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Senior journalist Manoj Joshi donated Rs 21, 100 to the family of Prema (19) of Marek, Mahalaxmi Municipality-2 of Dhanuka district who has been battling with a rare bone marrow disease.

After The Himalayan Times, an English language daily newspaper in Nepal, published a news that Prema, a student of Bachelors in Science, has been struggling in her fight against acute leukemia, a rare bone marrow disease, at the Civil Hospital in Kathmandu owing to lack of sufficient financial resources, he provided the money to Prema thinking that it would help in her treatment to some extent. 

“Journalist Joshi's help is very important and valuable to us at a time when we are appealing for the people to help them to save the life of Prema,” Prema’s father Bishnu Kumar Rogu said.

Joshi said that he gets self-satisfaction when he helps the people who have not been able to get the treatment due to the financial crisis.

The senior journalist thinks that no one should die an untimely death due to lack of treatment.

That is why, Joshi said that the government should give special priority to health, education, employment and housing.

Journalist Joshi said that he feels proud and happy when a person he helps becomes healthy, strong and capable in future.

He said that he will give continuity to these kinds of social works in the coming days also.

President Ram Chandra Paudel has said that the Bibaha Panchami festival celebrated in the Mithila region since ancient times carried cultural and historical significance. The President has also expressed his belief that this festival would promote national unity and help strengthen the spirit of harmony, tolerance and fraternity in the country.

In a message of best wishes today on the occasion, President Paudel has also wished that the ancient cultural festival of Bibaha Panchami inspires everyone to further strengthen the spirit of national unity while maintaining solidarity among the country's social and cultural diversity. He has expressed his belief that the festival would motivate all Nepalis to move forward to build a civilized and disciplined society by protecting and promoting our folk and indigenous culture.

President Paudel has extended his best wishes to all Nepali sisters and brothers on the occasion of the Bibaha panchami, which is celebrated to commemorate the special day of the auspicious marriage of Lord Shri Ram and Goddess Janaki.

As part of Bibaha Panchami, a Mithila cultural festival, the marriage procession left for Janakpur via Jaleshwar from Matihani in Mahottari this morning.

It is an old tradition whereby holy men and women come to Janakpur from Ayodhya during the Ramjanaki marriage festival. In addition to Ayodhya, saints from different parts of India come to attend the festival.

As per the schedule, it was customary to reach Matihani on the first night, Jaleshwar on the second night, Sahodwa in Mahottari on the third night and Janakpur on the fourth day. Baidyanath Chowdhury,65, of Banauli village of Pipra rural municipality said that it is a tradition for the local people to welcome in the incoming guests with good deeds to the places determined for lunch and dinner.

Meanwhile, residents of the pilgrimage route area (Matihani-Jaleshwar-Pipra-Janakpur) say that the attraction of the fair festival is decreasing and a limited number of saints and pilgrims come these days.

Ramjanaki festival, which is celebrated throughout the week in Janakpurdham, is celebrated to commemorate the marriage of Shriram, son of Ayodhya King Dasharath, and Sita, daughter of King Janak of Mithila.

On the main day of the festival, Swayambar ceremony is held in Janakpurdham.

Manoj Jha, Professor of Maithili Language and Literature at Yajnavalkya Lakshminarayan Vidyapith in Matihani, says that according to Maithil traditions the participants will be entertained with the normal rituals of a marriage ceremony.

Kameshwar Jha, an expert on Maithil culture and traditions, suggests that the new generation of Maithil youth should take the lead for maintaining the glory of this ancient festival.

Kathmandu Metropolitan City has started confiscating tobacco products from shops, a day after imposing a blanket ban on the storage, sale, distribution and use of such products. On Thursday, it raided shops in the metropolis, seizing betel quid, gutkha, cigarettes and other chewing tobacco products. KMC has warned that it will shut shops violating the ban.

Acting chief of the Metropolitan Police, SP Bishnu Joshi, informed that they seized two sackfuls of tobacco products from Balaju area, two bagfuls from the Jadibuti-Koteshwar area and three sackfuls from other places in the Kathmandu valley on Thursday.

The metropolis has mobilized five teams comprising 10 people each to keep a tab on selling tobacco products along with police personnel in plainclothes.

“For up to two instances of violation of the ban, tobacco products will be confiscated from the shops in question. The third instance of violation will lead to the shop’s closure,” said SP Joshi.

KMC had published a 15-day notice on Nov 28 announcing a ban on public consumption, sale and storage of all types of tobacco products, including raw tobacco and gutkha, in accordance with the Tobacco Control and Regulation Act, 2011.

Section 11 (4) of the Act states that the government of Nepal may prohibit the retail sales and distribution of cigarettes, quid of tobacco (Bidi) or cigar sticks by publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette.

KMC has banned the sale of cigarettes and smoking at a perimeter of 100 meters around public places, slapping a fine of up to Rs 100 on each violation. 

Meanwhile, KMC has also requested citizens to use KMC Police Force’s hotline 18105000060 or telephone numbers 01-5901763/01-5901764 to inform them about the violation of the ban.