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The number of dengue infection cases has crossed 2,000 in Chitwan, the District Health Office Chitwan said. The Office stated that dengue has been confirmed in 2,164 persons till October 27 so far in the current fiscal year. Dengue tests were conducted on 8,853 samples during this period and 2,164 of these samples were tested dengue positive. The Health Office said that 1,451 among these cases are from Chitwan district and the remaining is from other districts. Among the 1,451 cases, 822 are male and 629 are female. It is stated that 454 dengue patients are from outside districts while the name and address of 259 of them is not ascertained. Three people have died from dengue in Chitwan district during this period, the District Health Office said. The highest number of cases has been found in Bharatpur Metropolitan City among the seven local levels in the district. Dengue has been confirmed in 978 persons, including 559 male and 419 female, in Bharatpur. Similarly, dengue has been found in 124 persons in Khairahani Municipality, in 28 persons in Madi, in 197 persons in Ratnanagar, in 79 persons in Rapti and in 37 persons in Kalika Municipalities and in eight persons in Icchakamana Rural Municipality.

The Palpali Dhaka fabric has become the choice of both domestic and foreign visitors to Palpa with product diversification in response to the desire of the consumers. Apparels and articles made out of the Palpali Dhaka textile are sold in higher number as gifts and souvenir. The production of the Dhaka fabric was started from a single handloom in Tansen in 2015 BS. Its demand is increasing over the years following the product diversification. “Before, Palpali Dhaka was understood only the Nepali caps, made of the Dhaka fabric, which were worn only by the males. Nowadays, different kinds of clothes for male, female and children are made out of this fabric,” said Gyanu Karki, who has been trading in Palpali Dhaka fabric in Tansen. Karki added that a variety of apparels can be made for people of all ages from the head to the feet. The sale of Palpali Dhaka cloth has suddenly shot up during the Tihar festival. Its business had slumped due to the COVID-19 infection for two years. The sale of Palpali Dhaka fabric has seen a rise this year, especially during the Tihar festival period, with decline in COVID-19 infection. There is a tradition of sisters gifting various goods and clothes made from Dhaka fabric to their brothers on the day of Bhaitika, the last day of the five-day Tihar festival, the second biggest festival of Nepal. So the sale of items made of Dhaka fabric has increased during the Tihar time as compared to other times. People in large numbers can be seen at Tansen, Rampur and other main markets in the district buying the Dhaka topi (cap), waist-coat, tie and bag for brothers and the Dhaka shawl, saree, kurta-suruwal and bags for sisters to be given as present for Bhaitika. The price of a unit of Nepali Dhaka topi cap is in the range of Rs 100 to Rs 2,500. Twenty-four industries manufacturing the Dhaka fabric have been registered in Palpa district, the Cottage and Small Industries Office, Palpa said. More than 5,000 people are employed in these industries. Pramila Karki, who has been involved in the Palpali Dhaka fabric business in Tansen, said that the a single cloth store’s sales of the Dhaka fabric is between Rs. 100 thousand and Rs 500 thousand in the period between Dashain and Tihar. Dhaka fabric transaction in Palpa was worth Rs 100 million last year and it is expected to reach Rs 120 million this year.

Domestic and foreign tourists have started arriving in Kanchenjunga region, the home to the third highest peak in the world. As a result, tourism entrepreneurs are excited with the arrival of tourists in the Kanchenjunga area, which has been deserted for a long time. Tourism business is the main source of income for the communities in the high mountain settlements such as Kapla, Phale, Ghunsa, Khabajen and Lonak in Phattanglung Rural Municipality-6 of Taplejung. Hotel owner Pema Sherpa had thought of changing his profession after tourism arrivals came down to zero due to COVID-19. But his thoughts have now changed with signs of revival of tourism in the area. According to the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area Management Council, 52 hotels are operating on the trekking route leading to the base camp of Kanchenjunga mountain. Program assistant coordinator at the Council office, Jiten Chemjong, said that four hotels built with an investment of more than 10 million rupees are operating at an altitude of 3,500 meters to 4,500 meters above sea level. The hotels which had been closed for a long time due to Corona Virus pandemic, is now full of guests. Two paths have been used to reach the base camp of Mt Kanchenjunga. Tourists reach the base camp of Kanchenjunga through Sirijunga Rural Municipality of Taplejung. Tourism assistant at Management Council's Yamphudin office, Suryaman Rai said along with foreign tourists, domestic tourists are also arriving to see the Mt Kanchenjunga region through the South Route. In the financial year 2078/79, 359 tourists had entered the Kanchenjunga conservation area of Taplejung. Chief Conservation Officer Ramesh Kumar Yadav said that 222 foreigners, 63 from SAARC countries and 74 domestic tourists have entered the conservation area to observe the natural, religious, historical and tourist areas. In the previous year 2077/78, only 63 tourists arrived.

