Submit your Article

Holi or the festival of colours, is being celebrated with much fanfare in hilly areas, including the Capital city, on Monday, while it will be celebrated in the Terai region tomorrow. The Phagu Poornima celebration begins with a Holika Dahan or making a bonfire commemorating the death of Holika on the eve of Holi, the symbol of triumph of good over evil. The next day, people enjoy smearing one another with different colors including Abir or red vermilion powder. Among various cultural festivals celebrated in Nepal, the Phagu Poornima carries its own specialty and significance. People of all age enjoy the festival with enthusiasm. One of the widely observed festivals of the country, Phagu Poornima begins on the eighth day of the new moon and ends with burning of the 'Chir' on the full moon day later today. According to a Hindu myth, demon king Hiranyakashyapu who was unhappy with his son Prahlad for his wholehearted devotion to the God Bishnu ordered his sister Holika to kill Prahalad. Following her brother's instruction Holika who had a boon from the god that fire would not harm her sat on a fire by taking Prahlad on her lap, but was burnt to death while Prahalad remained unhurt due to the blessing of God Bishnu. From then onwards, the festival also known as Holi is celebrated by smearing colour with enjoyment. There is also a saying that Lord Bishnu had told Holika that the boon she had received would be meaningless if it was misused. Senior people believe that any premonitions can be avoided if "Tika" made from the ashes of the 'Chir' is put on one's forehead or kept in the house. The government has declared a public holiday today to celebrate the festival.  

Two persons died and nine others were injured when a Bolero jeep fell off a cliff at Chisankhugadhi in Okhaldhunga on Sunday. The District Police Office, Okhaldhunga said that the four-wheeler carrying 11 persons was heading towards the district headquarters from Chapakot of Chisankhugadhi Rural Municipality-3 when the incident occurred this morning. The deceased have been identified as Min Bahadur Shrestha and Bhakta Bahadur Thapa. Preparations are being made to bring the injured to Kathmandu by a Nepal Army helicopter. Police said that they are looking into the case.  

Some parts of Province 1, Bagmati Province and Gandaki Province are likely to receive light rainfall with thunderstorms and lightning today. There is a possibility of snowfall in some high hilly and mountainous parts as well, said the Meteorological Forecasting Division, adding that the westerly wind and local wind have their little impacts. Most of the hilly parts of the provinces will be partly to general cloudy tonight while the weather in the remaining parts will be clear, according to the Division.

Three persons have been arrested in possession of gold ornaments worth over Rs 10 million in the wee hours of Wednesday. The suspects have been identified as Binod Prasad (42) of Phephana Thapa, Baliya district, Uttar Pradesh, Ganapat Kumar Tosawar (51) and Naresh Burma (42) of Salkiya School Road Kalkatta, Golawadi Police Thana, Hauda district, West Bengal. The District Police Office said that the trio were nabbed with 63. 898 gold ornaments and 22. 878 tola diamond ornaments worth Rs 10. 1 million. SP Rameshwor Karki of the District Police Office, Chitwan said that the ornaments were confiscated from the Tata Nexon bearing Indian registration number plate WB 12 AV 5566 during a regular security check at around 1 am today. The District Police Office, Chitwan has made public the detainees by organizing a press conference this afternoon. SP Karki said that they have been handed over to the Revenue Investigation Office in Pathlaiya. DSP Bijay Raj Pandit, spokesperson at the District Police Office, Chitwan, said that they are looking into the case.