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Something you’ve done often during the lockdown?

I have been reading and spending time with my family members. I realized I’d been so busy that I hadn’t seen my family members up close in a long time.

A movie/series you would suggest for the lockdown?

All Nepali movies on my list: “Ujeli,” “Numafung,” “Mukundo,” “Maitighar,” “Basudev.”

Have you read anything lately? Would you suggest it?

I’d definitely suggest “Sumnima” and “Babu, Aama ra Chora,” both by BP Koirala. 

 Best music to listen to during the lockdown? 

Parvathy Baul, Nina Simone, Narayan Gopal, Kumar Sanu.  

How do you work out during the lockdown?

 I do yoga with my family 

How long do you think the lockdown will last?

I don’t know. Maybe a day before till it’s called off?

What is the first thing you’ll do when the lockdown is over? 

I want to visit a temple. It’s been long since I’ve met God in His abode.

If not at home, where would you preferably be locked down? 

As an actor maybe in a mental hospital since it would be an opportunity to observe different characters (laughs). But as a normal human being, maybe a Vipassana center. 

If you were to be locked down with a Nepali celebrity for 21 days, who would it be?

Madhav Prasad Ghimire. I’d make him kheer because I know he loves it and then he could recite poems to me.

One dish you wouldn’t mind eating everyday during the lockdown?

Dal Bhat!

Nepal moved a step closer to the legalization of marijuana with the registration in the national parliament of the “Marijuana Cultivation Regulation and Management in Nepal” bill. The private bill, tabled by former law minister Sher Bahadur Tamang in the federal lower house on March 2, is aimed at enhancing the country’s economy by exporting marijuana. The rearing and trading of the drug has been illegal in the country since 1973. APEX talked to some senior citizens who were around when marijuana was legal: What do they make of the new legalization debate?

Bimala Rimal Koirala, 65 

I am against legalization. I cannot see my children smoke weed and get high. If machines can handle the whole cultivation and production process, than legalization is fine. But if people are involved, it will negatively affect the society. I saw many foreigners get high when it was legal. They would engage in various inappropriate behaviors that made me uncomfortable. This, I fear, could happen again.

Durga Bhakta Shrestha, 62 

Marijuana is a cash crop. It has various medicinal uses and has been used since ancient times. Yes, some people are misusing it. But with proper rules and regulations in its production and consumption, it can greatly benefit the country’s economy. Foreigners as well as more foreign currency will enter Nepal. I still remember the time of the Hippie culture when Kathmandu had become a darling of foreigners. I think marijuana should be legalized with proper rules and regulations in place.

Hira Kaji Shakya, 68

The consumption of marijuana has various negative health effects. Misuse of marijuana has brought disaster to countless lives, both young and old. Instead of thinking of legalizing and selling it to other countries, our government should further tighten anti-marijuana rules.

Usha Lamsal, 68 

Exporting marijuana produced in our country will be to our benefit. It will help the country earn foreign currency, and create countless jobs. It should thus be legalized. But there should be strict rules and regulations against its misuse. If they promote indulgence instead of benefits, it will harm the society.

Pancharatna Shahi, 64 

I have never liked people who smoke marijuana. I have seen young boys smoking and getting high near the local river. If the government legalizes it, more innocent boys and girls will be addicted, which will destroy their careers and lives. It should not be made legal. I had seen foreigners smoke weed when it was legal in Nepal. Though they smoked, there was little violence. But times have changed; today’s youth are easily influenced and can be very violent.

Tirtha Maya Maharjan, 76 

Marijuana is said to have medicinal values but I have only ever seen people use it for recreational purpose. But, remember, alcohol harms our body as well, but it is still legal. If marijuana can indeed be used to cure diseases, it should be made legal. But first there should be clear-cut and strict regulations.

Basanta Raj Lamsal, 70 

I have been following the news about the recent parliamentary bill, and I support it. Our economy will flourish if we can sell our organic marijuana across the world. But we should have the right regulation. Certain areas should be designated for cultivation, and only under the supervision of concerned authorities. Inside the country, the buying and selling of marijuana should be limited to a certain age and quantity. With proper rules and regulations in place, legalization of marijuana seems beneficial.

Chandra Devi Shakya, 78 

Young people can still be seen getting high on marijuana, though it is now illegal. If the government legalizes it, marijuana will be still easier to get, and hence promote addiction among the youth. No, it should not be legalized.

Gopal Khadka, 73

There are pros and cons of everything in the world. Marijuana too has its advantages and disadvantages. Various countries like the US and Germany have legalized it. Our government too should develop proper plans and policies on the consumption and production of marijuana. Exporting marijuana will help the economy. The important thing is to keep the public informed about marijuana production and consumption.

Vairabh Kunwar, 71

Marijuana is a valuable crop in the international market. If we can sell it abroad, our farmers will benefit. It could also attract Nepali youths into agriculture. Instead of going abroad they could then do something productive in their own country. The government should acknowledge both positive and negative aspects of marijuana and make its plans and policies accordingly. Done right, this could change the fate of both our farmers and our country. So, on the balance of things, I think the government should legalize it.

Peanut butter and oatmeal squares

Your kids will love this tasty, healthy snack, and it’s really easy for them to make!

