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Winter is already in the air and it should send a chill up the government’s spine. Worryingly, it has not. As in previous winters, governments at the center, provinces and local levels are in deep slumber by monopolizing all the warmth that state powers give them even as the laity, particularly disadvantaged sections of the society in Nepal’s southern plains, remains ill-prepared as ever to deal with cold weather, cold wave in particular, that leaves behind a trail of deaths every year. 

Facing the most serious risk to their lives are the senior citizens, children and women from these sections. 

By the way, what do government authorities do to avert casualties resulting from harsh weather? 

Not much, if we are to forget about some isolated incidents of distribution of fuelwood and warm clothing, apart from the issuance of regular weather bulletins. 

This near-total indifference on the part of the government authorities is only bolstering a negative public perception about the polity. A growing perception is that there is no dearth of governments these days, that Singhadurbars have sprung up at every nook and cranny of the country but governance is sorely lacking. Indeed, these power centers located quite close to the doorsteps of the people seem least bothered about the plight of the people facing a cruel and grim winter with no food, warm clothing and shelter. As for the Singhadurbar located at the center, it is well beyond the reach of the commoner like an island of prosperity located in the middle of a sea of poverty.  

The right to life, right to food, right to shelter, right to education and the right to employment are some of the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution of Nepal 2015. But the state has not been able to protect these rights. When temperatures dip, daywagers cannot go to work and that means the absence of food on the table. A dipping mercury means cold nights and it can prove to be a killer for families without warm clothes and bedding materials. Cold weather also means a surge in instances of respiratory diseases like pneumonia and aggravated health conditions that can put the lives of senior citizens, women and children at most serious risk.    

Whenever temperatures dip, schools in the Tarai shut, robbing children of the right to education. Can our authorities not make arrangements for warmer classrooms to keep the classes going?     

Rather than isolated acts of ‘kindness’, government authorities should get their act together, identify citizens/families at risk and come to their rescue in a coordinated manner. After all, it is the duty of a state officially ‘geared toward socialism’ to save lives, isn’t it?  

The ancient city of Janakpur celebrated the bow-breaking ceremony as part of Vivah Panchami celebrations marking the marriage of Lord Ram with Goddess Sita (Janaki) on Dec 6 in the presence of a large number of devotees and pilgrims. 

On the day of Vivah Panchami, a special marriage procession from Ayodhya, the birthplace of Ram, also arrives in Janakpur, the birthplace of Janaki. 

On this occasion, let’s revisit the glorious past of this ancient city.

In ancient times (Treta Yug), an arena was prepared for the contest of the bow at Rangbhoomi, located close to the famous Janaki temple. The great poet Tulsi Das mentions about the grand preparations in his Ramayan thus: “The two brothers reached the eastern quarters of the city where the ground had been prepared for the contest. In the midst of a fair and spacious paved area, a spotless altar had been richly adorned.”

He goes further: “On all four sides of this altar were erected broad platforms of gold to be occupied by the princes. Not far behind and surrounding them on all sides shone another circular tiers of platforms of somewhat greater height and beautiful in every way, and where the citizens might come and sit. Close to these were constructed spacious and beautiful pavilions, glistening white and painted in different colours.”

Sita, a paragon of beauty, was wandering with her girl companions hither and thither in the royal garden. She used to pluck fresh flowers to worship Girija, her favourite goddess. After bathing in the lovely pond, she went with her friends to worship at Girija’s temple. She offered worship with deep devotion and asked the goddess for a handsome husband worthy of her. By chance, Ram and Lakshman were also visiting the royal garden as it was so famous and worth visiting. Ram saw beautiful Sita with his own eyes. He was overwhelmed to see her unparalleled beauty. Tulasi Das has described this marvelous meeting of the two in the following lines: “Hearing the tinkling of her bangles, the small bells on her girdle and the anklets, Ram thought within himself and then said to Lakshman, ‘sounds as though Cupid has sounded his kettle drum, ambitious to conquer the universe’.”

