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Pokhara is set to host the BYD International Balloon Festival. The festival, organized by Balloon Nepal Pvt Ltd, will run from 24 Dec 2024 to 1 Jan 2025, in the picturesque Pame area of Pokhara. Nearly two dozen balloons will grace the skies, marking a major milestone in the country’s post-pandemic tourism revival.

The nine-day event will feature flights covering a three-kilometer stretch from Lauruk to Changkpur, offering breathtaking views of the Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Dhaulagiri ranges, as well as the Pokhara Valley. International participation from countries including the USA, UK, Spain, Japan, and Brazil underscores the event’s global appeal.

The festival will include vibrant attractions like balloon glows, fireworks, races, and night camps. Renowned Nepali artists, such as Deepak Bajracharya, Raju Lama, and Alina Chauhan, will perform daily, amplifying the festive atmosphere.

Promotional support comes from the Nepal Tourism Board, Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA), and Pokhara Metropolitan City. Brand ambassadors Rajesh Hamal and Priyanka Karki will further boost the event’s visibility.

The festival draws inspiration from globally celebrated events like the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in the USA and the Cappadocia International Balloon Festival in Turkey. With Balloon Nepal’s growing global presence, including participation in Thailand’s International Balloon Fiesta earlier this year, the event is poised to solidify Pokhara’s status as a hub for adventure tourism.

The Nepal Academy has unveiled a new contribution to Nepali children’s literature with the publication of ‘Pragya Nepali Balgeet’, a 422-page anthology edited by writer and journalist Gopi Krishna Dhungana.  

The book is divided into three chapters, each showcasing a unique aspect of Nepali children’s songs (balgeet in Nepali). The first chapter offers a comprehensive 32-page critique titled ‘Principles, Traditions, and Trends of Nepali children song’, exploring the theoretical and historical evolution of the genre. The second chapter features two songs each by 159 children’s songwriters, with a brief introduction of each contributor. The third chapter presents 56 songs archived in Radio Nepal’s Sound Museum.  

Prominent contributors include luminaries such as Dinesh Adhikari, Prof Dr Krishnahari Baral, Dr Devi Nepal, and many others. The work is priced at Rs 600 and offers insights into themes of national identity, social issues, and religious philosophy.  

Chancellor Bhupal Rai highlighted the book’s importance in nurturing children’s interest in Nepali literature. Vice-chancellor Bimal Krishna Niwa remarked that the songs would appeal to children and serve as a tool for imparting values and lessons. Editor Dhungana emphasized the lack of institutional collections of children’s songs and expressed hope that the book would meet the cultural and literary needs of the country’s youth.  

This comprehensive collection, combining theoretical insights and a treasure trove of songs, aims to enrich the field of Nepali children’s literature and serve as a resource for fostering creativity and learning among young minds.

In honor of Human Rights Day, the 8th Inter A-Level Speech Competition was held at Global College International’s Auditorium Hall. Focused on the theme “Human Rights Today: Dignity, Freedom, and Justice for All”, the competition featured speeches from students across 15 A-Level colleges, addressing critical global issues related to human rights. The event, which was live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube, allowed a wider audience to engage with the discussions.

The competition was judged by Pradeep Sharma, Associate Professor at Tribhuvan University, and Kamal Dev Bhattarai, Editor of The Annapurna Express. Their expertise in political science, human rights, and journalism played a key role in evaluating the participants’ ideas, presentation, and address to the current global issues today.

The winner, Sadhabi Mahat from Rato Bangla School, emphasized that dignity, freedom, and justice are worth fighting for and encouraged youth to take action, starting with small steps. Janvi Subedi, the first runner-up from Kasthamandap Academy, stressed the need to address minority rights. Hridaya Joshi, the second runner-up from Global College, called on the youth to view human rights as a responsibility rather than a privilege taken for granted. She focused on the discrepancies between proclaimed human rights and stark ground reality that point at gross violation of human rights. 

At the event’s conclusion, Suraj Baral, Executive Director of the A-Levels program at GCI, presented certificates to participants and volunteers. The judges were also honoured with tokens of appreciation by Subash Shrestha, Principal of GCI. Rishav Dev Khanal, Program Coordinator, congratulated all participants, highlighting the event’s role in reinforcing the college’s commitment to responsible citizenship and leadership.

The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Annapurna Media Network Chapter, held its general convention on Dec 12, and unanimously elected its new leadership team. 

The elected office bearers include Ramkala Khadka as President, Sunita Karki as Vice-president, Madan Chaudhary as Secretary, Purushottam Ghimire as Joint Secretary, and Sirjana Subedi as Treasurer. 

Pratik Ghimire, Giriprasad Bhusal, Nitu Ghale, Aajabi Poudyal, Bibhor Adhikari, and Abhishek Maharjan were elected as members. The newly formed team will work towards addressing the pressing issues faced by journalists and strengthening the chapter’s role in advocating for media rights and professional development.