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Nepali media personality and model Bibhusha Basnet has been appointed the brand ambassador of Nepal Kabaddi for a year, as the country prepares to host its first-ever Women’s Kabaddi Test Series. Taking on the role with pride, Basnet expressed her commitment to promoting the sport: “I hope to play a meaningful role in the development and promotion of kabaddi in Nepal. This is an exciting opportunity to support a sport that is rapidly growing and achieving great things.”

The All Nepal Kabaddi Association (ANKA) announced a five-day bilateral test series between Nepal and Bangladesh will take place from April 20 to 26 at the Taekwondo Covered Hall in Satdobato, Lalitpur. This marks the first time Nepal’s national women’s team will compete in an international kabaddi test series.

At a press conference in Kathmandu, ANKA General Secretary Arvind Kumar Jha highlighted that the event is part of a broader collaboration with the Bangladesh Kabaddi Federation, under which the two nations will host three test series annually. “This initiative aims to bring test-format kabaddi to the international stage,” Jha said, adding that Bangladesh’s women’s team is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu on Saturday.

Nepal’s women’s kabaddi team, currently ranked third in the world, is also gearing up for the Women’s Kabaddi World Cup to be held in India from June 1 to 13. The team won a bronze medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou and has been in closed training at Mulpani for the past two years, alongside the men’s team.

Singers Shirish Devkota and Samikshya Adhikari have come together for a new folk duet titled Goli Baruda, which was officially released Saturday. The song’s music video premiered on Devkota’s official YouTube channel. With lyrics and music composed by Devkota himself, the song is arranged by Sunil Pariyar. Recording was handled by Suman and Khuman Rana, while Kumar Rana took care of the mixing and mastering.

The music video stars Shirish Devkota alongside Geeta Dhungana in lead roles, with direction and choreography by Jerry Bhandari.

In less than a year, Katy Perry has released an album, campaigned for Vice President Kamala Harris and, just this week, flown to space. As she heads to Mexico City to kick off a world tour on Wednesday, the pop superstar shows no intention of slowing down.

“I’m always open and I say, ‘Why not?’ and ‘Let’s just try,’” she told The Associated Press recently at her Southern California rehearsal space. “The power of your thoughts are so incredible because everything starts with a thought. I had this thought, ‘I want to go on tour.’ And here we are.”

With that openness to try comes accepting that not every endeavor will be a victory. Her September album, “143,” was critically panned, and she was simultaneously criticized for reuniting with embattled producer Dr. Luke. Celebrities like Olivia Munn and Emily Ratajkowski critiqued the spaceflight’s use of resources as superfluous and indulgent. And Harris ultimately lost the November election to President Donald Trump.

But Perry’s longevity and the scale of her fame since her 2008 breakout hit, “I Kissed a Girl,” are attributable at least in part to her willingness to get back up in the wake of a setback, as she belts in her 2013 empowerment anthem, “Roar.”

“I can control what I can control,” she said.

That mantra has been refined over the past 15 years through her practice of Transcendental Meditation. The meditation technique has been embraced by a handful of celebrities, including — perhaps most zealously — the late David Lynch, whom Perry credits with spreading the practice and its message.

“That changed my life. And I’ve gone on a long inner space journey to untangle some wires, to answer some questions, to become more grounded, to find the power within myself,” she said.

Perry is fascinated by all things spiritual, casually weaving into conversation references to astrology, the enneagram and cardology, which purports to impart mystical insights into an individual’s personality through playing cards. Perry also credits having her daughter, Daisy, with propelling her along a journey of self-discovery and enhancing her “feminine divine.”

“Being a mother just makes you level up with that type of power,” she said. “I think I’ve just grown into the strong woman that I’ve always dreamed of and idolized.”

That journey has informed her approach to music and performing, down to the narrative of her sci-fi themed “Lifetimes Tour.” Citing films like “Blade Runner” and “The Fifth Element” as visual and thematic inspirations, Perry will play a video game character who faces off against evil forces.

“It’s really about believing in yourself and leading with love. Those are always my messages, no matter how I wrap it or whatever tour I bring. It’s love and empowerment,” she said. “When I can lead by example, it just ripples.”

Perry’s tour of more than 80 performances will primarily be a career-spanning showcase of past hits, but with a dance-infused flare to some of the traditional pop songs. “I tell everybody they have to wear some sensible shoes,” she explained.

In the nearly two decades since Perry emerged as a pop star, she has made tongue in cheek lyricism — in line with her “very sarcastic” sense of humor — and catchy messages of empowerment a signature of her songs. Critical reception to her more recent albums has been less than enthusiastic, but that hasn’t stopped the 40-year-old from going all out for this tour, calling it “Disneyland on wheels.”

“I feel a responsibility to my audience who have really been with me on this ride during this whole lifetime to give them that feeling that they had when they first heard ‘Teenage Dream,’” she said.

AP

The 15th edition of the Bindabasini Music Awards held at the Rastriya Nach Ghar featured awards in 17 competitive categories, five special honors, and 10 musical performances.

Folk singer Arjun Sapkota bagged the Best Folk Singer (Male) award for his song ‘Basyau Alakkai’, while lyricist Santosh Sapkota won the Jury Award for Best Song for ‘Dukha Satmala’, marking some of the major highlights. The song ‘Jun Maya’ was declared the Best Song of the year. In the Sugam Sangeet (contemporary music) category, Raj Singdel won Best Male Singer for ‘Hridayama’, Usha Gajurel was awarded Best Female Singer for ‘Mausam Aaula’, Shridhar Adhikari bagged Best Music Composer for ‘Chhau Ni Timi Aaha’, while Baikuntha Mahat and Benisha Poudel won Best Duet for ‘Pirim Gadi’. Binod Shrestha and Usha Subedi were honored as Best Model Duo for the song ‘Bidaai 2’.

In other folk categories, Kabita Khatri received Best Folk Singer (Female) for ‘Namaste Dhogdiyaa’, Khem Pun was awarded for Best Folk Tune with ‘Marne Sui Laideu’, Narayan Gyawali received Best Folk Lyrics for ‘Kanya Rashi’, and Nishan Baniya won Best Folk Video Director for ‘Bhagyamai Runa Lekheko’. 

Bishal Ghimire won Best Modern Video Director for ‘Meri Bathi Maya’, Amrit Chapagain won Best Video Editor for ‘Mayalu’, and Pawan Susling was honored as Best Cinematographer for ‘Mayalai Panko Paat’. Prem Sapkota Sonu received the New Singing Talent Award for ‘Aru Ta Ke Bhanu Mayalu’. Juna Bishwakarma received the Public Choice Award for ‘Maya Aune Bus’, while Anil Poudel won the Popular Song Award for the same track.

Jury Awards were also presented during the ceremony. Smriti Timilsina won Best Director for ‘Nepalma Rail Kahile Aaulaan’, Sanjay Devkota was awarded Best Male Singer for ‘Kura Bujhideu’, while Bikram Budhathoki and Elina Rayamajhi received the Best Acting Duo award for ‘Hare Maile Mayama’. Khem Century was honored as Best Music Composer for ‘Tallo Bato’.