur.

Perhaps to quell the protests the police presented a mentally retarded man as the main cul­prit. This makes you question: Is the government trying to pro­tect the criminals? If not, what explains the leniency? With such weak law enforcement, no won­der men feel emboldened to rape and kill women. This vicious cycle will end only when the state is seen as harshly punishing the rapists and murderers.

There are many Nirmalas among us, urging us to take a deep look at the Nepali society and the kind of values that we are passing on to our children. Every Nepali woman at a point in her life must have faced some sort of sexual harassment. When I was in class three, I remember being sexually assaulted in a public vehi­cle in Kathmandu. An old man’s hand going up my skirt in that microvan still sends chills down my spine. At that time, my moth­er, sensing my discomfort, had asked me, “What is wrong?” to which I had answered “Nothing”. I was too young to even under­stand that what was happening to me was wrong.

Now that I am old enough to understand, my question is “Why?” and “Until when?” How long will our girls and women continue to be subjected to this kind of deeply demeaning acts? Enough blaming a piece of cloth or females roaming around freely! If molestation and rape depends on what we wear, how do you justify an 8-month-old baby’s rape and killing?

Even now, when I commute to work I get catcalled. In those moments, I want to stop and question that man if that short moment of “fun” made him feel stronger. Does it fuel his masculin­ity? I have already done so a few times. The men often deny they did anything wrong. One even started to cry when I told him that I will haul him to police.

When Nirmala went to get the notebook from her friend, it was not her fault that she went out alone. Sexual harassment can happen even in your own home. I believe it is important to strongly impart on our daugh­ters that they should not keep quiet if they face sexual harass­ment of any kind, anywhere, whether at home, school or work. Whoever is involved in sexual harassment must be apprehend­ed and punished; if not it just serves as a positive reinforcement for those who are thinking of it. Those convicted of rape must be punished in such a way that they cannot perform sexually after that. Minor sexual offences like catcalling should not go unpunished either.

Manisha Bidari, 19, has been contemplating if she should switch to menstrual cups from sanitary pads. But there are many things to consider before she makes the switch. First, a menstrual cup costs Rs 2,200. “Why are they so expensive?” she questions. Second, she does not know how to use and clean it. “Will it fit? I am scared if it will feel uncomfortable. Additional­ly, none of my family members use it,” she lays out her concerns. Despite being environment and user friendly, many are unaware about even the existence of men­strual cups. Others are confused where to get proper information. Right now the main users of this cup in Kathmandu seem to be teenagers and women in their early 20s (at least on the basis of our conversa­tions with its users). After talking to six women who use menstrual cups and a quick chat with Shristi Shakya, the executive assistant at Putali Nepal, a non-profit which distributes and spreads awareness about menstrual cups, we believe it is an investment worth making. Here is why.

Easy to use

According to Shakya, 21, who has herself been using menstru­al cups since 2014, it is “the best thing to use during your menstru­al cycle”. First, the users do not have to worry about stains. The cup, once inserted into the vagina, holds the blood inside. You then take the cup out, throw the collected blood, and clean it with warm water to use it again.

“I love traveling and trekking so when I am using a menstrual cup I don’t have to worry about changing pads frequently. A menstrual cup is both portable and comfortable.” Using a menstrual cup, you can go for a swim during your period. You can run and jump. “There is a lot of freedom,” she says.

Worth it

“I’d guessed the menstrual cups cost around Rs 600. When I found their real price, I was shocked. I was in a dilemma whether to buy it. However, it only took me a day to decide I wanted one for myself when I discovered its many bene­fits,” says Devashree Niraula, 23, an environmentalist.

But for someone who uses sani­tary pads for say Rs 100 a month, why should they make the initial investment of Rs 2,200 on a men­strual cup?

Shakya explains: “You may not be willing to part with Rs 2,200 initially but you have to consider that the cup can be used for ten years. If you spend Rs 100 a month on pads, you spend Rs 12,000 in ten years. A menstrual cup becomes a cost effec­tive product if you take a long view.”

Menstrual cups are not produced in Nepal and since they are import­ed, usually from India and Europe, the cost increases.

