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Sabin Karki, also known as Sabin Beest, is famous for his love for dance and artistic expression. His journey has been shaped by his passion for movement, creativity, and a deep desire to inspire. A dancer, choreographer, and filmmaker, Karki has paved his own path in the entertainment industry, constantly breaking barriers and pushing boundaries. His story is not just about mastering the art of dance but about embracing challenges, defying expectations, and ultimately finding success on his own terms.

Karki’s interest in dance began at an early age, when he was introduced to it through a school program. A group of students were participating in a dance event at their school. Karki, at the time, was not particularly skilled in dancing. When he took to the stage, his performance was less than graceful, and Karki felt humiliated. But it made him want to improve. When another opportunity came his way, he gave it his all. Karki was recognized as one of the best dancers in his school. This marked the beginning of his transformation. 

He was clear that he didn’t want a traditional nine to five job. “The thought was a nightmare,” he says. The idea of working in a conventional office setting didn’t appeal to him. Instead, he wanted to explore the creative side of life and forge a career that allowed him to do what he loved. Karki started by creating cover videos, which allowed him to practice and showcase his talent. 

However, the turning point came when he received his first significant offer, a chance to choreograph a song for the ‘Fantastic Wonderful’ song. Although the project didn’t work out as he had hoped, the opportunity helped him gain visibility and opened doors for future ventures.

‘Viral Vaidiyo’, a renowned figure in Nepal’s music and dance scene, approached Karki after parting ways with The Cartoonz Crew. This collaboration signaled the next phase of his career, where he began to solidify his place in the dance industry. 

Karki sees dance as a form of expression that goes beyond physical movement—it has become a way of storytelling and connecting with others. He acknowledges the multiple roles he takes on in his work. In solo performances, he focuses on his personal practice, perfecting his craft independently.  

However, when working in a group, coordination becomes crucial as each member brings his/her own challenges to the table. One of the most difficult aspects of his work is the pre-production phase, where the story for the performance must be created, and he must figure out how to direct the group effectively. 

The dynamic of group dancing adds complexity, as he must not only ensure that the overall performance looks cohesive but also consider how to make the dance movements appear visually appealing. “While dancing in a group requires careful synchronization, directing involves a deeper level of thought about how to best frame and present the dance for maximum impact,” he says. 

He has also developed a keen interest in filmmaking. This passion was fostered during the early days of the internet, when he became an ‘internet freak’ who constantly sought knowledge about technology and the digital world. Karki’s interest in technology and video creation led him to start his own production page, Beest Production.

Beest Production began as a simple project where he and his crew created videos and choreographies. Over time, however, it grew into a fully-fledged creative platform where he could explore his passion for both dance and filmmaking. The process of creating and directing music videos became a natural extension of his dance career, and Karki found himself merging his love for storytelling with his ability to choreograph. 

For Karki, dance is more than just movement—it’s a form of communication. When creating music videos, storytelling is essential. While dance is the primary focus of the videos, he emphasizes the importance of weaving a narrative that resonates with the audience. “In a music video, there is a big importance of dance,” he says, “but the story also plays a crucial role.” This combination of dance and storytelling is what sets Karki’s work apart from others in the industry.

Karki also notes the importance of competition in the dance scene. He believes there should be more opportunities for dancers to compete and showcase their talents, as well as greater involvement from sponsors and corporate houses to support the industry. However, he acknowledges that the current state of the dance scene in Nepal is much better than before. He recalls a time when girls were not allowed to dance, and if they did, they were often labeled as ‘bar dancers.’ “We have also changed the perception of dancing,” he says.

His recently released music video Bhavya Rap was created with the intention of spreading good energy rather than delivering a deep, meaningful message. He says, “The lyrics were designed to focus on rhymes and rhythm, with no specific meaning behind them.”  However, he notes that many listeners began to search for deeper meaning in the rap, which was not the original purpose. 

He emphasizes that not every piece of music or art needs to have a profound meaning. Sometimes, the good vibes and positive energy that come from the music are just as valuable, and they can resonate with listeners in a way that transcends deeper interpretations.  

Moving forward, Karki continues to be driven by his love for dance, filmmaking, and creativity. He emphasizes the importance of building one’s own genre and staying true to one’s passion. “Pride and ego are harmful,” he says. “Focus on your craft and dance your own way.” 

As he works on upcoming projects, including a new music video that will be released in the next two months, he is not only focused on his own success but also on inspiring the next generation of dancers and creators in Nepal.

What started as a simple desire to improve his dance moves has now blossomed into a successful career in dance and filmmaking, and his story continues to inspire countless individuals who dare to dream big and work hard to make those dreams a reality.

Emma lives with her husband Leo and their daughter Ruby. She loves them and she’s happy. But everything her family knows about her is a lie. Even her name is fake. She can never tell them about her past. She knows she will lose them if she does as Leo won’t be able to deal with the betrayal, not after being betrayed by his parents. He’s never forgiven them for it.

But Leo is an obituary writer and Emma is a well-known marine biologist. When she is diagnosed with cancer, Leo tries to cope with it by reading and writing about her life. His editor also asks him to write a stock for Emma: Most papers write obituaries for famous people well in advance, and especially so if they are suffering from any illness. Leo agrees because he’s already started working on one and also because he thinks no one knows her like he does.

However, he stumbles upon some papers that don’t match with what she’s told him and it opens a can of worms. Leo starts questioning what he’s been told and Emma’s past and starts asking around as well. Soon, he finds out things that he doesn’t know about her, realizing that the woman he loves doesn’t really exist. Emma will need to prove to Leo that she is the woman he always thought she was but for that she has to come clean about her past.

‘The Love of My Life’ was unlike anything I had ever read. It’s not a typical thriller but it keeps you on the edge. It’s gripping and heartbreaking at the same time. Rosie Walsh’s first book, ‘The Man Who Didn’t Call’ was a romance, suspense novel that was an instant bestseller when it came out. The novel’s theme was grief and it explored it in a subtle way that made you think. In The Love of My Life the theme is relationships and its complexities and again Walsh has done a brilliant job in exploring its nuances.

The story, like in The Man Who Didn’t Call, is told from two different perspectives. It keeps the narrative interesting by building the suspense gradually. Also, seeing things from two different viewpoints keeps your brain ticking. The only issue I had with the book was that while the story is full of twists and turns, it reads like a slow-burn family drama at times and less like a thriller. But all in all, I absolutely loved the story. The plot, I thought, was ingenious. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for something different to read.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58492104-the-love-of-my-life  

The Love of My Life

Rosie Walsh

Published: 2022

Publisher: Pan Books

Pages: 358, Paperback

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.