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As the whistle blew and the green flags were waved near the start line outside the building of United Traders Syndicate Pvt Ltd, distributor of Toyota in Chabahil, 55 women who were seated in the driving seat cheerfully drove their cars along with their navigators. These women were there to participate in the Toyota Women’s Rally organized by United Traders Syndicate Pvt Ltd to celebrate women’s achievement in motorsports and promote safe driving.

As the checkered flag waved at the Gokarna Forest Resort the women were welcomed with a garland for completing the rally. The women had reached the resort after completing the 30 km distance that took the route of United Traders Syndicate building, Narayan Gopal Chowk, Bhatbhateni Temple, Jamal, Newroad, Bhadrakali Temple, Tripureshwor, Baneshwor, Tinkune, Airport, Gaushala, Chabahil Jorpati and Gokarna Forest Resort.  

Rajyalaxmi Shakya, bagged the first position and won Rs 50,000 cash, trophy and gift hampers. Rinchen Lama came in second and was awarded a purse of Rs 30,000, trophy and gift hampers. Similarly, Swastika Maharjan won the third prize with Rs 20,000 cash, trophy and gift hampers.

The winners were selected on the basis of fulfilling the criteria such as time limit, road safety standards and compliance with the traffic rules. The rally was judged by the officials of Nepal Automobiles’ Association (NASA).

Since its inception in 2004, the Toyota Women’s Rally in Nepal has been a beacon of progress—-celebrating women’s achievement in motorsports. It stands as a testament to breaking stereotypes and fueling inspiration in the country.

“The objective of organizing the event is to acknowledge the achievements of women. We see the great confidence, the willingness, the entrepreneurship of the women who are here and this is what we want the world to know,” said Ritu Singh Vaidya, managing director of UTS.

“I participated in the 2011 rally too and finished in a good spot. The event is more about women participation and empowerment. I believe women should not just compete in women-centric competitions. They should compete with men too. It is good to see the growth of women drivers. I loved the event,” said Saguna Shah, one of the participants. 

Bharat Pariyar, 21, is a mahout (an elephant handler). He lives in Sauraha, Chitwan. His father works abroad as a driver in Saudi Arabia. Pariyar comes from a family of seven, with three brothers and two sisters. He started working at an early age to support his family. Now, he is a professional elephant handler, working for an American project that rescues wounded, old elephants that are forced to work despite their bad health. All elephants are kept unchained.

Every day, Pariyar starts his work by feeding the rescued elephants. Then he and his friends take their elephants, Maya Kali, Champa Kali, and Srijana Kali, to the riverside where they play with dirt and water. This happens twice in a day, from six to 10 in the morning and two to five in the evening.

Pariyar and his friends sit in an ancient Tharu structure known as ‘machan’ built to provide shade from the scorching Tarai heat. They watch their elephants from a distance. Tourists gather to take pictures near the elephants and that’s when they have to be alert. Pariyar says he makes sure to be by his elephant’s side at those times to prevent possible attacks.

Later, they clean the dirt off the elephant’s backs and ride back to Sauraha. Elephants need to be fed often, even late at night, so Pariyar manages food for the elephants before calling it a day.

In a stunning show of elegance, Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez seized the spotlight as she graced the ramp as the showstopper for RB Diamond Jewellery during a fashion show held in Kathmandu on Saturday evening. 

Adorned in resplendent diamonds and exquisite attire, Fernandez mesmerized the audience with her graceful strides and radiant charm. Her presence added an extra layer of allure to the event, showcasing RB Diamond Jewellery’s latest collection. The event attracted fashion enthusiasts, celebrities, and industry insiders alike, all eager to witness the fusion of haute couture and fine jewelry.

Alongside Bollywood star Fernandez, Nepali models Samir Shrestha and Wangdem Sherpa, as well as the brand ambassador of RB Diamond, also graced the ramp.

Fernandez arrived in Nepal on Friday evening upon an invitation from RB Diamond for the fashion show marking the 27th anniversary of RB Diamond Jewellery. She was warmly welcomed by Riken Maharjan, the chief executive of RB Diamond.

En route to Manang, after our layover at Syange (1,100m), we hopped onto our saddles early the next morning. We had to make it to the day’s stopover scheduled for Dharapani at 1,860 meters, some 25km away. If the ride to Syange was challenging, the pedaling subsequently proved more testing as we had to navigate the tricky, narrower dirt road, gnarly and riddled with rocks with debris left by the recent landslips—the elevation gain pushing us from the tropical to the subtropical zone.

The demanding ride had its typical chiseled charm, though, as we moved past cliffs, feasting our eyes on the greenery and the landscape with many a massive waterfall that stole our hearts. We learned we were still in Lamjung and would step on the Manang soil only after Dharapani.

And to our delight, we often stopped to regain our breath, take a respite and much-need cup of tea and light nibbles at fetching towns with rows of back-to-back tea shops and lodges with slanting colorful roofs, mostly two-storied, flanking the road. 

The notable quaint towns and scattered settlements included Ngadi, Bahun Danda, Ghermu, and others. The light began to fade as we got a bird’s eye view from a steep ridge of Tal way down across the Marsyangdi River—pretty as a picture.

In between, the crashing and tumbling Marshayngdi that had kept us company right from our kick-off spot from Beshisahar and the perpetual distant snow-clad mountains served as fascinating interludes. Darkness enveloped us by the time we struggled it to Dharapani—the chill in the air pronounced.