The rising market inflation has hit hard the consumers in the mountainous districts of Karnali Province. Price of essential commodities of daily use has skyrocketed after the roads in the district had been disrupted by floods and landslides triggered by incessant rains during the first week of this month. Traffic on the Karnali Highway resumed last Tuesday, 20 days after being disrupted. Although the highway has been opened for traffic, not all vehicles can travel easily due to the poor and risky condition of the road at several places along the highway. As a result, the supply of essential consumer goods has still not become smooth. The traders have retained the price of commodities which they had arbitrarily increased citing the disruption of the highway. The consumers have been hit hard by the exorbitant price hike. Wheat flour which cost Rs 70 per kg before the disruption of the highway now costs Rs 160 per kg and it is in short supply. "The market price of essential commodities has shot up beyond the reach of the ordinary consumers. The price of cooking gas has reached Rs 3,000 per cylinder while that of cooking oil has hit Rs. 160 per liter packet," rued Samjhana Mahat of Chandannath Municipality-7, Jumla. She said on top of the high inflation, there is shortage of commodities in the market. According to her, the price of essentials has increased by almost three-folds. The marigold flower garland which cost Rs 50 before has now reached Rs. 150 per unit. Mutton price which was Rs. 1000 per kilo has reached Rs 1,300 per kilo and one cannot get chicken in the market. Jaya Shankar Dhital, a consumer, charged the traders of creating an artificial shortage in the market to increase the price in the pretext of highway disruption. Similarly, the local transport operators have increased the transport fare by 20 to 25 percent citing shortage of fuel. The price of vegetables has also shot up two times. The consumers in Humla, Dolpa, Mugu, Jumla and Kalikot districts of the Karnali province have been adversely affected by the high inflation.

The Election Commission has determined specific criteria to be followed by political parties, election candidates and sister organizations of political parties for publicizing advertisements in the media to canvass votes for upcoming House of Representatives and Province Assembly elections. According to Clause 15 of the Election Code of Conduct, 2079 BS issued by the Election Commission, the political parties can disseminate their election advertisements maximum up to four times in 24 hours at least at an interval of one hour through the privately-owned television, radio or FM radio. Similarly, the political parties can publicize their election-related publicity materials for maximum up to one minute at one time. According to the Commission, the political parties while making publicity through the private sector-run newspapers can publish their advertisements of maximum size of 7 by 7 inches each day in one newspaper only. The candidate towards the first-past-the-post (FPTP) system of election for the Province Assembly can publicize the election-related advertisements maximum for three times in 24 hours at an interval of at least an hour, and they can do so for maximum one minute for one time. Likewise, the candidate contesting the election for the member of the House of Representatives (HoR) can publicize the election-related advertisement maximum for four times in 24 hours and up to maximum one minute at one time. The Commission has made provision in the Election Code of Conduct prohibiting publicizing and publishing election-related publicity materials in the foreign media.

Vice President Nanda Bahadur Pun has said that the diversity of faith and cultures have made the national unity stronger. The Vice President made this observation in a message of best wishes he gave on the occasion of Tihar Festival-2079BS and the Nepal Sambat New Year 1143. He wished that the various festivals provide the energy to forge unity ahead for building a prosperous Nepal. Stating that a secular nation Nepal which is full of multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic, multi-religious, multi-cultural and geographical diversity is very rich in terms of culture and customs as well, Vice President Pun expressed the belief that the festival of Tihar and Nepal's unique calendar, the Nepal Sambat, contribute towards further consolidating the national unity by enhancing mutual goodwill, tolerance, brotherhood and unity among the Nepalis. He has also expressed best wishes for happiness, peace, prosperity, good health and continued progress to all Nepali sisters and brothers within the country and abroad, as well as for the nation's prosperity on these occasions.  

Two persons were electrocuted in Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City in Dhanusha district on Monday. The deceased have been identified as Amit Mishra and (19) of Basbitti in Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City-22 and Shiva Raj Yadav (14) of Janakpurdham Sub-Metropolitan City-9, according to the District Police Office, Dhanusha. The incident occurred while fixing the power supply for the Tihar celebration. Mishra and Yadav breathed their last during the course of treatment at the Provincial Hospital in Janakpurdham, Deputy Superintendent of Police Pradip Bahadur Chhetri said.

Mha Puja — worship of oneself — is also celebrated today by the Newar community across the country. The Newar community marks the Nepal Sambat, New Year, in the morning and Mha Puja in the evening. Mha Puja falls on the Newari New Year based on the Newari calendar, Nepal Sambat. Main priest of Taleju temple Siddhibir Karmacharya said that Mha Puja should be observed today itself as per the tradition there are some confusions for the celebration in Bhaktapur. Mha Pula literally means self-worship. People of Newar community mark this on the fourth night of Tihar, Kartik Shukla Pratipada, by worshiping self with a hope that light of knowledge shall spread after the destruction of ignorance. On this day, Newars prepare sweet dishes at homes and mandalas (sacred diagram as symbol of their soul) are drawn on the floor and worshiped. Family members sit in front of the mandalas and the lady of the house presents each of them with a burning wick, sacred thread Jajanka and fruits symbolizing long life and good fortune. Historian Prof Dr Purushottam Lochan Shrestha said Mha Puja is the symbol of knowledge to know self and spread knowledge in the world. According to him, Mha Puja is an ancient festival of the Newar community, which is also a symbol of prosperity. However, culture expert Om Dhaubhadel said that there is no evidence to confirm when exactly this festival was started but added that the Newar community is observing this festival since the Lichchhivi era.