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Kathmandu: According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, today will see partly cloudy conditions in the hilly areas of the country, while the weather will remain clear in other regions. The division predicts generally clear weather, despite the influence of the westerly wind.

Meteorologist Raju Pradhananga concurs, forecasting partly cloudy conditions in the hilly areas and clear weather in the remaining regions. There's a possibility of isolated light rain accompanied by thunderstorms in a few places within the hilly areas of Sudurpaschim, Karnali, and Gandaki provinces.

Additionally, snowfall is expected in the high hilly and mountainous regions of Sudurpaschim, Karnali, and Gandaki provinces.

Maha Navami, the ninth day of Bada Dashain, is being observed today by offering special worship to Goddess Durga.

Special worship is performed at the Dashainghar and Kota as well as different temples of Goddesses where billy goats, ducks, pigeons, and he-buffaloes are sacrificed today. Similarly, Durga Saptashati and Devi Stotra are recited at home as well as in different shrines today.

A large number of devotees gather at various shrines of the country to perform worship today, the last day of Navaratra.

On this day, security forces also perform kot puja or worship of armories.

Similarly, the Taleju temple located at Hanumandhoka in the federal capital is also opened for devotees to pay homage on this day. Preparations have been completed for devotees to pay homage at the temple, it has been said.

Festive season has started in Nepal and people are planning for different recreation activities while utilizing their long spare hours during festivals. Reading has remained one of the great pastimes. In Nepal, reading is linked to something scholarly work, only done by book freaks or experts. However, reading is for people of all walks and age groups. No matter if you are a housewife, a musician, a literate mason, a businessman or any other professional, reading can change your life after you delve deeper and create a habit of reading well published texts.

Our lives are getting busier and busier with the development and modernization. For the sake of progress, we are focusing on the outward. Reading during festivals gives us the opportunity to self-reflect and look towards our inner self. By reading, I mean reading different kinds of books ranging from stories, novels, biography, memoir, travelog, poetry, drama, essays, interviews, magazines, comics, blogs, newspapers, websites and others. Readers who continually engage in leisure reading possess higher self-esteem because they are able to comprehend the reading material they read. Many researchers have come to the conclusion that those who regularly do leisure reading tend to achieve better academic results due to increased knowledge and their wide general knowledge.

Leisure reading can be reading newspapers or niche websites as well. You can read an interesting essay or story in the newspaper which may not demand your serious thought. The best part of leisure reading is that you need not work hard, yet enjoy the process of reading itself and find joy in the segments. One can improve reading comprehension, reduce stress and improve achievement in one’s discipline through leisure reading.

Reading for the sake of reading has proven to yield various benefits. Passive reading, or reading for the sake of pleasure is significant to develop reading habits in the long run. Reading books during holidays keeps you stimulated. When you are not working, your idea generation and brainstorming habits can be impaired. Thus, with books you continue to develop thought patterns while you read words. When you do not participate in social meetings or office gatherings, reading books keeps you self-engaged. While you pass your leisure time, chances are high that you keep learning something new while you read.

There are different platforms available to read nowadays. The common and popular one is the print form. You can visit the bookstores in person, buy and read the books. You can also read books in digital formats on your personal computers or laptops. For that, you can buy e-books online and some free e-books are also available on the web. With technological progress, if you want to read for longer hours and with more convenience, you can read on Kindle devices. The devices are lightweight and the feel they provide is similar to reading physical books.

All age groups and walks of people can engage themselves in reading. Reading materials have been developed age-specific and discipline-specific. If your children are a third or a fourth grader, there are specific story books with illustrations and text size that are suitable for their reading age. If you are a high school goer, there are comics and novels suitable to your reading age and competency. If you are not a professional and just an ordinary person, there are different self-help books that match your interest. There are also biographies and memoirs to start with, for your reading habit. If you have interest in research, you can read journal articles based on your discipline. You cannot excuse yourself for not reading because there are varieties of materials as per your personality and just far from your fingertips.

In this festive season, you may have already planned to read books but you may be stuck on deciding the kinds of books to read. In order to decide the kind of book, I present to you some tips that will help you. First, you can go through/scan book reviews published recently in newspapers, news portals and magazines. If anything seems to match your interest, you can pick it. The other way is asking for recommendations from your teachers, mentors or friends. They can understand what you are seeking in the book and thus recommend out of their knowledge and information. Thirdly, you can visit the bookstores that are popular for possessing large quantities of books. You can visit them, check the books out of your preferred domain and read the synopsis. You can do the same visiting the book portals that place the book synopsis. The fourth option can be joining the virtual book clubs and book groups. You can find the reviews put by the members, join the conversation about the books and get recommendations.

We strongly believe that when it comes to home décor, there are no rules. The key is to have fun and experiment. And what better time could there be to play around and spruce up your décor than Dashain and Tihar? This is that time of the year when you will be home and you will also have guests over so it’s important you make your living space a well-loved and cared for one. We bring to you some easy tips and tricks that can help elevate your lifestyle this festive season.

Have fun with lights

Lights are the easiest way to revamp your space. You can consider switching out the light fixtures at home to more elaborate ones. Or even swap the ones you have to change the look of a room. For a more non-fuss, easy-on-the-pocket option, invest in some string lights and hang them in strategic locations, like the entryway of your home or over bookshelves and such. You can use them to accentuate specific areas of your home or create an overall festive atmosphere. The choice is yours. 

Candles, too, can be another cheap alternative. Buy some chunky ones and spread them throughout your home. Floating candles, paired with some flower petals, can add charm to your space without making it look over the top. You can also add some stick candles on the dining table. The good thing about candles is that they come in many colors and sizes and can be placed in holders or on stands. They can create a warm and inviting ambiance without clashing with any kind of décor style.

Flower power

Flowers instantly brighten up a home. But they can be a tad on the expensive side, especially during festivals. A good idea would be to purchase a few long stems of roses, gerberas, and sunflowers, stick one or two in small vases or glass jars, and spread them around the house. You can repurpose old liquor bottles for this or even use tall cocktail glasses. Flower petals in small bowls also look great. Make sure to use transparent glass bowls for this though. 

While we don’t really advocate the use of artificial flowers, used sparingly they can add a certain charm to your space without you having to take care of them. Find some to match your décor and create an arrangement but don’t go overboard with them. Look for ones that aren’t too loud and are as close to the real ones. Lilies and sunflowers can be good options. The idea is to have them blend in with the real ones.

Bring out the brass

Brass can be a really good way to add a touch of oomph to your space. So, bring out your puja items, like that bell, incense holders, diyas, and thaalis, and get creative with them. You can use them in various ways around the house. Use your puja thaali to create a coffee table centerpiece. Add a candle, some incense sticks, and maybe a flower or two to decorate the tray. Use brass diyas in place of candles or place tea lights on them and use them together. Brass light fixtures, the ones that are used as oil lamps in pujas, make for an interesting dining table décor.

Original style with origami

Origami can be great fun. There are many YouTube tutorials on how to make different shapes and designs. Buy a bunch of colored paper. They are available at stationery stores around town. You can also get special origami paper at many of these places. Pick a design you like—we recommend cranes, butterflies, or flowers—and make a bunch of them first and then string them together. You can use this in place of garlands against the wall or in an archway. Origami in blues, yellows, and pinks make up a beautiful ensemble and can also be used as decorative items throughout the house. 

Another really cool option would be to hang different colored kites from your balcony to give your home a festive look. They add a fun element to your home. So, buy a bunch or make some miniature ones yourself.