Putali Nepal has been importing and selling the cups from Europe since 2014. They currently sell 15-20 cups a month through their exclusive Kar.ma Coffee, Jham­sikhel outlet. “We hope increasing awareness will lead to higher sales,” Shakya says.

Use by young girls

Since menstrual cups have to be inserted into the vagina, many women are concerned that these may be difficult to use for young girls who are having their period for the first time. Additionally, as Nepali society still prizes virgin­ity, won’t using a menstrual cup destroy your virginity?

“One of the main reasons why menstrual cups have not been able to sell more in Nepal is the social taboos associated with them,” Shakya says. “There is a misconcep­tion that once you insert something into your vagina, you are no more a virgin. Yes, menstrual cup stretches your hymen but it does not have any other health issues.”

So can a girl as young as 13 use a menstrual cup for her first period? Shakya replies in the affirmative: “This is why menstrual cups come in two sizes: medium and small. So young girls can use the small ones.” Does the size affect how much blood it can hold? “No. Only the width of the two cups are different but both will hold an equal quantity of blood,” she clarifies.

Other benefits

There are other benefits of using menstrual cups as well. They are environmentally friendly. If you use a menstrual pad or a tampon, you have to toss them aside after use. But you can use the same menstrual cup for a decade.

Additionally, there are health benefits. Chances of infection are high if you use a pad or a tampon. But not for menstrual cups. Shakya informs that they are made of medical grade silicon and have no side effects.

Shreeya Sharma, 21, who started using menstrual cups only a month ago, also vouches for the benefits of menstrual cups. “There are risks of contracting a ‘toxic shock syn­drome’ if you use a tampon. There is a pungent smell when you use a pad. But menstrual cups have no such complications.” She admits that inserting and releasing the cup into your vagina may be uneasy for first-timers but it does not take long to get used to.

Around 91 percent of social media users in Nepal are on Facebook. YouTube comes second at 5.5 percent. But it is a niche ‘dating and hook-up app’ that is making new waves. Dating apps are relatively new to Nepal. But Tinder, the global dating app with over 100 million downloads, is fast gaining in popularity. In its essence, this is the new and trendy way to find people to date and/or have casu­al sex with. Right now most of its Nepali users are concentrated in Kathmandu and Pokhara.

It is a simple process. When you open the app, different profiles pop up. Swiping right on a profile means you are interested in that person. If that person likes you back, you can start chatting within the app. You filter people by select­ing preferred gender, age group and physical distance. Tinder allows 100 swipes in 12 hours. If you want to see more profiles, you have to pay a certain amount. But how common is it in Nepal? It is hard to get exact figures so APEX did the next best thing: conduct an informal survey.

We asked 100 Nepalis aged 20-32 if they used Tinder. Just 26 of them said they did. Yet there were also folks like Priya, a 24-year-old woman who works for an NGO, who wants to use the app but is scared of doing so lest “my relatives find out.”

According to its users, you real­ly do meet all kinds of people on Tinder: very young people to older folks in their 30s and 40s; foreigners looking for locals to hang out with while they are in Nepal; students as well as established businessmen; gays and lesbians; singles and those in relationships.

Just looking

Many are using it on the recom­menda­tion of their trusted friends or because they had heard of it and wanted to give it a try. “Once I was telling a friend that I am bored of my single life. She then recommended Tinder. I installed the app but still do not use it very often,” says Milipa Thapa, 24, who works in a project called Rural Access Program 3. She has been using Tinder for a year now.

Ayush Thapa, 22, who is a soft­ware engineer, has been using Tin­der for two years. “I saw an ad about Tinder online and wanted to try it,” he says. “I wanted to find a romantic partner but now I am just looking to make new friends.”

Indeed, according to a widely-cit­ed paper published in February 2017 (by Sumter et al.), while using Tinder people have all kinds of things on their mind: love, casual sex, ease of communication and thrill of excitement.

Ayush believes “people are using it more for hook-ups and one night stands rather than for friendship.”

Milipa says she only uses it when she is bored. “I like to swipe right and have a conversation online, but meeting people through Tinder has never been my intention,” she says. Many have asked her out but she has declined every time because “I hardly get to meet my own friends!”

