Rishi Panchami being observed today
The Hindu women across the country are observing the Rishi Panchami festival today as per the rituals. The festival, the concluding day of the Teej, is observed on the fifth day of the bright half-moon of the month of Bhadra.
Hindu women reaching their menstruation period observe this festival with due respect and importance by fasting and paying homage to the Saptarshis (seven powerful saints as per the Hindu mythology) with a belief that they will be blessed and forgiven for all sins they believed to have committed during the menstrual cycle.
On the day, those observing the festival wake up early in the morning, go to nearby rivers, streams, ponds and lakes and take bath with established rituals. They clean their body with 365 stems of Apamarga, a medicinal plant; take bath with cow dung and soil collected from sacred places and ash.
The fasting ritual requires the devotee to take bath in the morning and carry out prayers after which the person is required to eat grains, vegetables, wild fruits, Kandamul, guava for a single meal and fast again.
On this day, women devotees throng the Shrisheshwar Temple in Teku of the capital city, Kathmandu, and other Rishi Temples across the nation for homage and worship.
20 die, 103 infected as Japanese encephalitis spreads across the country
The Department of Health Services has reported that the number of people being infected with Japanese encephalitis is increasing in the country.
So far, 103 people have been confirmed to be infected with Japanese encephalitis, and of them 20 have died, said Chief of Child Health and Vaccination Unit Dr Abhiyan Gautam.
He also said that Japanese encephalitis infections have been mostly found in people who have not been vaccinated.
People from Jhapa, Morang, Tehrathum, Bara, Sindhuli, Arghakhanchi, Pyuthan, Dang, Bardiya, Kailali, Rautahat, Nawalparasi East, Chitwan and Nawalparasi West have died from the infection.
According to health workers, Japanese encephalitis is caused by the bite of mosquitoes, especially of the Culex species.
It causes serious brain infections, leading to even death in some serious conditions.
4 killed, 6 injured in Dadeldhura jeep accident
Four persons died on the spot when a jeep they were travelling in met with an accident in Dadeldhura on Thursday.
The four-wheeler (Se 1 Ja 738) was heading towards Dadeldhura from Chama when the incident occurred at Ukallikande, Nawadurga Rural Municipality-5, Dadeldhura at around 8 am today.
The deceased have been identified as Suresh Saud, Suresh Parki (23), Tara Awasthi (40) and Kalawati Saud (72) of Nawadurga Rural Municipality-5, Inspector Dambar Bista of the District Police Office, Dadeldhura informed.
Six persons were injured in the accident. They have been identified as Sushila BK (18), Pratika Karki (4), Chandra Bahadur Saud (48), driver Ram Bahadur Saud (35), Ganesh Bahadur Saud (42) and Prakash BK (44) of Nawadurga Rural Municipality-5.
They are undergoing treatment at the Dadeldhura Hospital, police said.
The jeep fell some 400 meters down the road. The reason behind the accident is yet to be ascertained.
Landslide obstructs Kaligandaki Corridor
Vehicular movement along the Kaligandaki Corridor has been obstructed due to a landslide triggered by incessant rainfall at Rakse in Kaligandaki Rural Municipality-2, Gulmi this morning.
The road is yet to be opened for traffic despite mobilization of security personnel with necessary equipment, said Information Officer of the District Police Office, Ganga Bahadur Saru.
The rain has not stopped since Wednesday afternoon.
