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Marijuana cultivation has begun in various open spaces in Dhankuta. Being legally prohibited from cultivating marijuana in Nepal, setting between farmers, smugglers and the police, serious questions are raising about the security, social structure and rule of law in the Koshi region.

In various wards of Sahidbhoomi Rural Municipality, Sagurigadhi Rural Municipality, Pakhribas Municipality and Mahalaxmi Municipality in Dhankuta district, farmers have started cultivating marijuana instead of planting traditional crops of rice, maize and millet. The same trend has also been seen in Arun, Hatuwagadhi and Aamchok Rural Municipality in Bhojpur district. Locals say that these areas are becoming easy for marijuana cultivation due to remote geographical conditions, weak surveillance and alleged collusion.

Marijuana cultivation is also being widely practiced in Chaudandigadhi and Belka municipalities of Udayapur, municipalities connected to Sunkoshi in Khotang and areas around the Tamor Corridor in Tehrathum. All these areas are considered sensitive in terms of road network and traffic connecting to India. For this reason, with the expansion of marijuana cultivation, the smuggling network is also becoming stronger. Marijuana smuggling has increased the security threat to Sunsari and Morang districts of Koshi Province. Marijuana that enters daily from Dhankuta is taken to India by smugglers via Sunsari and Morang. Sunsari Police Chief SP Keshav Kumar Thebe said that the transportation and smuggling of marijuana in Sunsari has added a challenge to the security of the district. He said that despite every problem, marijuana smugglers are being arrested daily.

According to locals in Dhankuta, a small cannabis plant costs Rs 16, a medium plant costs Rs 18, and a large plant costs Rs 20. The amount is paid to the police through smugglers, and then the cannabis is cut, stored, and smuggled to India. It has been found that people from local political party leaders to public representatives are involved in cannabis smuggling. The Sunsari police have arrested and prosecuted political party leaders and public representatives in Dhankuta with cannabis.

However, what is interesting is that locals complain that sometimes the same cannabis is shown to have been seized by the police in the name of ‘action’. This has raised serious doubts about the role of the police. Locals say that smuggling has increased since the police offices have not coordinated in controlling cannabis.

The negative impact on local society due to marijuana cultivation and smuggling is increasing. Youths are getting involved in marijuana cultivation and smuggling in the lure of easier income than farming. Experts say that this has reduced agricultural production and increased the risk of social crime, drug abuse and violence. According to security experts, marijuana cultivation is not only a drug-related problem, it is also linked to national security and cross-border crime. According to Nepal’s Narcotics (Control) Act, marijuana cultivation, transportation and sale are completely illegal. 

Manoj Rai, the chairperson of Sahidbhumi Rural Municipality in Dhankuta, has called on farmers in the rural municipality to abandon illegal marijuana cultivation and turn to alternative farming. He said that as the government did not recognize marijuana, the municipality has launched a campaign to displace marijuana cultivation in collaboration with NGOs as a long-term solution. We have introduced the concept of coffee farming to secure farmers’ income, and Chairperson Rai said that they have now started distributing free coffee seedlings to farmers.

Dhankuta Assistant Chief District Officer Laxmi Prasad Adhikari said that the Dhankuta police have been given clear instructions to destroy the marijuana cultivation produced in the district. He said that the Nepal government has completely banned the cultivation, production, transportation and use of marijuana, and that marijuana cultivation is a completely illegal act. He said that the administration and police mechanism have been actively mobilized to control such illegal activities.

DIG of Koshi Province Police Office Binod Ghimire said that strict instructions have been given to all police offices under his jurisdiction to completely eradicate the cultivation of marijuana being produced in the hilly district. Stating that drug control is a priority of the province police, he said that the cultivation, trade and people involved in marijuana are being arrested.

The month-long Swasthani Brata Katha festival dedicated to Hindu goddess Swasthani concluded today.

The festival began on the full moon day of the Nepali month of Paush.

The recitation of dialogues between two mythical characters Kumar and Agashtya Rishi  narrated in the Skanda Puran, is a major part of the festival.

Offerings such as holy threads, beetle nuts, fruits, delicacies, flowers, red sandalwood, vermilion powder and clothes were offered to goddess Swasthani on the concluding day of the festival.

It is believed that strict observance of rituals during the festival brings the separated couple together, helps one overcome troubles and get a good spouse, among other things.

The Swasthani Katha, which has 31 chapters, is a story of how Goma Brahmani is reunited with her son Nawaraj, who later became the king of Lawanya as a result of her going through Swasthani fasting rituals. It also narrates the story of goddess Parvati, who had observed the Swasthani rituals wishing to get Lord Shiva as her husband.

Those who did not conclude the fasting at mid-day today can conclude it on Krishna Panchami, it has been said. 

The US Embassy Nepal concluded the Creator’s Mela 2026: Vision to Venture, which began on Jan 30 in Kathmandu with a two-day session. The Kathmandu program follows the series of programs earlier held in Chitwan and Nepalgunj, marking the expansion of a multi-city platform aimed at strengthening Nepal’s digital creator ecosystem.

The Kathmandu edition brings together digital creators, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and corporate decision-makers for two days of panel discussions, hands-on workshops, live performances, and networking sessions designed to transform creative passion into sustainable business ventures.

A key highlight of the program is the flagship “Pitch to Success” platform, where selected creators present their business ideas directly to a panel of leading corporate executives from Nepal. Participants receive real-time feedback, mentorship, and strategic guidance to help scale their creative ventures into commercially viable enterprises.

The 2026 theme, “Vision to Venture,” reflects the Mela’s shift from content creation toward enterprise building. By integrating US expertise in technology, platform monetization, and digital business development, the initiative provides creators with a practical roadmap to convert digital influence into long-term careers and businesses.

The Kathmandu edition featured a diverse lineup of speakers and performers, including Cabinet Shrestha, Anand Bagaria, Ashwin Neupane, Mansi Agrawal, Kabita Nepali, Ujan Shakya, and Neetesh Jung Kumar, representing voices from entertainment, digital media, entrepreneurship, and business leadership. The opening day witnessed the participation of around 11,000 aspiring and emerging content creators, highlighting the growing momentum of Nepal’s digital creative community.

The US Embassy Nepal concluded its multi-city Creator’s Mela 2026 with a two-day finale in Kathmandu on January 30–31 at Aloft Hotel. Since its inception in 2023, Creator’s Mela has evolved into a premier hub for Nepal’s digital landscape. Now in its fourth edition, the Vision to Venture initiative reaffirms the US Embassy’s commitment to professionalizing Nepal’s creator economy and supporting economic growth across the country

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal organized a program to mark the 2026 Korean Language Promotion Day at Bishwa Bhasa Campus, Kathmandu on January 22. 

Speaking at the event, Korean Ambassador to Nepal Tae-young Park urged Hangeul School and King Sejong Institute to further promote Korean Language Education in Nepal. 

Ambassador Park said that the Embassy has been organizing various programs to promote culture, language exchanges between Nepal and Korea. 

He also expressed that through the mutual cooperation programs, the close ties will be further strengthened and the bilateral relationship will reach new heights.

The Korean Embassy in Nepal has been working closely with the EPS Center, Tribhuvan University and Higher Secondary Schools in Nepal to Support Korean Language Education. 

The Embassy has been providing Korean language textbooks to Korean language Education centers in response to the growing interest in learning Korean in Nepal.

Korea’s education system is widely admired across Asia, while the global popularity of K-pop, Korean dramas, films, and video games has sparked growing interest in learning the Korean language among international fans.