Pranaya, 23, who works in an INGO-funded project, installed the app after being told about it by a foreigner on a flight last year. “Many feel you’re in Tinder because you are desperate for sex, which is absurd. For me Tinder is simply a dating app. It is not a matrimonial site or a site you go to when you want to get laid.”

Likewise, Jimi, 32, a musician by profession, installed Tinder two years ago hoping to find someone interesting. “It is like Facebook mes­senger to me. I don’t use it often. But I have already met three women through it,” he says.

Shallow and short-term

Although Pooja Khati, 24, a journalist, who has been using Tinder on and off, finds the app “shallow”, she has used Tinder in both South Korea and Nepal and met many people through it. So what was the difference between Tinder-use in South Korea and its use in Nepal? “The experience is similar. The common theme was that no man was ever interested in a long-term relationship.”

Some believe Tinder makes communication easier for those interested in each other. “Swip­ing right basically implies that you are attracted to that person so communication becomes smooth­er,” says Abishake Shakya, 22, who is also an engineer. He has been using Tinder for a month because his friends were also into it. “I found some women on Tinder, we then became friends and started chatting over Facebook or Insta­gram. But I have not physically met anyone solely based on my interac­tions over Tinder.”

When asked about its safety, Shakya says, “No social media or dating app is 100% safe. You just have to be careful.”

Shubham KC, a 21-year-old student, has also been using Tinder for a month. His suggestion: “You have to use your judgment before meeting people. Make sure they are who they say they are.” However, as you can link Tinder to your other social media accounts such as Facebook and Instagram, it is easier to test whether some pro­files are fake, KC adds.

So who should be using Tinder? KC, who has already met three wom­en via Tinder, says, “I would recom­mend Tinder to everyone. It does not matter if it is for a casual hook-up, long term relationship or just for informal chat.”

Autonomous creatures

According to Sociologist Pra­nab Kharel, Nepali society was not always so free. “Thirty years ago, you discovered your romantic partners through your families. But for those between 18 and 35 today, they have a lot of autonomy when it comes to choosing romantic part­ners,” he says.

Technology has also played an important part in this development, Kharel adds. “With the growth in the use of social media platforms like Facebook and Tinder, the trend of dating and making new ‘friends’ has also grown.”

All these conversations suggest that the use of Tinder in Nepal will keep growing. And not just for sex. It is also a good way to connect with people, to make new friends and to have some fun online. Just make sure that the intentions are clear on both the sides before you meet someone in person through Tinder.

(In some cases only first names have been used to protect privacy

There is a good chance that you, the reader, use Facebook. After all, according to online records, around 91 percent of social media users in Nepal are on Facebook. But do you also use Tinder, the glob­al ‘dating and hook-up’ app with over 100 million downloads? Of the 100 people between 20 and 32 that we surveyed, 26 said they were on Tinder. Yet there were also folks like Priya, a 24-year-old working woman who wants to use the app but is scared of doing so lest “my relatives find out.” One thing is for sure: Tinder is gaining in popularity in Nepal.

Sociologist Pranab Kharel sees this trend as a part of the evolution of the Nepali society over the past three decades. Compared to the past, the young people today have “a lot of autonomy when it comes to choosing romantic partners,” and technology makes it easier for them to do so. Today’s generation is more open too. Yet among those we interviewed for this article, men were much more forthcoming about their Tinder use.

Milipa Thapa, 24, says she started using Tinder when she got “bored of her single life”. Jimi, 32, a musician, uses it “just like Facebook messen­ger.” Likewise, Pooja Khati, 24, a journalist, who has been on Tinder on and off finds the app “shallow” yet continues to use it. Some believe Tinder makes communication easier for those interested in each other. “Swiping right [on Tinder] basically implies that you are attracted to that person so communication becomes smoother,” says Abishake Shakya, 22, an engineer. Shubham KC, 21, recommends Tinder for everyone: “It does not matter if it is for a casual hook-up, long term relationship or just for informal chat.”

Could there be a better reflection of a country that is rapidly changing on the back of new technology?

Full story Here on Sunday

There is a good chance that you, the reader, use Facebook. After all, according to online records, around 91 percent of social media users in Nepal are on Facebook. But do you also use Tinder, the glob­al ‘dating and hook-up’ app with over 100 million downloads? Of the 100 people between 20 and 32 that we surveyed, 26 said they were on Tinder. Yet there were also folks like Priya, a 24-year-old working woman who wants to use the app but is scared of doing so lest “my relatives find out.” One thing is for sure: Tinder is gaining in popularity in Nepal.

