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Mustang received this season's first snowfall.  

The District Administration Office stated that it started snowing from the morning at Korala checkpoint in Upper Mustang, Muktinath region and in Lomanthang Rural Municipality. 

Chief District Officer Bishnu Prasad Bhusal said rainfall accompanied by snowfall is taking place in Upper Mustang's Lomanthang-2 Chhosar, Korlanaka, and Muktinath areas, as well as in the highlands of Upper and Lower Mustang.  

Similarly, Rabin Subedi, an employee of the Muktinath Development Committee, said that it has snowed in the Muktinath area, adding continuous snowfall from early morning has caused problems for devotees visiting the temple.

According to Lopsang Chomphel Bista, Chairperson of Logheker Damodarkund Rural Municipality, snowfall is occurring in Logheker Damodarkunda and there has been partial snowfall near the settlement along with rain.

“This year it snowed in Kartik month. There was no snowfall here for the past two to three years. Snowfall is very beneficial for farmers as it significantly supports the crops they have sown,” said Chairman Bista.

Similarly, Ward Chairperson Pramesh Gurung said that heavy snowfall has occurred in high-altitude villages of Baragung, including Khinga, Jhong, Chhengur, and Phalyak. He mentioned that with the snowfall, the cold has increased significantly, affecting the daily life of the local people.

Meanwhile, the District Administration Office has requested people not to travel from Baragung Muktichhetra-4 Kagbeni to Muktinath.

It stated that there is a risk of road accidents due to heavy snowfall on that road, and pilgrims going to visit Muktinath Temple are being urged not to travel in such a situation.

He stated that due to thick snow accumulation on the roads at Kalobhir, Khinga, Jharkot and other places on the Kagbeni–Muktinath road section, travellers have been requested not to take vehicles.

Trek to Annapurna Base Camp halted

Likewise, a report from Myagdi stated that tourists visiting the tourism areas in Myagdi and Mustang have faced difficulties after the occurrence of snowfall accompanied by light rain.

Since last night, there has been light rain in the hilly areas of those districts and snowfall in the higher areas.

"There is snow accumulation on the roads and trails, making it impossible to operate vehicles or to walk. Tourists have not gone out of where they are staying due to the risk. We have also urged them not to go out," said Pramesh Gurung, the ward chairman.

Tej Gurung, a hotel entrepreneur at Humkhola, located at the entrance of the Maurice Herzog Trail leading to Annapurna Base Camp, stated that there has been no movement on the trail since early this morning. 

"While about 500 tourists used to come daily, only around 200 came on Monday," he said. "Due to rain and snowfall, today's trek has been postponed."

Lok Bahadur Pun, the ward chairman of Annapurna Rural Municipality-4, said that they managed and facilitated the travel of visitors until 12 midnight, stating tourists who reached Annapurna Base Camp via the Maurice Herzog Trail had been dropped off at Narchyang and Bhurung Tatopani. 

Dambar Bahadur Pun, a hotel owner in Ghodepani, informed that tourists had suspended their trekking due to bad weather and were waiting for favourable weather. 

This year's Chhath festival concluded today by offering Argha to the rising sun this morning. The four-day festival that began last Saturday was celebrated with main puja last evening and concluded today by offering Argha to the rising sun.

This festival concluded with much fanfare by offering curd (Argha) to the rising sun in the rivers and ponds across the country including the districts of Kathmandu.

Chhath was marked in a grand manner in the districts of Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha and Saptari in Mithila and others. The festival was celebrated with rituals on the banks of ponds, lakes and rivulets. The feature of the festival is to increase human being's interest in the truth and non-violence and encourage them to remain sympathetic to all living creatures.

The rising and setting suns are worshipped with devotion in the festival which is considered an attractive system of prayers to the Sun God.

There was a crowd of devotees and enthusiasts on the banks of ponds, rivers, rivulets and lakes in the festival. Chhath is a festival of goodwill, faith, and social harmony as people from all backgrounds come together in a common place to offer worship to the Sun God. It is widely believed that appeasing the Sun God brings happiness, prosperity, well-being, and longevity to family members.

The devotees observed fasting the whole day and performed puja for their ancestral deities to welcome the goddess of Sashti. Devotees consume fruits just one time on the second day of Chhath festival. There is a tradition of offering Argha to the setting sun and worshipping it in the evening by observing fast on Kartik Shukla Sasthi -- the main day of the festival.

On this day, devotees observe fasting and even do not drink water. There is a religious belief that no one will suffer from skin disease if Argha is offered by worshipping the sun ritually.

India and ASEAN nations strengthened their bond at the 22nd ASEAN-India Summit on Sunday in Kuala Lumpur. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted key areas for collaboration—counter—terrorism, early review of the ASEAN-India FTA, maritime security, among others.

The Prime Minister stated that terrorism poses a serious challenge to global peace and security and stressed the importance of unity in the fight against it, according to the Ministry of External Affairs press release.

PM Modi participated virtually in the Summit. The Prime Minister and ASEAN leaders jointly reviewed progress in ASEAN-India relations and discussed initiatives to strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This was the Prime Minister’s 12th participation in the India-ASEAN Summit.

Prime Minister Modi Emphasized that early review of the ASEAN-India FTA (AITIGA) can unleash the full economic potential of our relationship for the benefit of our peoples and further strengthen regional cooperation. (ANI)

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 2, 000 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 239, 900 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 241, 900 per tola on Sunday.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 35 and is being traded at Rs 2, 980 per tola.