After getting a glimpse of Sita’s beauty, Ram drew the conclusion that she is no other than Janaki, the daughter of Janak for whom the contest of the bow was going to be held. The most famous Rajarshi was Shirdhwaj Janak, the father of Sita, also known by her family name (Janaki).

Tulasi Das has aptly and rightly described this fact in the following lovely lines: “Dear brother, this is no other than Janaki, to win whom the contest of the bow is being held. She has been escorted by her girl companions to worship Gauri and is moving about in the garden diffusing light all about her.”

There’s an interesting story about the birth of Sita. It goes something like this:   

A dreadful drought had occurred in the Kingdom of Mithila. King Janak himself tilled and sanctified the land in the capital of Mithila, Janakpur. He discovered a beautiful baby girl lying in a furrow. He brought the baby to his palace where she grew up into a beautiful princess. When she reached marriageable age, Janak held a great bow-breaking ceremony where one wishing to get married to his daughter had to bend the divine bow of Lord Shiv, gifted to him by the Lord himself. Princes and kings came to face the challenge from far and wide, but nobody could bend the tremendous and powerful bow. 

It so happened that Ram and his brother were in the vicinity of Janakpur with his Guru (teacher) Vishwamitra. They were also invited to that historical and celestial contest. With his Guru’s permission, Ram broke the bow into three pieces, with its breaking sounding like an earthquake. After breaking the bow, the lovely Sita put the wedding garland on Ram’s neck causing a universal applause with gods and goddesses showering flowers on them from high heavens. All men and women thronged to see this sacred and celestial meeting of eternal lovers.

A grand marriage ceremony was held where Ram’s three brothers Lakshman, Bharat and Shatrughan were also married to Urmila, Mandavi and Shrutikriti, respectively. 

Since then, this festival of celestial marriage has been performed throughout Nepal and India but the focal point of attraction is Janakpur, the birthplace of Janaki. Janakpur is considered a sacred place and thousands of devotees from different parts of Nepal and India visit the city every year to offer worship at the famous temples of Ram and Sita. Enthusiastically, they watch the ceremonial marriage procession, which starts from Ram Mandir, passes through Janaki Mandir and ends at the Rangbhoomi where a celestial bow-breaking ceremony is held. 

The idols of Ram and Sita are taken in procession to the site of revelry. To commemorate their marriage ceremony, the garlands of Ram and Sita are exchanged in the midst of thousands of people, who flock to watch the grand ceremony. 

Devotees perform Maithili marriage rituals in the Janaki temple at night with enthusiastic participation of sages, Brahmins and priests amid marriage folk songs and Mantra recitals in an ambience filled with music.

A big fair is also held at the Janaki temple with the participation of hundreds of hermits, sages and devotees. Local artists perform Ramlila at night and, at times, theater companies also come to entertain the crowd. Different stalls put in place for the occasion provide a wide range of goods, including essentials. As the Janaki temple is the center of attraction with all roads leading toward it, the temple is decorated to attract the visitors, including dignitaries, with the involvement of local authorities. The registered saints and sages get free food and lodging facilities during the fair. On the occasion, Janakpur becomes a meeting place for families and friends also, with every family catering to a good number of guests. 

The next day, the idol of Sita is carried to the Ram Mandir (temple) amidst great fanfare in a farewell ceremony marked by offering of precious things as dowry. The idols of Ram and Sita, dressed as the bridegroom and the bride, are placed in a beautifully-decorated palanquin on the back of a caparisoned elephant.

In the Mithila region, four men carry this palanquin amid a musical marriage procession marked by the presence of a significant number of men and women, and this procession is called Barat in Maithili. These days, apart from men and women, the procession also features elephants, horses and bullock carts. 

After several days of celebration, the festival of faith ends. 

Every year, this festival offers us glimpses of the Ramayan period. We remember Ram, an incarnation of the almighty and Sita, an incarnation of the goddess whom we worship with reverence. 