Sociologist Pranab Kharel sees this trend as a part of the evolution of the Nepali society over the past three decades. Compared to the past, the young people today have “a lot of autonomy when it comes to choosing romantic partners,” and technology makes it easier for them to do so. Today’s generation is more open too. Yet among those we interviewed for this article, men were much more forthcoming about their Tinder use.

Milipa Thapa, 24, says she started using Tinder when she got “bored of her single life”. Jimi, 32, a musician, uses it “just like Facebook messen­ger.” Likewise, Pooja Khati, 24, a journalist, who has been on Tinder on and off finds the app “shallow” yet continues to use it. Some believe Tinder makes communication easier for those interested in each other. “Swiping right [on Tinder] basically implies that you are attracted to that person so communication becomes smoother,” says Abishake Shakya, 22, an engineer. Shubham KC, 21, recommends Tinder for everyone: “It does not matter if it is for a casual hook-up, long term relationship or just for informal chat.”

Could there be a better reflection of a country that is rapidly changing on the back of new technology?

Full story Here

Many women fast during the Nepali month of Shrawan. While some do so only on Mondays, others fast throughout the month. It is generally believed that married women fast for the longevity of their husband’s life and unmarried women do so to get a good husband (like Lord Shiva). But the reasons for fasting are changing, as the number of women who fast for improved mental and physical health continues to grow.

Sushmita Mahat, 23, who has been fasting in Shrawan since she was 12 says, “When I was growing up, I saw my mother and grandmother fast. They said it was for their husband’s long life and for our family’s prosper­ity.” Mahat, who has been living in Australia for the past six years, still fasts on Mondays during Shrawan. “Personally I fast because it gives me a feeling of peace, and I feel spiritu­ally fulfilled.”

Nutritionist and lifestyle modi­fication expert Sonal Talegaonkar backs Mahat’s claim. “The aim is not to torture yourself but to detoxify your body and learn self-control,” she says. “If you follow a proper diet during your fast, you will feel satis­fied and emerge healthier.”

There are many women who fast to lose weight. However, for those who do so Talegaonkar warns about the post-Shrawan effects on the body. “While it is true that weight loss is quick when you fast, when your fast ends, you could regain all the weight you lost,” she warns. Therefore she advises a disciplined eating regime post-Shrawan as well.

On the other hand, many women are unaware of how fasting affects their health. Salu Singh, 24, shares, “I am not fasting during Shrawan because I am not religious. Addi­tionally, I am unaware of how fasting helps my body.” However, she is interested in understanding the sci­ence behind fasting. “I am sure that fasting during Shrawan is not just about religion.”

Nutritionist Talegaonkar lists oth­er health benefits of Shrawan fast­ing. Shrawan falls smack dab in the middle of monsoon. Rain brings with it many water-borne diseases like hepatitis, cholera and gastritis. “When you eat vegetarian food, you automatically have lesser chances of getting infected. Moreover, accord­ing to Ayurveda, the immunity pow­er in people is low during Shrawan. So it is wise to avoid oily, spicy and non-vegetarian food,” she says.

Some married working women cite their heavy work schedule as a reason for not being able to fast. “I am usually busy from morning till evening. Even though I want to fast, my schedule does not permit it,” says Lakshmi Raj Budhathoki, 26, who has been married for three years. However, the ways women fast vary. Some fast without eating or drinking anything, while others fast by consuming only fruits and drinking water. Talegaonkar also says that at the end of the fasting period opting for fruits and drinking a lot of water is better than binging on fried and starchy food.

If you are fasting, Talegaonkar suggests you consume buttermilk, low-fat curd, raita, fruits, green tea, dry fruits, salads and vegetables (especially high-water cucumber) as they all keep energy levels high while being easy on the calories. Light and healthy food like these ensure your metabolic rate doesn’t change drastically. While fasting, your diet schedule gets disturbed and you may develop constipation. Talegaonkar advises drinking at least 8-10 glasses of water every day. Her easy advice: keep it light and eat healthy right through the year.