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Namo Buddha, deeply rooted in the ancient legend of Siddhartha Gautama’s past life more than 6,000 years ago, holds profound spiritual significance. It is revered as the sacred site where Prince Mahasattva, a previous incarnation of the Buddha, performed the ultimate act of compassion (Avayadan) by offering his own body to save a starving tigress and her cubs. This powerful story of self-sacrifice and unconditional compassion continues to inspire to this day. In modern times, it resonates strongly with ethical discussions around organ donation, medical altruism, and selfless service in healthcare, underscoring the enduring relevance of ancient values in contemporary contexts.

A visionary yet informal forum, comprising cultural thinker Biswo Ulak, spiritual leader Naresh Prasad Manandhar, and peace advocates such as Deva Sainju, Palden Lama, Subarna Shrestha, Rajaram Karmacharya, and others, came together to lay the foundation for what would later be known as the Global Cultural Peace Walk. The initiative emerged with the profound intent to rekindle the ancient spirit of selfless sacrifice (Avayadan) exemplified 6,000 years ago by Prince Mahasattva and to carry forward the timeless values of peace and compassion taught by Gautama Buddha 2,500 years ago. Collaborating with a grassroots movement, the team sought to revive age-old values through a one-day Global Cultural Peace Cycle Rally held in April 2017, from Swayambhu Mahachaitya to Namo Buddha Stupa, under the guidance of Venerable Tapssidhamma Bhikkhu, a respected monk based at Charumati Buddhist Bihar, a historic Theravāda monastery in Kathmandu.

Meanwhile, it was learned that Gautama Buddha had visited Hiranya Gandhaman Parbat, the site of the present-day Namo Buddha Temple, to pay homage at the burial site of Prince Mahasattva. During his pilgrimage to Swayambhu, it is believed that he may have traveled through Sree Gha, Thimi, Bhaktapur, Nala, Panchal (Panauti), and Itey before reaching the sacred site.

In the same year, 2017, the forum organized a three-day Global Cultural Peace Walk, carrying the symbolic Peace Lamp in honor of the International Day of Peace, observed from Sept 21st to 23rd. The walk followed a spiritually significant route, beginning at Swayambhu Mahastupa and continuing through Sri Gha, Thahity Baha, Jam Baha, Charumati Bihar, and Boudhanath Stupa, with an overnight stay at Nagadesh Bihar. On the second day, the journey continued through Muni Bihar, passed Shristikanta Lokeswor, and concluded with another overnight stay at Dhyanakuti Bihar. On the final day, the walk proceeded through Panauti and Itey, ultimately reaching the sacred destination of Namo Buddha.

This three-day walk continues to be held annually on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, from September 21st to 23rd, under rotating leadership. From 2019 to 2022, it was led by the Education Foundation for Buddhism, followed by Kavre Sewa Samaj in 2023. The World Forum for Buddhism has actively participated since its inception in 2017. In 2024, the walk was led by the World Forum for Buddhism under the new name Nepal Peace Walk, in collaboration with Halin Newa Guthi and Jyapu Mahaguthi, with technical support from Peace Tour International. That year saw strong international participation, including representatives from India, China, Thailand, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and the United States. The first-day overnight venue was shifted from Nagadesh to Muni Bihar, Bhaktapur, to better accommodate international participants.

The upcoming 2025 edition is being jointly organized by the World Forum for Buddhism and Halin Newa Guthi, in collaboration with Jyapu Mahaguthi. It is scheduled for November 3rd to 5th, culminating at Namo Buddha Temple on the day commemorating the Bodhisattva’s enlightenment through Prince Mahasattva’s selfless act. This year, even greater international participation is anticipated, with participants from an increasing number of countries expected to join this meaningful journey for peace.

Given its deep spiritual legacy, Namo Buddha holds immense potential to be developed as a meaningful tourist and pilgrimage destination. With thoughtful planning, the site can serve as a global platform for education on compassion, non-violence, and peace, bridging ancient wisdom with modern humanitarian values. By connecting timeless stories with contemporary moral challenges, Namo Buddha can become not only a place of worship but also a living classroom for ethical reflection and intercultural dialogue through an inner peace engineering approach. Such initiatives can reinforce the peacebuilding missions of international organizations like the United Nations, while simultaneously promoting outdoor and spiritual tourism in partnership with Nepal’s tourism institutions.

While browsing the internet once, I stumbled upon a wild berry called Indian gooseberry (Amla in Nepali and Hindi and Amalaki in Sanskrit). I was swept off of my feet when I dug  deeper and found that the wild berry had bagged the status of the so-called internet-hyped superfood/superfruit, measuring up with others like quinoa, cocoa, cranberry, chia seeds, flax seeds, to name a few, with tall claims that they can make you "live longer and cure and prevent all kinds of diseases."  

There is more. As touted by the Internet, the miracle berry contains twice the amount of antioxidants as açaí berry, and you won't believe it: "A 100-gram serving of fresh amla berries contains as much vitamin C as 20 oranges." Incredible! It was time to dig deeper and investigate this miracle berry with a grain of salt. 

Indian gooseberry (binomial name: Emblica Officinalis or Phyllanthus emblica) is native to India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and southern China. As those wild berries are sun-loving, they thrive in subtropical regions. The deciduous Indian gooseberry trees flourish up to 2000 ft above sea level. Formerly collected from the wild, Amla is extensively farmed today in India and Southeast Asia. Given its myriad health benefits, in recent years, gooseberry farming has also commenced in Nepal. Indian gooseberry, a slightly bitter-sour translucent fruit, is, in fact, a household name in Nepal and India. It is eaten fresh, in the form of dried powder dietary supplements, pickles, or the salivating sweet-tangy-spicy chutney—even candies loved by young girls! 

