Submit your Article

Local residents celebrated the famous Sindhoor Jatra in the premises of Balkumari Temple, Madhyapur Thimi on Wednesday.

This festival is celebrated every year on Baishakh 1 and 2 as part of Biska Jatra observed by people of the Newar community in Bhaktapur district.

The festival marks the arrival of spring.

On the occasion, devotees gather at one place and take out a procession carrying 32 palanquins carrying idols of various deities.

People smear Sindhoor (orange vermillion powder) to each other while taking out the procession.

The International Wellness Day is being marked by organizing various programs today. 

The United Nations had, at the initiative of Nepal, on March 10, 2026 endorsed a resolution, declaring to observe April 15 each year as International Wellness Day (Aarogya Diwas). 

"To promote awareness and action for holistic well-being, the General Assembly proclaimed 15 April as International Wellness Day," the UN said. This Day serves as a platform for education, cultural exchange, and knowledge-sharing — encouraging people everywhere to embrace accessible, inclusive, and affordable wellness practices that enhance both personal and collective health, according to the UN.

The UN noted that the wellness sector plays a growing role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) — from creating jobs and reducing poverty to promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth. Wellness supports quality of life, protects human dignity, and empowers individuals and communities to adopt sustainable lifestyles and safeguard resources for future generations.

With the partial influence of westerly and local winds, the hilly and Himalayan regions have witnessed generally cloudy weather in the country at present. 

The Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology stated that the weather is largely fair in the Tarai belt. 

The Department stated that light rain coupled with snowfall is happening in the Himalayan region of the Koshi Province and one or two places in the Himalayan regions of Bagmati, Gandaki and Karnali Provinces.    

This afternoon, the hilly and mountainous regions will be generally cloudy and the Tarai belt will be largely fair.

Chances of light rain coupled with thunder and lightning are likely in one or two places of the hilly and mountainous parts of Koshi and Gandaki Provinces. 

Later tonight, the Himalayan region of the country will be generally cloudy, the hilly region will be partly cloudy, and the Tarai region will have mainly fair weather. 

There is a possibility of rain and snowfall at one or two places in the Himalayan parts of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces.

The Armed Police Force Nepal has intensified security provisions in customs points including the Kakadbhitta Customs Point in Jhapa district to control revenue leakage.

The security system was beefed up by the AFP Nepal personnel following complaints that the country was losing massive revenue and the business volume in Nepal's cities along the bordering area was slowed, as a large number of Nepalis were thronging the Indian markets to buy essential goods.

The Armed Police Force has urged buyers from bordering areas in Mechinagar, Bhadrapur, Gaurigunj, Kachankawal and other areas to compulsorily pay the revenue amount for importing goods worth more than Rs 100.

Madan Rasaili, the Information Officer of APF Nepal No. 2 Battalion Headquarters in Jhapa said that buyers will be booked as per the law if they were involved in tax evasion. 

Rasaili said that different programs were initiated in the bordering areas to control tax evasion as per the directive of the Ministry of Home Affairs. 

The APF Nepal is working in the customs points across the country to control tax evasion and illegal imports of goods.