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Greetings from Kathmandu!

There has been a significant drop in the production and dissemination of news, as Nepali journalists are busy celebrating the Dashain festival. Political activities are minimal, except for leaders issuing Dashain greetings. Kathmandu Metropolitan City has urged residents to remain alert about dengue infections in the Valley. The local authority stated that it is adopting preventive measures to control the disease. Since 2021, the number of dengue cases has been gradually rising across Nepal. Once limited to the Terai districts, dengue has now spread to all 75 districts of the country.

The Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall in some parts of the country this week, due to the likely formation of a depression over the west-central Bay of Bengal. This could impact people traveling home for Dashain celebrations. Government agencies have issued travel advisories, urging the public to remain cautious during the rainfall.

The Nepali Congress has objected to the government’s decision to bar KP Sharma Oli from traveling abroad. In a press statement, the party urged the government not to take revenge against opposition leaders or promote impunity. It also criticized the government’s directive to the police not to arrest or take action against individuals involved in vandalism and arson, calling it a mockery of the rule of law. Earlier, the CPN-UML had also objected to the decision. Leaders from both parties have expressed concern that such actions could hinder the environment necessary for holding free and fair elections on Oct 1.

The multiple GenZ protest groups, divided by different demands and political ideologies, are now attempting to unite on common causes such as ending corruption, promoting good governance, providing relief to the families of those killed during protests, and ensuring successful elections. However, there are concerns that some forces may try to exploit the GenZ protestors to serve their own agendas. There are reports that GenZ protestors are planning another demonstration in Kathmandu on Oct 9. However, some leading activists have released video messages denying such plans, expressing a desire to avoid violence in the coming days.

There is growing public concern over Mayor Balendra Shah, who was previously seen as a driving force behind the GenZ protests but has remained silent after the violence. He is under scrutiny for reportedly failing to send fire trucks when protestors set Singha Durbar on fire. Since the protests, Shah has mostly stayed quiet but has ramped up public relations efforts highlighting the progress made by the Metropolitan City. Though he remains popular among youth, his approval rating has slightly declined for the first time since being elected mayor in 2022.

Within the CPN-UML, some leaders are projecting former President Bidya Devi Bhandari as a potential party chairperson to replace the incumbent KP Sharma Oli. Recently, Bhandari held consultations with several politicians and intellectuals regarding the current political situation. Despite facing internal challenges, Oli has indicated he does not intend to step down, claiming he remains "popular among the people." However, his public reputation has taken a hit. In previous crises, Oli often played the "nationalist card" to regain support, but this time, it appears to be ineffective now.

Nepalis are now preparing for the main day of the Dashain festival on Oct 2, when people receive Tika and blessings from elders and respected members of their families. This year, President Ram Chandra Poudel and Prime Minister Sushila Karki will not be offering Tika to the public in light of the deaths of over 74 people during the GenZ protests. According to Nepal Police, more than one million people have left Kathmandu to celebrate Dashain, leaving the Valley nearly empty. Except for essential shops, most markets remain closed. On a positive note, major highways across Nepal remain functional despite minor landslides in some areas.

People who have reached their hometowns to celebrate the Dashain festival appear joyful.  They are sharing short videos of their villages, highlighting their deep connection to their birthplace, local environment, culture, and warmth of family love and reunion. I am really missing home and plan to leave early tomorrow morning.

Even during the Dashain festival, the newsletter will continue without interruption.

Happy Dashain to all.

Kamal Dev Bhattarai

Editor 

More than 611,657 people have left Kathmandu Valley during the nine days since Ghatasthapana, according to the Valley Traffic Police Office.

Data shows that from Ghatasthapana (September 22) to today, this number of passengers departed through various exit points. In the last 24 hours alone, 58,396 people left the Valley.

Traffic Police spokesperson and Superintendent of Police Nareshraj Subedi said that with the start of Dashain, the number of people leaving Kathmandu has surged. “The flow of vehicles entering and exiting the Valley is normal, though the number of outbound passengers has sharply increased,” he said.

In the past 24 hours, 13,326 passenger vehicles departed from the Valley, bringing the total to 113,415 vehicles since Ghatasthapana. Most of these passengers are heading to districts in the eastern, western, and far-western provinces.