In India, people widely consume the seeds' pips for their high vitamin C content. The goodness and natural healing properties of the Indian gooseberry fruit have been passed down to us for generations, dating back to the days of yore. I still remember my grandma passing them around to us when we were young and explaining their therapeutic properties. This rich cultural heritage associated with Amla makes it more than just a superfood; it's a part of our tradition.

Inarguably one of the most significant ingredients used in traditional Indian medical science, Ayurveda, for millennia, has been revered as a powerful 'Rasayana' (elixir). Amla happens to be one of the vital ingredients in making Chyawanprash, an ayurvedic tonic jam in India. An integral component in Ayurveda, it is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine as a diuretic to relieve constipation, insomnia, and for scalp treatment, among other purposes.

Nutrients per Serving:

A half-cup serving of amla berries contains:

• Calories: 33
• Protein: Less than 1 gram
• Fat: Less than 1 gram
• Carbohydrates: 8 grams
• Fiber: 3 grams
• Sugar: 0 grams

Amla berries are rich in antioxidants, which reduce the risk of chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. 

Amla berries are also an excellent source of:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Vitamin A
• Iron
• Calcium

(Source: webmd.com)

Cardiovascular health

According to a WHO factsheet, cardiovascular diseases cause more deaths annually than any other ailment–17.9m, over 31 percent of all global deaths. In the USA alone, some 695,000 people die of heart disease in the United States every year–that's 1 in every five deaths.

Indian gooseberries help reduce oxidative stress, nourish the heart muscles, and prevent plaque build-up in the arteries. They contain profuse antioxidants, particularly vitamin C and amino acids, and are rich in chromium and iron. Those berries may also lower cholesterol levels and blood pressure, contributing to a lower risk of stroke and heart attack. 

"It is suggested that amala produces significant hypolipidemic effects along with a reduction in blood pressure. Addition of Amla to the currently available hypolipidemic therapy would offer significant protection against atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, with reduction in the dose and adverse effects of the hypolipidemic agents." (Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)

Diabetes

Another life-threatening disease that precedes CVDs (cardiovascular diseases) is diabetes; according to the WHO factsheet, about 422m people worldwide have diabetes, and it causes 1.6m deaths every year, with a high number of cases involving blindness, kidney failure, heart attacks, stroke, and lower limb amputation.

Test results for Amla have been significantly promising for type II diabetics. Tests on humans suggest that a daily intake of three grams of dried amla powder lowers the fasting blood sugar level more effectively than the prescribed drug.

Clinical research supports the regular use of Amla in your diet. It stimulates the secretion of insulin hormones by stimulating the body cells. The fruit's high chromium content also controls carbohydrate metabolism and boosts the body's response to insulin. It helps curb erratic fluctuations in blood sugar levels.

The daily intake of Amla is also said to prevent complications such as diabetic neuropathy, a significant cause of nerve damage to the legs and feet.

Liver

One of our body's largest metabolically active organs, the liver, is burdened with heavy work. Some of its functions are producing bile that helps dispose of waste, building protein needed by the blood plasma, clearing the blood of drugs and harmful substances, and a host of other functions that keep our health in order.

The antioxidants, like Vitamin C, flavonoids, gallic acids, and tannins in Amla, safeguard the liver from a drug-induced hepatotoxicity complication and significantly purify the blood.

Cancer

Because of its high ORAC value and rich source of anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compounds, the Indian gooseberry or Amla plays a crucial role in "preventing DNA cell damage from free radicals and oxidative stress." As a result, it works in two ways: first, it helps slow down cancer growth, and second, it assuages the cancerous cells while retaining the healthy ones.

Others

Apart from the above, Amla has been clinically tested to have diuretic, laxative, antimicrobial, and therapeutic properties and is said to fight against:

• Pancreatitis
• Hair health/loss
• Age-related renal dysfunction
• Alzheimer's disease
• Anti-aging of DNA
• Eye problems
• Menstrual cramps
• Diarrhea and dysentery
• Piles

The ease of its availability and affordable price make Amla, or the Indian gooseberry, one of the best superfruits, nay, the 'miracle fruit' bargains. Now that you know how nutrient-dense Amla is, working it into your diet is no big deal–granted, you exercise moderation when incorporating it into your diet regimen. Its accessibility and cost-effectiveness make it a practical choice for anyone looking to boost their health. 

(Disclaimer: The views expressed are solely research-based and intended for informative and educational purposes only. Readers are advised to exercise discretion and consult credible sources or a qualified healthcare professional for further verification.)

Nepal Police celebrated Kukur Tihar, the festival of dogs, with dogs on Monday.

Though Kukur Tihar falls on the second day of the Tihar festival, it is being celebrated on the third day this year due to some changes in the calendar, Member of Nepal Calendar Determination Committee Prof Dr Devmani Bhattarai said. 

Dog, which is an animal well known for being the trustworthy sentry as well as faithful companion of humans since ancient times, is worshipped once a year on this day as Yamadoot, or a messenger of Yamaraj, the God of death.

Dog, which is said to have accompanied Dharmaraj Yudhisthir on his journey to heaven in the mythological grand epic Mahabharat, has a close relationship with mankind.

The event featured demonstrations by police handlers. The winning dog was awarded with a medal and prize.

The final rites of Kanchha Sherpa, the last surviving member of the first expedition to successfully scale the summit of Mount Everest, were performed at Chintamani Ghat in Teku.

Sherpa passed away at the age of 92 on Friday.

Minister for Rural Development, Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation and Physical Infrastructure and Transport Kulman Ghising draped the national flag on Sherpa’s body and a team of Armed Police Force offered a last salute.

Sherpa was 19 years old when he accompanied the historic team led by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay to the top of Mount Everest, the world's tallest mountain, in 1953.