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The New York Writers Workshop Kathmandu recently concluded workshops held at various picturesque locations around the valley, including their base at Park Village Resort, Budhanilkantha. Participants and faculty also embarked on cultural excursions, visiting iconic sites like Pashupatinath, Swayambhunath, and Bouddhanath. They explored the rich history of Changunarayan, the grandeur of Basantapur Durbar Square, and the vibrant markets of Asan and Indrachowk.

Workshop attendees, hailing from diverse corners of the globe, were accompanied by representatives from White Lotus Book Shop, who facilitated connections with the local people and culture. Inspired by their experiences at holy shrines like Pashupatinath and Changunarayan, participants created poems and stories that were shared during workshops.

Yuyutsu Sharma, curator of the Himalayan Literature Festival, shared that some of the workshop participants plan to present their work at the upcoming festival, which will take place at Kathmandu Guest House in Thamel on May 27 and 28.

The festival promises a vibrant showcase of international literary talent. Workshop writers, captivated by Nepal’s cultural tapestry and natural beauty, are crafting poems, stories, and even photography based on their experiences.  Several plan to create lasting artistic expressions upon returning home, with some considering documentaries exploring Nepal's rich ethnic diversity and customs. Authors are enthusiastic about translating their workshop creations into languages like Greek, Spanish, and Panamanian. Further excursions to Pokhara and Chitwan are planned, allowing them to deepen their understanding and translate their experiences into various literary forms.

The festival boasts an esteemed faculty, including Prof. Tim Tomlinson, Dr. Piia Mustamaki, Dr Ravi Shankar (workshops for GATE College), and Tony Barnstone, Ruth Danon, and Jami Proctor Xu (workshops for Kathmandu International School, Guheswori).

The festival will be inaugurated by Rob Fenn, the UK Ambassador to Nepal. He will be joined by distinguished guests, including co-founders of the New York Writers Workshop, Tim Tomlinson and Dr Ravi Shankar.

The festival will take place across three venues within Kathmandu Guest House. Following the inauguration, there will be various programs including panel discussions on Ghazal and the evolving role of magazines, as well as a Nepali poetry reading session. Renowned writer K Satchidanandan will also be in conversation, while other panels explore themes of ‘Home and Beyond’ and the ‘Culture of Silence.’

The festival will also feature multilingual poetry readings. Rajni Mila is set to moderate the Nepal Bhasa poetry session, while Tony Barnstone will lead a discussion on translation with renowned translators.

There will also be book launches and signings, with around 12 books scheduled for release, including the latest City Issue of Pratik magazine. Authors like Gorka Lasa, Tony Barnstone, and Shyam Rimal will be among those presenting their works.

The festival will also pay homage to the revered Nepali poet Gopal Prasad Rimal. His son, Madan Rimal, will speak about his father at the opening session. The festival also features the inauguration of Rimal’s English translations and a stage performance of his poetry by the Garden Theatre Community. A panel discussion on Rimal’s life and times is also scheduled for May 28.

The festival encourages interaction between international and Nepali literary figures. Photographer Bikas Rauniar will engage in a discussion on the ‘Art of Photography’ with Boston-based photographer Julie Williams-Krishnan.

Nepali literature is well-represented with panels like ‘The Space of Nepali Literature in Nepalese Media’, featuring prominent writers like Yubaraj Ghimire and Narayan Wagle, moderated by Ken Subedi. Critic Ganesh Khaniya will discuss the latest novel by Akhanda Bhandari, and a panel titled ‘Nepali Writing Now’ will delve into current trends in the Nepali literary scene.

The Himalayan Literature Festival promises a comprehensive experience for literature enthusiasts, offering a platform for exploring Nepali, Indian, and international writing trends across various genres.

Amphibians represent a diverse array of creatures that have captivated the interest of both scientists and nature enthusiasts. Renowned for their extraordinary ability to thrive in both aquatic and terrestrial environments, examples of amphibians include frogs, toads, salamanders, and newts. According to the 2024 Amphibia web database, there are a staggering 8,737 species of amphibians worldwide. In Nepal, as outlined in ‘An Updated Checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles of Nepal’, the amphibian fauna comprises 57 species spread across 22 genera, eight families, and three orders, with Nepal hosting 55 frog species, one salamander species, and one caecilian species.

In Nepal, amphibians are least studied creatures due to conservation efforts tend to prioritize furry and and feathery vertebrate species, such as tigers, snow leopards, and rhinos.This is because amphibians  are not considered charismatic enough to receive the same level of attention and conservation focus.  As a consequence of this bias in conservation focus, there is limited knowledge shared among people about small species like frogs, salamanders and caecilians.There are only very few organizations working in such species in Nepal to popularize them like Nepal Conservation and Research Center (NCRC), Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society (BRCS) and Environment Protection and Study Center (ENPROSC).

NCRC is working in the ‘Himalayan Frogs Conservation Initiative in Nepal’, ‘Lowland frogs of Nepal’ and collaboratively with BRCS in ‘Himalayan Salamander Conservation Project’. Similarly, ENPROSC is working on the ‘Croaking Monsoon Project’ which is the citizen science approach to explore the ecology of frogs throughout Nepal. Sadly, due to lack of funding only little ecology of these amphibians are studied but the behavior, reproductive biology and genetics of the creatures are poorly known.

