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The Parsa National Park office has filed a case against 49 people including two province lawmakers involved in wildlife poaching. The office filed the case against Province lawmaker Pramod Kumar Jayaswal of Parsa 3 (A), Province lawmaker Shyam Khadka of Kathmandu 5 (B), former chairman of Sakhuwa Prasauni Rural Municipality of Parsa Pradeep Jayaswal among 49 people on January 21. Though province lawmaker Jayaswal was elected as an independent lawmaker, he joined the Janata Samajbadi Party a few days ago. Khadka is an elected lawmaker from the Nepali Congress. Former rural municipality chairman Jayaswal is also a leader of the Janata Samajbadi Party. The Jayaswal duo are brothers. Surya Khadka, Information Officer at the Parsa National Park said that a case has has been filed against province lawmakers Jayaswal duo and Khadka, former rural municipality chairman Jayaswal and Sanjeeb Shahi in accordance with the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029 (27) concluding that they played the role of accomplices in wildlife poaching. Khadka said that they will be sentenced to half of the punishment meted out to the offenders. There is a provision to punish the offenders with a fine of Rs 20, 000 to 50, 000 or imprisonment of six months to one year or both.  

Two persons died when two trucks collided with each other in Jhapa on Friday. The deceased have been identified as truck (Na 3 Kha 8311) driver Madan Chaudhary (45) of Ramdhuni Municipality-7, Sunsari and the assistant driver of the same truck, the District Police Office, Jhapa said. The identity of the assistant driver has not been ascertained yet. The truck (Na 6 Kha 8895) heading towards east from west collided head-on with the truck (Na 3 Kha 8311) at Dharampur in Shivasatachhi Municipality-1 along the East-West Highway this morning. The driver and the assistant driver died on the spot, police said.  

Police have arrested a Canadian national with 9 kg gold from the Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday. The Customs Department of the Airport detained Muhammad Kamal Mohagob (passport no. AAM 266548), who arrived in Kathmandu from Malaysia boarding a FlyDubai flight FZ-574 from Dubai, during a routine security check. TIA security police spokesperson Lal Mani Acharya said that the Canadian National was apprehended with 9. 135 kg gold He has been kept at the Metropolitan Police Circle, Gaushala for further investigation.    

Each year, the 31-day-long Swasthani Vrata begins on the day Purnima (the full moon of Pausha, the ninth month of the Nepali calendar) and ends on the Purnima of the next month (Magha). This period falls between January and February, the coldest days of a year in Nepal. The Swasthani Vratakatha, recited during this period, has 31 chapters. Reading a chapter every evening, devotees can complete the recital of the whole book within this period. Mentioned many times in the book, the following is the procedure for the Swasthani Vrata (fast) and the Puja. One should begin the Vrata on Pausha Purnima by parrying their nails a day before, take bath and cleanse oneself early morning, remain solely devoted to Sri Swasthani and also worship Lord Mahadeva each noon. Every evening, a person in a family should recite the story and others should listen to it with great devotion. At the beginning and the end of each chapter, generally each evening, the reader and the audience should offer water, flowers and fruits to the goddess with great respect. One can observe the Vrata and recite the story even if s/he is all alone, taking inanimate objects as the audience. On Magha Purnima, the concluding day of the Vrata, 108 pieces of Janai (the sacred thread), betelnut fruit, betel leaf, home-made Selroti, Akshata (rice grains), bellyflower and other flowers, barley grains, sesame seeds, sandalwood, papaya, sugarcane and various types of fruits and other items are offered. The symbol ‘Om’ is painted on a copper plate and Shivalinga installed on it, a sesame oil-fed cotton lamp lit, each of these sprinkled with waters from sacred rivers, fruits and coins are offered. Janai, Sindoor (the red vermillion powder) and other ingredients mentioned above are also offered to the goddess. Per the holy book, Lord Mahadeva has instructed devotees to worship him along with Sri Swasthani. The devotee reads some Sanskrit hymns dedicated to the goddess, thanking her for successful completion of the penance. The book has instructed giving eight of the 108 pieces of Selroti, Akshata, bellyflower, Janai (the sacred thread), betelnut fruits to the husband, the son in the absence of husband, to the son of Mit ( a very close friend bound by some oath), etc. If no one is around, these offerings should be flown into a river praying for the fulfillment of the wish s/he had in mind. The keeper of the Vrata is supposed to eat the 100 pieces of Selroti and remain awake throughout the night, meditating. Even poor people can observe the Vrata, the scripture points. It states that one can even take sand as puja materials and regard inanimate objects as their audience. The Vrata is supposed to bring good health to devotees suffering from diseases. It points how Chandrawati, a queen, who had fallen into misfortunes after disrespecting Goddess Swasthani, regained her health and fortunes. On a positive note, people breathing their last within six months beginning from Magha are considered lucky. It is believed that their soul goes to Swarga, the heaven. Scriptures point that the soul has to cross mega rivers and different tough terrains before liberation. Per scriptures, of these rivers, the river named Vaitarani is the most difficult to cross and it can be crossed only with the help of a cow. That is why a cow is gifted to the priest during rituals. The very cow is supposed to help the dead ones cross the river. In the month of Magha in particular, rainfall is quite rare. This makes seasonal rivers shrink and even dry out, making them easily crossable. The scripture has suggested chanting the glory of Sri Swathani, singing and dancing on the concluding night of the Vrata. Depending on physical health, one may just remain awake, seated and remember Sri Swasthani with deep devotion in their heart. Thus concludes the penance, but not without proper disposal of the remains of the ritual to a suitable place.