Beautiful, pious, honest, courteous and loyal to her husband Ram, Sita symbolizes ideal womanhood.  According to Devi Upanishad “Sita, the consort of Ram, is nature. She is the primordial power, the embodiment of divine splendor. She is the heaven attained through penance, the nature of the universe conscious and unconscious, that which knows and that which does not  know.”

Maithil women still have an undying faith in her chastity and follow her footsteps in every walk of life to make their lives ideal and happy. She is also the embodiment of duty. The Maithil women regard her as a dutiful daughter of Mithila because she sacrificed her whole life in the service of her husband, honestly and respectfully.  

Every year, Janakpur celebrates this festival with great fanfare. Time has come to develop this ancient city while retaining its past glory. 

Dec 5, 8 am

Tinkune

When I entered the tea shop at 7:15 am, a man in his fifties was sharing his thoughts on the recent local body by-elections. He said the candidate of the Nepali Congress (NC), Devendra Pathak, lost in Kathmandu-16, despite campaigning by top party leaders like Gagan Kumar Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma. Candidate of Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Rojina Shrestha, was elected from Kathmandu-16. The man, however, was delighted about NC’s victory in Kirtipur Municipality.

In one corner of the tea shop, a man, who happened to be a former government undersecretary, seemed impatient at the conversation that painted NC in a favorable light. Turning to me, he said, “Election results don’t reflect a party’s national popularity. Local factions and dynamics play a significant role in shaping outcomes.”

The first gentleman was continuing this time about the Maoist Center’s historical dominance in Kirtipur since the insurgency era. “Many Maoist leaders sought refuge there,” he explained, emphasizing how caste and community ties continue to shape voting patterns.

The focus then shifted to RSP, with one participant arguing that its urban popularity endures. “Urban voters are less ideological,” he said. “They’re disillusioned with NC and UML. This dissatisfaction dates back to the Panchayat era and has lingered.”

The NC sympathizer acknowledged internal challenges, especially in candidate selection. “If the party selects the right candidates, it could become the largest political force in the next election,” he asserted. After some thought, he backed away from his statement, and suggested that UML’s robust grassroots organization could secure it the top spot instead.

Someone asked about voter turnout, estimated at around 60 percent. The group attributed the decline to three factors: frustration with political stagnation, the exodus of youth abroad, and apathy among younger voters, many of whom haven’t registered. I shared a related insight from my college class earlier in the week: out of 25 students, only four were registered voters, and just one had cast a ballot in the last election. A participant grimly predicted even lower turnout in 2027 as more youth leave the country.

The discussion broadened to Nepal’s leadership crisis. “Our leaders don’t read,” one participant lamented. “They lack vision and fail to devise meaningful reforms.” Another added, “Politicians surround themselves with opportunistic cadres, not experts who can offer genuine solutions.”

Corruption was another hot topic. “Chaos and corruption are rampant,” someone said. “Accountability is non-existent. Those involved must face penalties.”

As the debate on NC and UML continued, a man who worked for a government ministry weighed in with his argument. He said business people and contractors were taking over the NC, sidelining honest and intellectual individuals. “Look at the lawmakers from districts around the Kathmandu Valley—Kavre, Sindhupalchok, Dhading, most of them are contractors consolidating their influence,” he said. “We can’t expect anything positive from such leaders.”

The first gentleman who had been steering much of the earlier discussion tried to shift gears. “Politics aside, I focus on my health,” he said, his voice tinged with pride. While he didn’t disclose his age, he hinted at his good health compared to his peers. “Take care of your body. Avoid diabetes, hypertension, and aim for 80 years. Every Nepali should strive for a healthy life,” he advised.

His effort went in vain, as the conversation led to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s recent China visit and the murky agreements on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). A participant raised concerns over the term “aid financing,” questioning whether it referred to a loan or a grant. A man reading a newspaper cited former Finance Secretary Rameshwar Khanal, who described it as a concessional loan. Another voice interjected, claiming it was merely political jargon meant to confuse the public.