These remarkable creatures play vital roles within ecosystems, serving as both predators, which help regulate populations of insects and other small invertebrates, and as essential food sources for larger predators. By occupying various niches within food webs, amphibians contribute significantly to the equilibrium and stability of ecosystems.

For the rest of the world, worshiping frogs sounds bizarre, but the native inhabitants (Newars) of Kathmandu, Nepal have been following the ritual for many decades. The tradition has been named ‘Byan: jaa nakegu’ meaning to feed rice to frogs. The exact answer is unknown why people continue to feed and worship frogs. Whatever the initial reasons and stories might be, many believe the rituals of feeding and worshiping frogs reminds people of their connection with nature.Similarly, the people of Nepal perform marriage ceremonies of frogs if there is long drought in the belief that their marriage will bring the rain.

Moreover,frogs locally called as Paha are also collected and  consumed in Nepal. The collection is primarily for food use and secondarily preferred as medicinal forms, and utilized by many ethnic groups like Magar, Rai, Gurung, Jirel, etc. in different parts of the country. In context, caecilian people immediately kill them after seeing them thinking they are venomous snakes.

In addition to this, Himalayan Salamander in eastern Nepal is facing multiple threats such as introduction of exotic fishes in its habitats, modification of its habitat into picnic or recreational sites. Such local extirpation will make us lose an order from Nepal.

Herpetologist Bivek Gautam explains that studying salamanders and caecilians presents numerous challenges. Due to their small size, these creatures often go unnoticed by people, making it difficult to conduct fieldwork and raise awareness about these fascinating species.

Similarly, herpetologist Santosh Bhattarai says that amphibians are encountering several challenges, including habitat loss, water pollution, and the unregulated use of chemicals in agriculture. Additionally, illegal trade and hunting pose significant threats. Furthermore, he added, the lack of research on amphibians in Nepal is concerning, as it increases the risk of extinction before their proper documentation and identification.

Observing this scenario, ‘Amphibian Week’ was celebrated on May 9 with students from the New Ekta English Boarding School in the Madhes, aimed at raising awareness about amphibians. The program was attended by 55 students. The event included presentations, demonstrations of research techniques and tools, documentary screenings, and poster distributions, all designed to inspire and motivate conservation efforts for amphibians within their locality. This initiative received support from organizations such as the Katie Adamson Conservation Fund, Nepal Conservation and Research Center, Biodiversity Research and Conservation Society, and SAVE THE FROGS.

In conclusion, amphibians possess remarkable characteristics, including unique life cycles and adaptations, and they fulfill crucial roles within ecosystems while also serving as indicators of environmental health. Therefore, safeguarding and conserving their habitats are imperative for their survival and the overall well-being of the ecosystems they inhabit. Let us unite at the community level to contribute to amphibian conservation efforts.

Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New Delhi organized a press conference spotlighting monumental advances in plastic surgery techniques as a part of its initiative of providing advanced treatment.

The conference was organized with an aim to highlight the potential for growth in cosmetics and aesthetic procedures due to rising awareness and incomes in India.

The conference featured Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Senior Consultant of Plastic, Cosmetic and Reconstructive Surgery.

He outlined training initiatives at prestigious institutes like Indraprastha Apollo aimed at developing skilled doctors to meet the increasing demand for competent specialists in this field.

The conference also highlighted the immense progress being made in plastic surgery. With rising demand and access paired with ethical, competency-focused training of doctors, Indraprastha Apollo stands poised to provide advanced treatment to people across India.

Over the past year, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital has witnessed some challenging cases of Cosmetic and Plastic surgery and provided treatment via the advanced medical facilities available at the hospital. 

Addressing at the conference, Dr Kuldeep Singh, Senior Consultant, Plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals says “We are honored to provide patients access to the most advanced and minimally invasive techniques in aesthetic beauty procedures. Whether slight touch ups or transformational reconstruction, we apply an ethical, safety-focused approach using the latest technology. Our goal is for every patient to not just look beautiful but feel restored in confidence,” he said, adding, “Our mission is not merely to perform surgical procedures, but to accompany patients on their unique journeys. We strive to provide them with the necessary support, guidance, and information to make informed decisions, ultimately leading to exceptional outcomes. By prioritizing patient empowerment and holistic well-being, we aim to help individuals not only thrive but flourish in every aspect of their lives”.

The government is all set to unveil the budget for fiscal year 2024/25 in the joint meeting of the federal Parliament at 1 pm on May 28.

Devraj Ghimire informed the lawmakers about this in the meeting of  the House of Representatives today.

He said that Finance Minister Barshaman Pun will present the annual estimate of revenue and expenditure for the fiscal year 2023/24.

Speaker Ghimire has urged the lawmakers to enter the Parliament building before 1 pm to take part in the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Parliament on Sunday endorsed the government policies and programs with a majority.