Submit your Article

Holi, the festival of colours, formally commenced in Mithilanchal region from today with the participants of the 15-day Madhyamiki Parikrama pilgrimage playing Holi at local Kanchanban, Bhangaha Municipality-7 in Mahottari.

Baba Naval Kishore Das, participant of the fifteen-day Madhyamiki circuit pilgrimage, said that the Holi festival began today after performing the religious rituals in which Mithilavihari (God Ramchandra) plays Holi with Kishori Ji (Goddess Sita) in the presence of the holy people, sadhus and devotees at Kanchanban this morning, marking the beginning of the Holi festival across the entire Mithila region from today.

On the seventh day of the fifteen-day medium-level pilgrimage, at the residence in Kanchanavan, Lord Ramchandra and Mother Sita's palanquin and idol were ceremonially celebrated with colours and powdered colours as part of Holi. 

Thousands of sadhus, ascetics, and families participating in the pilgrimage, along with all the devotees, smeared colours and colour powder at each other, marking the beginning of the Holi festival, explained Baba Naval Kishore Das.

With this, the festival of Holi has formally started in the villages and households in Mithilanchal, the Holi revelers throwing coloured powder at each other in celebration.

Similarly, with the arrival of Holi, like every year, the tradition of singing Holi songs, dancing, sharing humour and satire, and performing satirical poetry and jokes has also commenced this year too, in the villages of Mithilanchal, said Pandit Dhirendra Jha of Jaleshwar Municipality–8.

The 15 days long Mithila Madhyamiki Parikrama pilgrimage commemorates the period of 14 years in which god Ramchandra with his consort goddess Sita and brother Laxman spend life in exile in the forest. It is believed that lord Ram and goddess Sita also played Holi on this very day during the exile.

The Madhyamiki Parikrama pilgrimage started from Kalaneshwar in India on February 17 and this procession journey along with the palanquins bearing images of Lord Ramchandra and Mata Sita will conclude after 15 days in Janakpur on March 3.

The government of Nepal has once again declared wild boars as agriculturally harmful animals.

Issuing a notice on Monday, the Ministry of Forest and Environment stated that if wild boars are seen harming and damaging the field, anyone can chase and kill it without permission of the authorities with some conditions.

It doesn’t include small breed boars. However, it is prohibited to kill, catch or chase such animals by entering parks or reserves and forest areas. 

If the boar is caught, it will be handed over to the relevant authority–relevant national park, hunting reserve, wildlife reserve or forest office. And if the boar dies, it will be buried in the presence of ward representatives and some locals with some amount to be deposited in the revenue account according to its weight and will be used within a ward (except for commercial purposes), reads the notice. 

The Nepali Congress (NC) has contributed Rs 500,000 to support the medical treatment of Sabitra Bhandari, captain of Nepal’s national women’s football team, aka Samba. 

The amount has deposited into the account of All Nepal Football Association (ANFA), reads a statement issued by the party on Tuesday. 

Taking to Facebook on Monday, Bhandari, all-time leading goal scorer of Nepal, wrote an emotional post asking for financial support for her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) surgery. 

Acting Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Dulal confirmed that the NC has already deposited the amount in the designated bank account for the surgery. 

​​​​​​​She has suffered a serious injury to the MCL and graft of her right knee in the second half of Wellington Phoenix's Round 11 match against Brisbane Roar on January 3. 

The US–Nepal Startup Weekend Challenge concluded on February 21 after a three-day accelerator-style program, selecting nine startups as finalists

The nine finalist teams presented their ventures before a panel of judges.

Following evaluation, GarudX was declared the winner and awarded Rs 350,000 in seed funding.

Fully Charged Nepal Enterprise secured the first runner-up position with Rs 200,000, while Kanoon Portal was named second runner-up, receiving Rs 100,000.

A total of 283 applications were received from across Nepal, out of which 25 teams—representing nearly 100 early-stage founders and entrepreneurs were shortlisted to participate.

During the program held from February 19–21, participants attended workshops on business fundamentals and received one-on-one mentorship from Nepali and US-based experts to refine their business ideas and pitches.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Scott Urbom, Charge d’Affaires at the US Embassy Nepal, said the program reflects the strength of the US–Nepal partnership by connecting Nepali entrepreneurs with American expertise and globally tested innovation models.

Supported by the US Embassy Nepal, the initiative was implemented by One to Watch in partnership with the American Chamber of Commerce in Nepal, Confederation of Nepalese Industries Young Entrepreneurs Forum (CNIYEF), Federation of Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nepal (FWEAN), Market Edge, Nepal Association of Software and IT Services Companies (NAS-IT) and Nepalese Young Entrepreneurs Forum (NYEF).