Meanwhile, the Valley has also seen 319,015 arrivals in 77,545 vehicles during the same period. Major exit and entry points—including Koteshwor, Kalanki, Balkhu, New Bus Park, and Jagati—have witnessed heavy passenger movement.

Nepalis living abroad have been urged to contribute to Nepal’s Physical Infrastructure Reconstruction Fund, established to rebuild government structures destroyed during the recent GenZ Movement protests.

Nepal’s embassies and missions abroad have appealed to Nepalis overseas to extend financial support to the fund. The protests on Sept 8–9 led to arson and vandalism targeting major government institutions, including Singhadurbar, the Parliament building, the Prime Minister’s residence, the President’s Office, courts, police stations, and several other state structures. Many offices were completely destroyed in the violence.

To address the damage, the Cabinet meeting on Sept 21 issued the Infrastructure Reconstruction Committee (Formation) Order 2082 and established a reconstruction fund under the Ministry of Finance. The ministry has requested both domestic and overseas Nepalis to contribute.

The Nepali Embassy in Qatar has issued a public notice calling for contributions, highlighting that the fund will be used for reconstruction, economic recovery, and relief programs. Nepali missions in Iran, Kuwait, Israel, and Cyprus have made similar appeals through social media and official channels, urging Nepalis and Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs) to take part in the national rebuilding campaign.

Meanwhile, NRN communities abroad have also begun organizing fundraising programs. The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has stressed that it is both a responsibility and a duty to contribute during the country’s crisis. NRNA President Mahesh Kumar Shrestha, in a statement, noted that the association has consistently supported Nepal during past disasters such as earthquakes and floods, and called on all NRNs worldwide to contribute to the reconstruction campaign.

The contributions, according to the NRNA, will help restore administrative services, ensure security, and support long-term national rebuilding efforts.

Thousands of devotees stood in serpentine lines to get blessings and worship Goddess Taleju Bhawani as the doors to the temple opened just for a day in the year. Devotees stood in line stretching across the Basantapur Durbar Square eves as goats were being sacrificed on the open square in front of Gaddhi Baithak.

Open once a year on the day of Maha Nawami, Taleju Bhawani is regarded as the main goddess of Newa, as well as the savior of children. The Taleju Bhawani temple situated within the Hanumandhoka Durbar area is opened only on the day of Mahanawami or Ashwin Shukla Nawami (the ninth day in the month of Asoj as per lunar calendar) every year.

Meanwhile, the Tulaja Bhawani goddess was taken amidst a ritualistic procession to the Mulchowk area of the Hanumandhoka Durbar Area at an auspicious hour. The statue of the goddess will be kept at Mulchowk where a special puja would be offered at midnight on Mahaastami by sacrificing 54 he-goats and 54 he-buffaloes.

The ancient temple which dates back to Malla-era opens only on the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Asoj as per the lunar calendar. Special worship is performed to Durga Bhawani on the occasion of the Mahanawami and the ‘jamara’ which have been germinated is offered to the goddesses at various shrines.

The Durga Saptasati and Devi Strota scriptures are also recited at homes and in temples on this day. As mentioned in the Markandeya Purana, Goddess Chamunda had slain the demon Raktabij on the day of Mahanawami. So, there is special worship of the goddess on this day with the offering of animal sacrifices. On this day, the security forces also perform what is called the ‘kot puja’ or worship of the armories.

The day of Maha Nawami is also considered as the final day to make sacrifices to Goddess Durga and her various incarnations during Dashain. The tenth day of the fortnightly festival of Dashain witnesses people touring round the house of their elders seeking blessings and Tika on the forehead.

It is believed that the sacrifices should be completed before putting on the tika on the forehead on the day of Bijaya Dashami or the tenth day of the festival. Starting from the tenth day, there is an existing culture where the tika on the forehead is offered till the day of Kojagrat Purnima or the 15th day of the festival of Dashain.

The grand statue of the goddess Taleju is placed at Mulchowk and worshipped until the day of Bijaya Dashami. It is taken to the temple sanctum sanctorum on the morning of Bijaya Dashami amidst a religious procession.