As I left the tea shop, I was pondering the complexity of our socio-political landscape.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s first official visit to China on Dec 2-5 after assuming office in July has garnered significant attention both domestically and internationally. Central to discussions following the visit is China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), which overshadowed other bilateral issues.

A key outcome of Oli’s visit was the signing of a Framework for Belt and Road Cooperation, marking progress in Nepal’s engagement with the BRI. For the first time, 10 specific projects under the BRI were identified. These projects are divided into two categories: long-term ventures like cross-border railways and tunnel projects, which require significant investment and time, and smaller, less capital-intensive initiatives.

To finance these projects, Nepal and China agreed on an “aid financing modality,” widely interpreted by economists as concessional loans. However, details of the agreement remain undisclosed, leaving even ruling parties unclear about the specifics. Prime Minister Oli has stated that Nepal will accept grants, not loans, under the BRI framework. Upon his return, he assured: “During negotiations, the issue of loans did not arise. Implementing specific projects may require separate discussions.”

The agreement represents a breakthrough in the ongoing narrative that BRI had stagnated in Nepal since the first framework agreement in 2017. Critics had attributed the delay to geopolitical factors, including external pressures. Following Nepal's endorsement of the US-backed Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) in 2022, China had been eager to advance the BRI, questioning why Nepal accepted the MCC but hesitated on the BRI. The new agreement allows China to showcase progress, countering claims of inactivity.

For Oli, the deal offers a political advantage. He faced pressure from within his party, particularly senior leaders like former President Bidya Devi Bhandari, to demonstrate progress on the BRI. The agreement has been welcomed by many leaders in Oli’s party, CPN-UML, and is likely to gain support from the CPN (Maoist Center) as well, though its Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal may downplay the achievement.

The timing of the agreement is notable. In 2023, an implementation plan was nearly finalized under Dahal’s premiership, but he deferred the matter during his visit to China. Fringe communist parties, ideologically aligned with Beijing, have also expressed support for the deal. Notably, Oli’s previous tenure in 2016 saw the historic signing of the Transit and Transport Agreement with China to diversify Nepal’s trade and transit options, cementing his reputation as a leader seeking stronger ties with Beijing.

Foreign policy analysts argue that endorsing the BRI after the MCC helps Nepal maintain geopolitical balance. Internally, the deal has helped avert potential friction between the Nepali Congress (NC) and UML. Oli managed to secure Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba’s backing, unlike Dahal, who failed to involve Narayan Kaji Shrestha from his party during earlier BRI discussions.

However, critics describe the agreement as more symbolic than substantive. The NC, a key coalition partner in the Oli-led government, has expressed concerns over its alignment with prior consensus. Former Foreign Minister NP Saud noted that the agreement contradicts the party’s stance to accept only grants under the BRI. He warned that this issue could escalate within the party. Similarly, NC leader Nain Singh Mahar stated that the deal diverges from the party’s position. The government is now under pressure to disclose the agreement's details to address these concerns.

Soon after his return, Oli met with a task force formed to build consensus between the NC and UML on the deal. The meeting aimed to preemptively address dissatisfaction within the coalition, as some NC leaders opposed to the BRI may leverage the issue politically.

Beyond the BRI, Oli’s visit emphasized implementing past agreements rather than signing new ones, aligning with long-standing Chinese priorities. While some expected Prime Minister Oli to negotiate a loan waiver for the Pokhara International Airport, he clarified that no such discussions occurred. Nine agreements were signed during the visit, accompanied by a joint press statement.

Chinese media highlighted the significance of Oli choosing China for his first bilateral visit. Hu Zhiyong, a researcher at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, observed that this choice signals Nepal’s prioritization of ties with China. Qian Feng, from Tsinghua University’s National Strategy Institute, emphasized Nepal’s strategic importance in maintaining stability in Tibet and its growing role in BRI partnerships. Hu added that South Asian countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and the Maldives have benefited from BRI projects, and Nepal, too, seeks a share of this “big cake for cooperation.”