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On the occasion of the 113th International Women Day, Tourism Entrepreneur Women Association Nepal (TEWAN) has initiated a tourism promotion program along the Korala checkpoint in Myagdi and Mustang from today onward. Representatives from tourism related organizations and mediapersons are participating in the promotional program organized with the support of the Nepal Tourism Board, Ministry of Tourism, Gandaki Province and Pokhara Metropolis. TEWAN Chair Kamala Giri said that a four-day promotion program has been put in place to bounce back COVID-battered tourism industry. The programme includes capacity building of local tourism entrepreneurs among others. At the program, it was said that capacity building training and interaction would also be delivered for the youth and women entrepreneurs in Beni, Jomsom, Thini and Lomanthang. Giri further said that promotion of religious and historical sites including Muktinath and monastery would be put in priority in the promotional program up to Nepal-China border checkpoint, Korala. Program coordinator Shova Adhikari Poudel said that capacity building of local tourism entrepreneurs, digital marketing training, branding of local products and home-stay promotion would be gradually carried out.

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has urged the electricity users not to install street lights on their own without its consent. Issuing a public notice, the NRA has urged the users to immediately install meters for measuring power supply to the street lights. Noting that street lights have a big share of electricity tariff dues, the NEA issued a directive to the concerned to clear the payment without any delay. "The NEA has to face a huge loss in absence of measurement of power consumption in street lamps and clearance of dues. The Authority calls for the concerned people to clear the tariff dues. Please do not install street lamps from the electricity line without consent from the NEA", the notice read.

He’s a police inspector. He’s also a songwriter. Twenty-eight-year-old Bhupendra Budhathoki is a dedicated officer and a talented musician as well. He is determined to carry out his duties to the best of his ability while pursuing his love for music. His work and his passion are two sides of the same coin, he says. Born and raised in Dang in Lumbini province, Budhathoki says he always dreamt of joining the law enforcement. He began his training right after completing his basic schooling and in just two years he had joined the Nepal Police force. Despite many personal setbacks and financial troubles, Budhathoki managed to finish his training. He says that although the job is a challenging one, he is determined to make a difference. Over the years, he has worked on a wide range of cases, from cybercrime to criminal investigations. He is now stationed in Mugu in Karnali Province. “If you really want to achieve something, you will do so, sooner or later,” says Budhathoki, and that applies to him as well. Ever since his childhood, he has always loved to write. “I wrote poems and gazals whenever I was free, especially before I began my training,” he says. But despite wanting to continue with his hobby, it wasn’t easy because of his hectic job as a police officer. The idea of writing songs had been on his mind for a long time. But it took him years after joining the police force to get back into songwriting again. Writing songs, he says, is a way to express his thoughts about what he sees around himself. He says he had discovered that he had a knack for creating music that resonated with others too. So, he started working on songs during his spare time, using his experiences as a police officer for inspiration. Rather than composing the whole song at once, he writes small verses. The songs he writes are mostly about the struggles and challenges that many Nepalis face every day, and his music has brought him a large number of fan following. One of the most remarkable things about him is his ability to balance both his passions for law enforcement and music. But the journey has not been easy. Budhathoki faced financial constraints while trying to release his first song, and also found it challenging to approach people for collaboration during the early stages of his music career. Furthermore, he had no prior experience in the music industry, and he had to learn everything from scratch. Despite these difficulties, Budhathoki didn’t give up. In 2018, his dedication led to the release of his first successful song ‘Hami Nepal Prahari’. He was inspired to write this after realizing there aren’t enough songs about police officers. “So I thought why not compose one myself?” he adds. He then released his second popular song, ‘Phool Bhanau Jindagi lai’, on his own YouTube channel which now has over 11m views. His lyrics have earned him two music awards, namely the Seventh National Award in 2019, and the Second National Brand Music Award in 2022. In Jan 2023, he bagged the YouTube Silver Play Button when his channel hit 100,000 subscribers. Budhathoki doesn’t consider himself a celebrity. “I wasn’t looking to be recognized or famous. I was just trying to pursue my long-lost hobby,” he says. However, his fans are incredibly loyal and dedicated to his music, for which he is grateful. He believes that their loyalty is a testament to the authenticity of his music and the deep messages he conveys through his songs. But pursuing a hobby has led to many accolades too and Budhathoki is happy about it. He says he is proud of himself and where he has reached. “Although I have been busy with my job ever since getting promoted to Police Inspector in 2020, I  have  prepared a bucket list to pursue my interest by writing at least one song a year,” he adds. Apart from his professional and personal achievements, Budhathoki prioritizes his family as well. He is very close to his mother and sister, who are his biggest supporters. He believes that family support is essential if you want to succeed in any field, and he is grateful for the encouragement he receives from his loved ones. “One of the happiest moments for me is when colleagues play my songs at the police station. They enjoy listening to it,” he says. For him, it’s not about having a massive fan following, but rather about creating meaningful connections with his listeners, including people who know him. He hopes that his music will continue to resonate with people and inspire them to bring positive changes in society. “Although I will die someday, I want my songs to live forever,” he says.

A song sung during the Holi festival in Tarai region is fading gradually with the declined interest of the new generation. There are few old people left here to sing the Jogira song, which is a worrying trend for the conservation of cultural song. Vibe of this special song has diminished sharply especially for a decade here. The song sung in tune with various musical instruments such as harmonium, damphoo and majira, used to give a message to the community that Holi was approaching. The song is also special because people exchange feelings of harmony, merriment, and fraternity by singing it. Love and satire are also shared via the Jogira song. Holi is the festival celebrated as a special occasion for the people to forget enmity, envy and discrimination, and to foster fraternity and harmony. The Jogira was such a mighty connection for this in the past. Unfortunately, Jogira is getting replaced by 'disco' music, thereby effacing the cultural originality, the locals worried. A resident of Lumbini, Birendra Mishra, viewed Jogira as an effective medium for the people to exchange happiness and sadness and to protect culture. "Willy-nilly, we are preserving the culture. But the new generation is indulging in new things and forgetting Jogira," he said, warning that once they pass away, the Jogira will also vanish. Moreover, Mishra vented ire that the present day youths are following indecent songs. He also regrets being unable to inspire modern youths to preserve the culture, the Jogira song. In the past, people used to throng public places and sing Jogira song till late at night. The Jogira had distinct melody. It helped people communicate and spread love in Tarai belt. Holiya, the singer of Holi songs, also said the aura of Holi festival declined with the decreasing Jogira song. The Jogira song also motivates young boys and girls to be open and show their talents. Radheshyam Pal observed that the atmosphere of Holi festival is different- even the soil emanates fragrance; it is the onset of the Spring Season as well. Pal, who is also the member of Lumbini Cultural Biraha Group, decries the invasive songs getting immersed among youths.