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On Jan 22, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the Ram Temple in Ayodhya, the birthplace of Lord Ram. Over 7,500 invited participants are expected to attend the opening ceremony which has drawn international attention.  In 2020, Modi laid the foundation stone of the Ram temple at Ayodhya.

Ayodhya’s Vedic ritual began from Jan 17 which included the Pran Pratishtha ceremony which marked a pivotal step in the festivities following the worship of Lord Ganesha. Thursday will witness the commencement of special rituals like Mandap entry puja, vastu puja and Varun Puja. On Jan 19, a Yagya fire pit will be prepared and on January 20, the sanctum Sanctorum of the Ram Mandir will undergo purification with the placement of 81 Kalash with water from various rivers, and on Jan 22, Indian PM Modi will inaugurate the temple.  

According to AP, the temple is being built at an estimated cost of $217m, but it is far from complete. The site is filled with roaring bulldozers and busy builders still working on the elaboration of 46 doors—42 of which will have a layer of gold totaling around 100 kilograms—and numerous carvings that will form the final architecture of the temple, AP reports.

The temple, a three-story structure clad in pink sandstone stretches across 2.9 hectares in a 28-hectare complex. According to AP, it will have a 1.3 meter idol of Lord Ram. The temple has been divided into six parts, including the sanctum sanctorum and five pavilions—Gun Mandap, Rang Mandap, Nritya Mandap, Kirtan Mandap, Prathana Mandap.

The opposition Indian Congress has declared that it would skip the inauguration ceremony dubbing it a political project of BJP and RSS. “Religion is a personal matter. But RSS\BJP have long made a political project of the temple in Ayodhya. The inauguration of the incomplete temple by the leaders of the BJP and the RSS has been obviously brought forward for electoral gain,” read a statement from senior party leader Jairam Ramesh.

The Ayodhya Ram Temple is one of important pilgrimage sites and it is significant for Hindus worldwide, including the Hindus in Nepal which constitute more than 80 percent population. Janakpurdham has dispatched bhar special gifts as offerings to Ayodhya; a team has gone there carrying the special offerings for Ayodhya under the Janakpurdham-Ayodhyadam religious procession.

According to RSS, upholding the tradition, Janakpurdham, as the maternal home of Sita, who was married to the then crown prince of Ayodhya sent the offerings. The offerings encompass various types of jewelry, utensils, clothing and sweets, decoratively arranged in specially crafted bamboo baskets.  A team of around 300 devotees has left for Aydohya with Gharbasak Bhar or gifts for a housewarming occasion. Two Shila big boulders lifted from the bank of the Kaligandaki River of Nepal were also sent last year.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) collected around Rs 5 billion in revenue in the first half of the current fiscal year 2023/24.

The collection is higher by around 350 million than that of the corresponding period in the last fiscal year.

KMC Revenue Department Chief Dhruba Kafle said that the highest revenue collection for the KMC was from the house rent tax at over Rs 1.35 billion followed by tax on property at over Rs 670 million.

The swelling in the size of taxpayers is attributed to increase in revenue collection. The KMC has aimed to generate over Rs 10 billion in revenue for the current fiscal year.

KMC has been collecting revenue under 36 different headings including property, home maintenance, business registration, advertisement, entertainment, real estate, VAT and vehicles among others, informed Kafle.

If revenue collection goes at the same pace, the KMC would meet its annual revenue collection target at the end of the fiscal year, he said.

The KMC intensifying the tax collection drive also led to collect the outstanding amount for a long thereby contributing to increase in revenue collection.

A contingent of 30-Armed Police Force (APF) personnel, under the command of an inspector, has been deployed at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) to oversee customs checks.

The mobilization of the Armed Police Force (APF) in customs affairs aims to ensure effective customs checks and enhance security, said Dr Tokraj Pandey, the chief customs administrator of TIA.

"The decision to involve the APF in customs checks comes in response to the finance ministerial-level request and the decision of the Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister. The APF personnel are working in five shifts on a daily basis to conduct customs checks at the airport," he added.

The move to seek direct supervision and involvement of the APF in customs duties is expected to improve airport security and facilitate more effective service delivery.

