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The construction of the Chilime-Trishuli 220 kV transmission line has been completed.

This transmission line is crucial for delivering power from ongoing and future hydropower projects along the Trishuli River and its tributaries to the national grid.

The 28-kilometer line extends from the Chilime Hub Sub-Station in Ama Chhodingbo Rural Municipality, Rasuwa district, to the Trishuli III B Hub Station in Kispang Rural Municipality, Nuwakot district.

Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) Managing Director Kul Man Ghising noted that the transmission line was completed thanks to the efforts of employees and contractors, who continued working even during the Dashain and Tihar holidays.

He added that the infrastructure is ready to transmit electricity from the 111-megawatt Rasuwagadhi and 42.5-megawatt Sanjen projects, along with other projects under construction or in planning stages in Rasuwa. Both the Rasuwagadhi and Sanjen hydropower projects are nearing production.

The estimated cost of the Chilime-Trishuli project is $3.62bn, funded by the NEA, a grant from the German Development Bank (KfW), and a concessional loan from the European Investment Bank.

A contract was signed with a Chinese construction company in Kartik 2017 for the construction of the transmission line and the sub-station.

Nepal is fighting a surge in dengue cases, a potentially deadly disease once unheard of in the country's high-altitude Himalayan regions, as climate change and urbanisation nurture fever-bringing mosquitoes in new zones.

Only a single case of dengue was recorded in Nepal in 2004. Two decades later, thousands of cases are being reported across the country.

Once confined to tropical regions in the country's plains, dengue-carrying mosquitoes have begun breeding in the valleys and even cool mountainous areas, reaching elevations where its bite was once unknown.

Twelve people have died and more than 28,000 people have been infected this year, including 18 cases in Solukhumbu district, home to Mount Everest.

Doctors say the real number might be higher, as not everyone is tested.

"It should not be seen here at all," Suman Tiwari, district health chief for Solukhumbu, which sits at an altitude of some 2,500 metres (8,202 feet).

"What is surprising is that some people with no travel history have also tested positive for dengue".

In the worst cases, dengue causes intense viral fevers that trigger bleeding, internally or from the mouth and nose.

The capital Kathmandu, at an elevation of approximately 1,400 metres (4,600 feet), has seen over 4,000 cases.

"Unfortunately, it is expanding itself geographically," said Sher Bahadur Pun, a doctor at Kathmandu's Sukraraj Tropical and Infectious Disease Hospital.

"Once upon a time, it was just seen in a certain area, but it is moving up towards mountainous regions, even up to the Himalayan foothills."

In some districts, hospitals have been overwhelmed with dengue patients suffering from crippling fevers, body aches and rashes.

"In the last decade, it has grown exponentially," Pun said.

"After every outbreak, the number of infected people has increased... and my experience is that after every outbreak, it has become more deadly."

In October, the UN health agency said the number of reported dengue cases worldwide has approximately doubled each year since 2021, with over 12.3 million cases, including more than 7,900 deaths, reported in just the first eight months of 2024.

WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the global spread an "alarming trend".

Experts say changes in temperature and rainfall patterns driven by climate change and urbanisation are creating favourable conditions for Aedes aegypti, the mosquito responsible for transmitting dengue.

That means it can survive and breed at higher elevations.

Narayan Gyawali, a virologist who specialises in zoonotic diseases, said that urbanisation and increased mobility of people were also driving the dengue surge.

"When microclimates are established with urbanisation in new areas, internal temperatures become warm and there is humidity," Gyawali said.

"A favourable environment is created for breeding and survival."

This is the third consecutive year that Nepal has seen a dengue outbreak -- an apparent shift from cyclical patterns where outbreaks are expected every two to three years.

The country's worst outbreak was in 2022, with 88 deaths and nearly 55,000 cases, according to government figures.

Last year, 20 people died, with more than 50,000 cases.

"Dengue used to be reported in a cyclical trend, but in the last few years, it has been seen every year," said Gokarna Dahal of the Health Ministry's Epidemiology and Disease Control Division.

"Our preparation now is to fight with it every year".

Dahal said it was an "injustice" that a developing country like Nepal -- which makes a minimal contribution towards the burning of fossil fuels driving the planet's warming -- should shoulder greater impacts of climate change.

Meenakshi Ganguly, from Human Rights Watch, said that while the primary responsibility to protect its public's health lies with Nepal, countries most responsible for global emissions also have an obligation.

"Those countries which are primarily responsible for global emissions need to do a lot more to protect people in countries like Nepal from the consequences of global warming," Ganguly said.

"Combatting mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, which are spreading fast to new areas, needs to be part of that." AFP

Chhath is a unique Hindu Vedic festival being observed in India and Nepal since ancient times. Dedicated to the Sun God and his wife Usha, also known as Chhathi Maiya, Chhath is celebrated over four days.  During the festival, devotees observe rigorous fasting and offer prayers to the setting and rising sun. It is believed that being close to water connects devotees with the divine, and the benevolent Sun God blesses their families.

