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Police have arrested a person with a pistol and an empty magazine in Raniban, Nagarjun Municipality-1.

The arrestee has been identified as Anil Khadka (24) of Bhagwatimai Rural Municipality-7, Dailekh and currently residing at Raniban, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-16.

A police team deployed from the temporary police beat, Raniban nabbed Khadka with the pistol.

Police said that they are looking into the case.

Tihar is less than a week away and it’s best to get a head start on all the cleaning and organizing lest you find yourself overburdened and thus unable to enjoy the festivities. Most of us wait for Laxmi Puja or a day before to get our homes in order. We are doing chores till the last minute and that way we miss out on the fun as we are tired and just want to get things over with. This year, start early and ensure you have enough time to meet friends and family, enjoy a good meal or two, and make memories to last a lifetime, all without collapsing on your bed at the end of the day.

Tackle the difficult tasks

This weekend, tackle chores that you haven’t paid attention to in a while. Air out your cupboards and clean the shoe cabinets. These places can gather dust and odd smells and airing them out will instantly make your space feel cleaner and fresher. Add some air freshener sachets when you are done. While you are at it, see if there are things—clothes, shoes, accessories—you haven’t used in a while that you would like to give away and put them away in bags and boxes. You can drop them at charity centers like the Sukhawati Store before Tihar for a tidier space.

Deep clean your kitchen equipment

Did you come across some great tricks to clean the microwave or the refrigerator on Instagram? You saved the reel but never actually got around to trying them out? Tihar is the perfect time to do a deep clean of things you use regularly but don’t clean as often, like the oven, washing machine, toaster, etc. Make a list of things you need to clean and tackle a couple each day till Tihar. This way you won’t have to spend too much time on the chores and will also have a cleaner space when it’s finally festival time. Ask your siblings or partner for help.

Give things a fresh coat of paint

Everyone in the city tends to paint their flowerpots during Dashain or Tihar. If you haven’t gotten around to it yet, now is the perfect time. The weather is just right. Getting flower pots painted is the easiest way to make your home festival ready as it infuses a bright, cheery feel to your space. While you are at it, take a look at what else needs a facelift. Perhaps your front door needs a good polish or the compound walls are looking a little drab. Invest in some paint and roller brushes and work those muscles. This actually makes for a fun family activity.

Get out the festive décor and light

It’s not unusual to wait for the last possible minute to hang the Tihar lights. But why not take a cue from the city which is already lit up in many places and bring out the string lights and lanterns at home a few days before Laxmi Puja? That way you won’t be scrabbling to fix them when it’s actually time and will also get to enjoy the festive feel for a few extra days. Give your puja vessels a good wash or wipe down during the weekend and keep them ready. Also, display whatever festive décor items you have at home well in advance so that your home exudes the Tihar vibe all week long.

Buy yourself some flowers

A bunch of flowers in a vase is one of the easiest ways to lend opulence to your living space. If you are someone who doesn’t splurge on flowers, the festival of lights is the perfect excuse to give into this simple luxury. Buy a bunch and watch your space come alive. You can also use garlands to decorate staircases and entryways. Put some flowers and floating candles in large urns and enjoy the simple, satisfying feeling of a cozy night at home.

Thailand’s Ambassador to Nepal Suwapong Sirisorn shared his enthusiasm for music and cultural collaboration between Nepal and Thailand, highlighting both countries' rich traditions in art and culture.

Ambassador Sirisorn expressed a personal love for music, mentioning his admiration for Nepal's folk culture and music.

He noted that Thailand has a tradition of training those interested in music from a young age, and he and his family have a deep-rooted interest in musical pursuits.

The ambassador announced his intention to initiate a joint cultural program featuring both Nepali and Thai artists on Thailand’s National Day, aiming to strengthen cultural ties between the two nations.

Ambassador Sirisorn shared these sentiments at a folk music presentation event organized by the Music Research and Development Forum (MRDF) Nepal.