• 1 cup of peanut butter
• 1/3 of a cup of honey
• 2 table spoons of coconut oil (optional)
• 2.5 to 3 cups of oatmeal (the same kind you make morning porridge from)
• Half to one cup of broken nuts, cranberries, sultanas, seeds  (whatever you have in the cupboard)

Heat peanut butter over a very low heat, add honey and coconut oil. Stir till it melts. Take off the heat and stir in the oatmeal, nuts and dried fruit. Place on greaseproof paper or silver foil (with a touch of oil spread over it so the mixture doesn’t stick). Flatten down in a dish and put in the fridge for around three hours until hard. Cut into squares and keep in an airtight container in the fridge. As an alternative—use muesli instead of oats. If it’s the sweetened variety you might not need so much honey, or any at all. 

Apple donuts

A great alternative to just plain apples and easy and fun for even little kids to make. Get creative!

• 3 apples cut into ½ inch thick ring slices (with the core taken out)
• 2 cups of water
• Juice of one lemon
• Peanut butter
• Chocolate powder (if you have)
• Toppings: Sprinkles, nuts, seeds, muesli, pieces of chocolate (whatever is in the cupboard)

Place apple rings into the water with the lemon juice. Leave for 5 to 10 minutes. Pat dry— make sure they are completely dry. Spread peanut butter (mixed with a little chocolate powder if you have) on the top of the rings. Decorate with the toppings. Yummy!

Cornflake and chocolate clusters

Another great sweet treat that is very easy for children to make and which will disappear in a flash!

• Approx 300 gm of chocolate
• 2 cups of cornflakes (rice crispies work just as well)

Melt the chocolate in a bowl that is set into a pan of simmering water. Stir until the broken bits of chocolate are a smooth liquid. Remove from heat and stir in the cornflakes until they are completely covered in chocolate. With a spoon, put clusters of the mixture on greaseproof or silver foil. If you have paper cases you can use them. Put in the fridge to harden. Alternative: If you don’t have chocolate to hand, you can do the same using honey. Maybe add some small pieces of cut fruit or nuts into the mix to cut through the sweetness. These will remain sticky to the touch even when refrigerated so don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Carrot and orange soup

This delicious soup will attract your kids by its colour as well as taste. Carrots being sweet, with a touch of the tang of orange will appeal to the young palate. They can help you prepare by washing and pealing the carrots and onion and squeezing the oranges.

• 1 kg of carrots cut into small pieces
• 2 oranges, freshly squeezed
• 1 onion chopped into small pieces
• 2 or 3 garlic cloves
• 4 cups of vegetable stock (buy from the supermarket or make your own)
• Salt and pepper

Put all the ingredients in the pressure cooker. Bring to 3 or 4 whistles. Either mash the carrots (if you like chunks) or blend to smooth if you prefer. Add more water if you need it. Season to taste.

Basic vegetable stock

Get your kids to gather up the leftover bits of vegetables such as carrot tops, onion skins, green onion outer skins, potato skins, pea pods etc that you used the day before. Get the kids to wash and dry the vegetable leftovers and store until the next day to make the stock.

Put all the ingredients into a pot with about 8 cups of water. Add salt and pepper. You can use soya sauce instead of salt for a deeper taste and color. Bring to the boil and let simmer for 45 minutes to get all the flavor out of the vegetable ends. (If you like you can use a pressure cooker but the taste will not be as strong.) Strain so all you have left is the liquid. When cool store in the fridge (for up to a week in a sealed jar) for use when making soups.

If you go online right now, you are likely to see at least one photo challenge in your news feed. The lockdown has dragged plenty of people online, where they are challenging each other to post all kinds of photos on their social media. From ‘sari’ challenge of the ladies to ‘daura suruwal’ challenge of the gentlemen, people have found all kinds of ways to kill time.

During the first week of the lockdown, people dug out their friends’ old photos on Facebook and commented on them. This became a viral trend. People enjoyed seeing old pictures of friends and families with funny poses. “My timeline was filled with news of coronavirus and death of people. I wanted something happier on my timeline. Things got going when I commented on my friend’s old pictures and they in turn commented on mine,” says Sumikchya Shakya, a 19-year-old student. 

After this, photo challenges stormed the social media. Sari and Bakkhu challenges were the first ones to hit Facebook. Instead of criticizing, people made fun of each other. “Let’s grow together. With all the negativity going around, let’s do something positive,” went a common refrain for the challenge.

“I find these challenges productive as I get to connect with my old school buddies. It has been harsh days for all of us. But with these challenges on social media, it became a way to escape the frightful situation,” says Mandira Vaidya Shrestha, 32, team manager at HLE Nepal.

Offline Thinker, a community platform for readers and writers, has come up with seven-day home photography challenge to make self-quarantine more meaningful. Here, you challenge your friends to click and post seven photos on seven different themes. They nominate a new friend every day. Susan Chaudhary, co-founder of Offline Thinker, says: “The seven-day home photography challenge is getting positive response. It is impactful as well. We are also coming up with more writing, reading, and gaming challenges. We encourage everyone to better utilize their time and energy.” 

There is also a new challenge for photographers named Quarantine Days. The goal is to fill news feed with positive photos. One starts by uploading a photo with no caption. Sohel Maharjan, a photographer, says: “A friend passed on this challenge to me. I liked the idea as my own newsfeed was filled with horrific pandemic news. I too have nominated my friends for this challenge. The goal is to spread positivity.”

“These types of challenges help with stress management. Due to lockdown, we have lots of free time. We have time to go through our old photo albums as well as to connect with our friends and relatives through social media,” says psychologist Gopal Dhakal.

Perhaps the idea of people looking to keep themselves happy through these indulgences may seem inappropriate as thousands of people continue to die around the world from the novel coronavirus. But as Dhakal suggests, these innocuous social media challenge help people cope with their stress. After all, the last thing the country needs right now is legions of people coming down with new mental health problems.