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Maghe Sankranti or Makar Sankranti is being celebrated throughout the country today. It is observed by taking holy dips in rivers and ponds, worshiping at various temples and savoring delicacies like ghee, yam, Khichadi and sweets such as Chaku and sweets made of sesame and molasses.

According to astrological charts, Makar Sankranti has special significance as the sun starts its ascendancy entering into the northern hemisphere from this day onwards.

On this day, sunlight moves from the Tropic of Capricorn towards the Tropic of Cancer. It is believed that the days get longer and nights shorter from today itself. According to ‘Bhabisya Puran’ and ‘Dharma Sindhu’, religious texts, devotees will get special blessings and will have a robust body if they observe the festival as per the rituals.

Likewise, the Newar community observes the festival by taking ghee, Chaku and remembering departed souls. This festival is called ‘Ghyo Chaku Sallnhu’. The seniors apply mild-hot edible oil to the heads of juniors on this day.

A large number of devotees throng Devghat, Barahchhetra, Ridi, Panauti, Dolalghat and Kankai in Nepal and Prayag and Gangasagar in India to take a holy bath and perform Shraddha.

The festival has significance in view of Ayurveda and medical science as well. Food items that are taken on this day are the sources of a balanced diet which increases the immunity power of the human body. On this day, a festival is organized at the Tilmadhav Narayan Temple in Taumadhi Tole, Bhaktapur, where puja of Deepakankar Buddha is performed.

The Tharu and Magar communities celebrate this festival as Maghi with much fanfare and gaiety. Likewise, the people in the Tarai districts mark the day as the festival of baths known as Nahan.

The government has announced a public holiday on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti/Maghi festival.

Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce & Industry (NICCI) welcomed the outcome and urged for speedy implementation of the India-Nepal Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) on Trade, Transit, and Cooperation to Combat Unauthorised Trade that was held in Kathmandu on January 10-11.

A meeting of the Inter-Governmental Sub-Committee (IGSC) on Trade, Transit, and Cooperation to Combat Unauthorised Trade at the level of Joint Secretary had earlier held on January 12-13, 2024 in Kathmandu.

The Nepali delegation was led by Secretary Gobinda Bahadur Karkee, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies of Nepal and the Indian side by Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India. Apart from secretaries senior officials from different Ministries and relevant departments of both the countries, including the Embassy of India in Kathmandu took part in meeting.

NICCI welcomed the outcomes of the IGC, a bilateral mechanism aimed at strengthening trade and investment ties, that did a comprehensive review of the whole gamut of bilateral trade and economic relationship, including mutual market access issues, IPR and duty related issues, reads a statement issued by NICCI.

NICCI is hopeful of renewed enthusiasm in trade and transit as the IGC also discussed on review of the Treaty of Transit and the Treaty of Trade, proposed amendments to existing agreements, the harmonization of standards and the synchronized development of trade infrastructure including the electrification of the Raxaul-Birgunj rail line.

NICCI also welcomed Indian decision to supply 200,000 MT wheat that was requested by Nepal. 

In the meeting, the Indian side agreed that as per prevailing regulations of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, maximum axle weight of 18.5 tonnes for two axle vehicles and 28 tonnes for three axle vehicles may also be applicable to Nepali vehicles with respect to the cargo-in-transit on Kakarbhitta (Nepal)-Banglabandha (Bangladesh) via Phulbari (India) route, which is a welcome step, according to NICCI. 

Likewise, in response to Nepali side’s requests, the Indian side informed that Sal Seeds and Chayote have been included in the Plant Quarantine Order of India. The request for Jatamasi - Root extract; Sugandhkokila berry extracts; Sugandhwal Rhizome extract and Timur berry extracts into the list of Processed Items (Plant Products) has also been accepted, which is also welcome move by the India.

During meeting, at the Indian side’s request, Nepali side expressed openness to reviewing the documentation regarding the reclassification of products like EPAQUE and POLYHIDE 28 in their technical systems. The Indian side highlighted the problems faced in milk exports to Nepal. The Nepali side agreed to consider the request of Indian side positively for milk products not adequately produced in Nepal such as whey and cheese.

NICCI finds it positive that the meeting welcomed bilateral initiatives aimed at reinforcing the seamless cross-border connectivity between India and Nepal including through construction of new Integrated Check Posts and railway links. Both sides expressed a commitment to taking forward bilateral connectivity, reflecting the shared vision of prosperous bilateral trade. Both sides agreed to form a Joint Working Group for discussion on the acceptance of Online CoO with Nepal and SAFTA.

NICCI is of the view that India as the largest trade and investment partner for Nepal, its contribution to Nepal will further fortify the economic and commercial linkages between the two countries.

Manang, Jan 13: Snowfall has occurred in Manang, a mountainous district, bringing joy to the locals.

This marks the first snowfall of the winter season, which had been expected since the month of Mangsir (November-December). Kishan Mukhiya Gurung of Nesyang Rural Municipality-1, shared that the hills are now blanketed in snow.

He added that winter snowfall is good for crops as it keeps the soil moist and fertile.

He added that snowfall is favourable for the cultivation of medicinal plants, including Yarsagumba (Ophiocordyceps sinensis), Panchaule (Dactylorhiza hatagirea), and Chiraito (Swertia chirayita).

Yagya Ghale from Tachai of Naso Rural Municipality-8, stated that the delayed snowfall had adversely affected Manang's tourism sector, with potential visitors postponing their trips due to the lack of snow.

"We hope tourist arrivals will increase now with the beginning of snowfall though it is not significant." However, Naso Rural Municipality-5 Ward Chair, Thuten Lama, said that there is no indication of snowfall in the lower Manang. Snowfall serves as a crucial source of irrigation for winter crops such as potatoes, buckwheat, and barley in these areas.

The government has paved the legal way for Nepali Information Technology (IT) companies to invest abroad by amending existing laws through an ordinance. An ordinance to amend some Nepal acts—one of the three ordinances that the government has recommended to the President to issue—enables Nepali IT companies to invest abroad, open their branch offices abroad and bring their earnings back to Nepal.

According to an official at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MoCIT), interested companies must submit applications to the MoCIT to avail the facilities. “After studying the application and assessing the company’s capability, the central bank will provide foreign exchange facility to the company on the recommendation of the ministry,” the official said.

While the government is drawing flak for bypassing parliament to amend laws, industry people say the provisions introduced through the ordinance are crucial for the growth of Nepali IT industry.  They say the government’s fresh moves align with the policies and programs that the government brought for the IT sector through its policies and programs for the fiscal year 2024/25. While recognizing IT as a crucial sector for economic transformation, the budget speech stated that the government aims to achieve IT exports worth Rs 3 trillion and create 500,000 direct jobs over the next decade. 

Nepal exported $515m worth of software and IT services in 2002—a growth of 64.2 percent compared to the previous year, according to a study conducted by the IIDS. As many as 14,728 independent software developers, over 106 companies and more than 50,000 freelancers are involved in the IT service export industry, the report states.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the legal reforms brought through the ordinance will allow Nepali IT companies to invest abroad, open branch offices and legally repatriate their earnings home. “There were some legal hurdles in the IT sector, which the government has addressed through this ordinance,” Oli said in a social media post on Saturday. “We facilitate bringing IT earnings back to the country. We believe this will develop IT as a foreign currency-earning industry.”