Nepal will always be in my heart: US Ambassador Berry
Happiness of the US Ambassador to Nepal Randy Berry knew no bounds when heritage expert Rabindra Puri presented a stone-statue of god Laxmi Narayan to him as a gift amid a function organized here today to bid a farewell to him, who is returning home a week later after completing his tenure as the Ambassador. The gift was covered in red clothing. Ambassador Berry was visibly cheerful when he entered the building of the Nepal Vocational Academy at Kamalbinayak, Bhaktapur. The four-storey building, which was built from age-old bricks, itself looks like a museum with historic statues of various gods and goddesses inside. In the middle of the courtyard, there is a statue of Lord Buddha in a cross-legged position. Besides it, there lies a standing giant statue of a sage. There are images and statues of various gods and goddesses put up on the walls. The Ambassador seemed happy and excited by seeing the statues of various gods and goddesses and other natural and beautiful scenes of the surroundings. He also managed time to take a picture of himself besides the gifted statue. The Ambassador was very special at the event also by his linkage with ancient statues of gods and goddesses of Nepal. A statue of god Laxmi Narayan that had gone missing from the Narayan Temple at Patko tole in Patan was recovered from Dallas Museum in the US. The repatriation of the recovered statue to Nepal a year ago was done at the 'special' initiatives of Berry. Thereafter, the statue was placed back in the temple in his presence. So far, 17 idols of various gods and goddesses that were stolen from Nepal were recovered from various cities and museums of the US, and repatriated back to Nepal between March, 2021 and August, 2022 at the initiatives of Berry. The farewell event was organized by the Rabindra Puri Foundation for Conservation, an organization working for the protection and conservation of stolen statues of various gods and goddesses. Various dignitaries, foreign guests, culture experts and archeologists attended the programme. "Setting up a 'museum of stolen arts' in Panauti is underway. A replica of the stolen statue of Laxmi Narayan will also be put up in the museum," said Puri, also President of the Foundation. He has also launched the campaign to repatriate stolen idols back home. "We are very happy to be gifting a replica of the stolen statue of Laxmi Narayan to Berry." On the occasion, Ambassador Berry said he would always put Nepal in his heart wherever he goes. "The Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation set up in the US Embassy in Kathmandu has worked for the protection and conservation of Nepali heritages. I always want to see the protection and preservation of Nepali arts, culture and heritages," he said.
BJP congratulates PM Deuba, Nepali people on National Day
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has extended congratulations and best wishes to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and the people Nepal on the occasion of National Day of Nepal. In a message to the Prime Minister, BJP National President Jagat Prakash Nadda said, “On behalf of the Bharatiya Janata Party and myself, I extend congratulations and best wishes to you and the people of Nepal on the occasion of National Day of Nepal.” “Nepal and India have unique multi-dimensional relationships, with no parallels in the world. India is committed to further strengthening the same,” he said. “I pray to Lord Pashupatinath for all round progress of Nepal and prosperity of Nepali people,” Nadda further said.
US Secretary congratulates Nepali people on Constitution Day
US Secretary of State Antony J Blinken extended congratulations to people of Nepal on the occasion of Constitution Day. “On behalf of the people and the Government of the United States of America, I warmly congratulate the people of Nepal as you celebrate your Constitution Day on September 19,” he said. “Our strong people-to-people ties bind us, with Nepalis contributing to many parts of the social and economic fabric of the United States,” Blinken said, adding, “This year we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties and a strong relationship. It is a friendship that I believe will continue to strengthen during the next 75 years and beyond.” “On behalf of the American people, I extend my best wishes to all Nepalis on this special occasion,” the US Secretary said.
Queen Elizabeth II funeral: Nation pays final farewell
The nation has paid a final farewell to Queen Elizabeth II, with a state funeral and military procession, BBC reported.
World leaders and foreign royalty joined King Charles III and the Royal Family in the congregation at Westminster Abbey.
Hundreds of thousands of people lined the streets as the coffin was taken to Windsor where she was laid to rest.
At the funeral, the Dean of Westminster paid tribute to the Queen's "lifelong sense of duty".
The Very Rev David Hoyle spoke of her "unswerving commitment to a high calling over so many years as Queen and Head of the Commonwealth".
The day began with final respects being paid by members of the public who had queued up to see the Queen's lying-in-state in Westminster Hall.
Then, in a spectacle not seen for generations, her coffin - on the State Gun Carriage of the Royal Navy, drawn by 142 sailors - was taken in a solemn procession to Westminster Abbey.
King Charles III walked alongside his siblings, Princess Anne and Princes Andrew and Edward. The Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex walked side-by-side behind their father along a route lined by representatives of all parts of the military.
As the funeral procession entered the abbey, world leaders, politicians and foreign royalty stood as her coffin was carried up the aisle to be placed on a catafalque, draped in the royal standard with the Imperial State Crown, orb and sceptre on top.
Some of the youngest members of the family were in attendance at the abbey - the Queen's great-grandchildren Prince George and Princess Charlotte, aged nine and seven, sat with their parents the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Prime Minister Liz Truss and her husband Hugh O'Leary were present alongside cabinet ministers and all of the UK's surviving former prime ministers, seated in the abbey's quire.
About 100 presidents and heads of government joined the 2,000-strong congregation at the abbey - as well as US President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, there were French President Emmanuel Macron, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol and Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan, according to BBC.
Europe's royal families were strongly represented - with kings and queens from Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Norway, Belgium and The Netherlands. Denmark's Queen Margrethe II - now Europe's longest-reigning monarch - sat opposite King Charles close to the coffin.
The Emperor and Empress of Japan also attended, alongside other overseas royalty including Malaysia's King and Queen and King Abdullah II and Queen Rania of Jordan.
The religious service heard church leaders highlight the affection in which the Queen has been held by many people.
The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby said: "People of loving service are rare in any walk of life. Leaders of loving service are still rarer.
"But in all cases those who serve will be loved and remembered when those who cling to power and privileges are long forgotten."
He also spoke of how the Queen had declared on her 21st birthday "that her whole life would be dedicated to serving the nation and Commonwealth".
He added: "Rarely has such a promise been so well kept. Few leaders receive the outpouring of love we have seen."
Westminster Abbey is bound up with parts of the Queen's own personal history - it was where she was married and where her coronation took place. Her funeral heard Psalm 23 - The Lord Is My Shepherd, which was sung at her wedding.
As the abbey service came towards its end, the Last Post was played - by the same musicians who performed it at the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral at Windsor last year - before the nation came to a standstill for two minutes' silence.
The Queen's piper then played a traditional lament before the King stood silently as the national anthem was sung, BBC reported.
Among the personal touches at the ceremony was a handwritten message from the King, which was placed on top of the coffin in a wreath of flowers cut from the gardens of Buckingham Palace, Highgrove House and Clarence House at his request. It read: "In loving and devoted memory. Charles R."