During the event, Nepali artists performed both traditional Nepali and Thai melodies, using local instruments, and Sirisorn joined the artists by playing the flute to a Thai song, showcasing his musical talent.

The program included performances by Gita Pandey, Rajesh Kumar Shrestha, KC Raja, Sharad Rai and Sukrimaya Moktan (Neema), who played traditional instruments such as the flute, madal, sarangi, and tungna, creating an enchanting musical atmosphere.

On this occasion, senior journalists Shiromani Dawadi and Dabbu Kshetri and Nepalese music initiator Soman Saiju engaged in an interaction with the Ambassador, highlighting the potential support from Thailand for the advancement of Nepali music.

Since 2017, four governments have been formed in Karnali, all of which have upheld the vision of making Karnali an organic province. The initiative began with the first state government under Chief Minister Mahendra Bahadur Shahi, whose government prioritized this goal in its inaugural meeting. Since then, the concept of an organic province has been a recurring theme in the provincial government’s policies and programs.

However, progress on making Karnali an organic province has been slow. The provincial government is now focusing on a key step: banning chemical pesticides. To achieve this, the government has outlined two main strategies: first, prohibiting the entry of pesticide-laden food products from outside Karnali, and second, eliminating the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers within the province. These strategies aim to make Karnali a pesticide-free region.

Karnali currently imports vegetables, fruits, and other food items from India and other provinces, many of which are at risk of containing pesticide residues. Additionally, pesticides are still being used in agriculture within the province. Given these challenges, transitioning to a pesticide-free or organic province will not be easy. Nonetheless, Minister of Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives Binod Kamar Shah, who is also the spokesperson for the provincial government, is committed to the plan. He stated: "We will not allow our citizens to consume food contaminated with pesticides under any circumstances. We will stop pesticide-laden food at the main entry points and discourage the use of chemical pesticides within Karnali."

In the first phase, the government plans to raise awareness among farmers, encouraging them to switch from chemical to organic fertilizers and pesticides. Minister Shah highlighted the harmful effects of chemical pesticides on human health and the environment, emphasizing that the government's organic province plan aims to address these issues. "We will make Karnali an organic province with the cooperation of everyone," he said, assuring collaboration between provincial and local governments.

Pesticide testing at checkpoints

To prevent pesticide-contaminated products from entering Karnali, pesticide testing will be conducted at the main entry points. The provincial government is establishing pesticide testing laboratories at Harre in Surkhet and Kapurkot in Salyan, two key checkpoints. Buildings for these laboratories have already been constructed, and operations are set to begin this year. The government plans to only allow pesticide-free food into Karnali once the testing system is fully operational at these borders.

Minister Shah noted that vegetables and fruits currently arriving through these checkpoints often contain pesticides, but this will change once the testing labs are operational. Any produce found to contain pesticides will be barred from entering the province.

In addition to border controls, the government will conduct public awareness campaigns and monitor local farmers to ensure they are not using chemical pesticides. Minister Shah also mentioned plans to introduce new legislation on pesticide management, which will penalize those who compromise public health by using harmful pesticides.

Meanwhile, a pesticide laboratory has been established in Birendranagar by the Central Agricultural Laboratory under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development. Once operational, it will test samples of vegetables and fruits before they are sold. If pesticide levels exceed permissible limits, the contaminated produce will be destroyed. "We are consuming vegetables and fruits along with the pesticides they contain," said Mahesh Chandra Acharya, head of the Central Agricultural Laboratory. "This laboratory will ensure that only safe, edible items reach the market."

If more than 45 percent pesticide residue is detected in any sample, the produce will be destroyed, Acharya explained.

Local officials are also emphasizing the importance of awareness. Nilakantha Khanal, deputy head of Birendranagar municipality, stressed the need to educate farmers about the benefits of pesticide-free food. District Coordination Committee chief Gangaram Sunar believes that Karnali can achieve its organic province goal by encouraging farmers to adopt organic practices. Similarly, Chitra Rokaya, head of the Integrated Agricultural Laboratory, urged the government to promote pesticide-free production throughout the region.