Back when I was a student, I used to explore my mother’s kitchen boxes looking for something, even though I wasn’t sure what exactly. This searching habit would take over when my mother wasn’t around. One day, I opened a case carefully wrapped in cloth, and the wonderful smell immediately hit my nose and mind. It turned out to be Garam Masala. In those days, these spices were rare, but my father, who was an Indian Gurkha Soldier, probably brought them home.

The small container was filled with cinnamon, bay leaves, cardamom, cloves, mace (javitri), peppercorns, black cardamom (alachi), nutmeg (jayphal), and lots of Pipala – the Piper Longum. I never asked why there was more Pipala than other spices. Many years later, I realized that it was our own product and was freely available near the river stream next to our home. This spice is what makes our Garam Masala different from others in the Indian Subcontinent. We can compare Pipala to Timur (Sichuan pepper), which helps it stand out and represent Nepali cuisine in the culinary world.

Embarking on a journey through history, culture, and delicious flavors, Long Pepper, or Pipala, emerges as a hero among spices, tracing its roots to the heart of our culture. The cone-shaped pepper is like a hidden gem, connecting tales from ancient Ayurvedic traditions to Mediterranean opulence and medieval European kitchens.

Long pepper, known for its medicinal benefits in Ayurveda, has made a strong comeback in modern kitchens. This spice goes beyond just cooking; ancient texts highlight its role in improving health, desire, and vitality. From Ayurvedic remedies to aiding sleep and acting as a stimulant, long pepper adds an interesting layer to its culinary and medicinal significance.

Moving westward, Romans loved long pepper even more than black pepper. In ancient Rome, it was prestigious, commanding double the price of black pepper. The complexities of distinguishing between these peppers intrigued scholars like Pliny, emphasizing the mystery surrounding this spice. Throughout the medieval era, long pepper remained popular, with people even using it as currency and esteemed chefs listing it as an essential spice.

However, trade winds changed during the 15th and 16th centuries, favoring the accessibility of black pepper through sea routes. This flooded European markets and cast a shadow over long pepper. Forgotten for a while, long pepper recently reemerged.

In the modern culinary scene, Long Pepper is making a comeback, captivating chefs and spice enthusiasts alike. Dubbed the ‘forgotten spice,’ the unique flavor, reminiscent of Garam Masala, adds a special touch to dishes. With its inch-long cone structure and a blend of heat, musk, and sweetness, Long Pepper offers a sensory journey similar to an accordion playing out exotic flavors.

Nepal’s hilly and subtropical regions are where long pepper is cultivated. Flourishing in well-drained soils and thriving in slightly warm climates, this perennial climber often finds support in trees or other structures. The cultivation process, mainly organic, utilizes natural soil fertility, occasionally supplemented by cow dung as fertilizer. Harvesting long pepper spikes, the flowering parts of the plant, happens when they retain their green, pungent essence. Sun-drying these spikes until they achieve a distinctive grayish hue is crucial to the process.

The yield of long pepper in Nepal increases over time, with a substantial harvest following the plant’s third year. To maintain productivity, farmers periodically replace older vines. The economic and medicinal importance of long pepper in Nepal is significant. Serving as a financial safety net, its ability to be stored for extended periods post-drying allows farmers to sell it gradually, supplementing their income as needed. In traditional medicine, the roots and thicker stem parts are essential components in Ayurvedic and traditional healing systems.

In Nepali cuisine, long pepper fruits add a pungent flavor to dishes and contribute to pickles, preserves, and the revered Nepali Garam Masala. Medicinally, this spice is a go-to remedy for respiratory ailments such as cough, bronchitis, and asthma. Its peppery taste induces salivation and oral numbness, also serving as a counter-irritant and analgesic for muscular pains and inflammation.

Moreover, long pepper has diverse medicinal applications in Nepal, acting as a sedative, general tonic, hematinic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, anthelmintic, and addressing maladies like dysentery and leprosy.

To wrap it up, I want to share a quote from someone who commented anonymously on an article about Pipala: “I realized that we Nepali are like Kasturi (Deer musk), running around in search of prosperity. Even though valuable products like Pipala are abundant in the hills of Nepal, we are still facing challenges globally. I was hoping this article would guide me on how to connect Pipala to the market.” I completely agree with this line of thought. The issue is connecting the market to the people who harvest Pipala.

The author is a UK-based R&D chef