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Properties worth over Rs 2.6 million were destroyed when a fire broke out at a house in Bhojpur.

The fire started from a butter lamp lit for the Laxmi Puja ritual during Tihar festival, it is said.

The house of one Gyan Raj Bista at Bhojpur Municipality-8 was damaged in the fire caused by the lamp lit for the Laxmi Puja, destroying properties worth over Rs 2.6 million, said Inspector Dal Bahadur Rai, information officer for the district police office, Bhojpur. 

The two-storied house of Bista was burnt down due to the blaze, and clothes, food, gold ornaments worth more than Rs 2.6 million, and cash of Rs 15,000 were also destroyed, he said. The fire was doused with the help of the district police office, Nepal Army, local people and a fire engine. 

Meanwhile, a house was gutted in a fire that started from a butter lamp lit for the Laxmi Puja at Himabi of Khandbari Municipality-1 in Sankhuwasabha district.

The house belonging to one Lila Rai was destroyed last night, said Inspector Ram Kumar Lamichhane at the district police office, Sankhuwasabha.

However, there were no casualties in the blaze, he said, adding that clothes and food stored in Rai's house were burnt in the fire.

The blaze was brought under control one hour later with the help of Nepal Army, Nepal Police and local people.

Police said that Rs 31,000 cash was destroyed in the fire, and a tempo parked in the house premises was also damaged.

The government of Nepal has decided to ban TikTok, citing concerns about its impact on social harmony.

The decision was reached during a Cabinet meeting held today at the Prime Minister's residence in Baluwatar, Rekha Sharma, Minister for Communications and Information Technology and the government's spokesperson, said.

According to Sharma, TikTok is consistently disseminating propaganda that disrupts family structures and social relations, prompting the government to take temporary measures to regain control. "We have decided to halt TikTok for the time being to address this issue," she stated.

The Cabinet meeting instructed the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to oversee the technical aspects of this decision.

Sharma explained, "The decision to ban TikTok was made today, and relevant authorities are currently addressing the technical details. The Communication Ministry and the Nepal Telecommunication Authority have already initiated preparations. It is likely that the decision will be implemented as early as today."

Gai or Cow Puja is being observed throughout the country today on the third day of the five-day-long Tihar festival celebrated by the Hindus in the country.

The cow is worshiped as per the religious belief that we get love from her like a mother. The day today is also locally called Gai Tihar. The cow is garlanded and fed various delicacies.

Worshiping cows as sacred is a tradition since ancient Vedic times. Cows are revered as cow mothers because the milk given by cows is as nutritious as the milk given by human mothers.

Modern science has also proved that cows are important because the energy of the local breed of cow is taken from the sun and moon and gives strength to humans through milk.

In some parts of Nepal and some communities, there is a tradition of worshiping cow on the day of Kartik Krishna Aunsi, but there is a classical belief that cows should be worshiped at the end of Aunsi and at the beginning of Pratipada, said Nepal Calendar Determination Committee Member Prof Dr Ram Chandra Gautam.

There is also a religious belief that if the Rakshabandhan tied on the right hand is tied to the cow's tail after cow worship, the cow will help cross the river Vaitarani to go to heaven after death.

Goldstar, a shoe manufacturing company based in Nepal, has donated over 10,000 pairs of shoes and sandals to the Jajarkot earthquake victims.

The donated shoes and flip-flops were worth more than Rs 3.5 million, according to a statement issued by the company.

The company is committed to additionally assisting the quake victims of Jajarkot and Rukum West, said the company Executive Director Bidushi Rana.