Chhath Puja is among the most widely celebrated festivals in Nepal. It typically begins six days after Deepawali, the festival of lights. The word "Chhath" means six. In ancient Prakrit, "Chhath" translates into sixth, reflecting that this festival is celebrated twice a year on the sixth lunar day of the Chaitra and Kartik months of the Hindu calendar.

The Rituals

In general, it is believed that Chhath Puja begins with Nahay Khay, but this is only partially true. The Puja actually commences with “Machh-Maruwa Barnai” — a vow taken a day before Nahay Khay to refrain from consuming onion, garlic, and non-vegetarian foods. On this day, devotees bathe, offer prayers to the Sun God, and then eat food prepared in their own kitchens, as consuming food bought from hotels or markets is considered unholy.

Kharna is observed on the second day. Devotees fast until the evening, when the Kharna rituals are completed. Kheer (a rice and milk pudding sweetened with jaggery) and puri are offered to the deity and shared among family members after sunset. Throughout the Chhath festival, the offerings are traditionally prepared on an earthen stove, or chulha, using mango wood whenever possible.

Evening and Morning Offerings

The third day is known as Sandhya Arghya (evening offering), also called Pahila Arghya (the first offering). This is considered the most challenging day for devotees, most of whom are women. They observe a strict fast, abstaining from both food and water. 

In the evening, devotees take ritualistic dips in neighborhood ponds or rivers which continue until sunset. They offer prayers to the Sun God with fruits and prasad prepared in their own but separate kitchen. These offerings include items like Thakuwa, Bhuswa, Khaja and Mithae, and fruits such as oro blanco grapefruit, sugarcane and bananas.

On Usha Arghya (the morning offering) on the fourth day, devotees break their fast after offering prayers to the rising Sun. They take dip in the water and present all the prasad to the Sun God once again.

An intriguing aspect of Chhath Puja is the dual worship of Usha and Pratyusha, who are both considered consorts of Surya, the Sun God. Usha, symbolizing the first ray of the morning sun, plays a key role in the concluding rituals, while Pratyusha, representing the last ray of the day, is revered during the evening. This dual worship is believed to symbolize the transformative power of the solar cycle and the cyclical nature of life.

Festival of Equality and Cleanliness   

Primarily observed by women, this festival requires neither male priests nor the recitation of mantras to perform the Puja. It is open to all, regardless of gender, caste, or economic status, with nearly identical offerings for everyone. Emphasizing the cleanliness of riverbanks, ponds, and water bodies, the festival fosters equality and fraternity among devotees. In essence, it celebrates cleanliness, equality, and community spirit.

Dedication  

Chhath is a devout offering for the well-being of family members, highlighting the sacrifices that women make for the longevity of their husbands and the prosperity of their families. The festival embodies ancient traditions passed down through generations. Its rituals stress purity and discipline, bringing families together to perform ceremonies that strengthen unity and community spirit. Beyond its religious significance as an expression of gratitude to the Sun God for sustaining life, Chhath promotes values of prosperity, health and longevity for families.

Social Harmony   

The festival transcends religious boundaries and unites people across caste, creed and social status, fostering harmony and mutual respect. Rituals emphasize environmental conservation, such as bathing in natural water bodies at sunrise and sunset, symbolizing purification of the body and soul and underscoring the importance of ecological balance.

More than just a festival, Chhath is a testament to cultural heritage, religious devotion and social cohesion. It promotes values of discipline, devotion, and environmental stewardship, while celebrating a shared heritage that binds communities. Chhath remains deeply significant, symbolizing reverence for nature and gratitude to the life-sustaining Sun God, Surya, making it an integral part of cultural tapestry in Nepal and India.

Lessons to Learn   

The festival advocates an eco-friendly approach, reflected in devotees’ efforts in prepare the Ghats and maintaining the cleanliness of water, soil and a pollution-free atmosphere. 

Chhath promotes equality, fraternity and social harmony. Meanwhile, the rigorous fast of more than 36 hours undertaken by women devotees reflects their deep familial devotion, prioritizing the well-being of their loved ones.

If we succeed in maintaining a pollution-free environment, a society free from violence against women, and an equal society without discrimination, only then can we truly honor the messages of the Chhath festival.

Jivesh Jha is the author of Beneath the Sun: Equality for everyone, The Spirit of Chhath Festival (2024)   

President Ramchandra Paudel received the Tihar 'tika' from his sisters Sharada Pandit and Chanda Ojha at the auspicious hour of 11.37 am at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Shital Niwas, on the occasion of Bhaitika festival today.

On the occasion, the President's sisters put the ceremonial 'tika' on the forehead of the President and presented to him gifts including walnut and groundnut. Similarly, the President put 'tika' on the forehead of his sisters and offered them with money, as per the time-honoured tradition.

The ceremonial 'tika' comprises of blob of seven colours marked on a vertical thick line of white paste of rice flour on the forehead.

The Nepal Calendar Determination Committee had fixed 11.37 am today as the most auspicious time for the Bhaitika rituals.

However, the Committee has stated that the rituals can be conducted throughout the day today.

There is a custom of the sisters putting 'tika' on the foreheads of their brothers and vice-versa on Bhai Tika, the last and main day of the five-day-long Yamapanchak or the Tihar festival, the second biggest festival of Nepal.