Nepal to nominate intangible cultures in UNESCO

BISHNU PRASAD ARYAL

KATHMANDU: The government is preparing to nominate indigenous intangible cultures to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Site. To date, Nepal has 10 heritage sites, including two natural locations, enlisted in the World Heritage Site.

“We will nominate at least two intangible cultures of Nepal in UNESCO within the current fiscal year,” said the government officials, adding that they are listing and selecting intangible cultures practised across the country at present. There are 125 different groups and ethnic communities with some 120 languages across the country, according to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. They have their own unique tradition and culture, including living intangible cultures.

Til Bikram Nembang, chancellor of Nepal Academy, expressed concern about disappearing living intangible cultures.

“At a time when tangible heritage sites such as Bagmati are at a sorry state, intangible cultures are on the verge of extinction due to rapid urbanisation and modern lifestyle,” he said.

“While cultures must be a part of life, they are only confined as the stage property today.”

The government has already formulated a national cultural policy in line with the UNESCO Convention to preserve and promote the cultures of Nepal.

According to the ministry, the proposed guideline includes standards and policies of intangible cultural heritages and their preservation as per the UNESCO provisions.

In 2010, the government had ratified the UN Convention designed to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, such as folklore, oral traditions, social rituals and performing arts, the ministry informed.

“However, nothing much has been accomplished to safeguard the unique living cultures and traditions of Nepal,” said Sushil Kumar Pandey, deputy secretary-general of Nepal National Commission for UNESCO.

“The living cultures must be preserved for our own identity and integration of society,” he added.

By ratifying the UN Convention, Nepal has committed at the international level to safeguarding the rich and diverse living heritage of the country.

Nepal is the 125th State Party to the UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003).

The main purposes of the convention, which UNESCO Member States adopted in 2003, are to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, to ensure respect for it, to raise awareness on its importance, and to provide international cooperation and assistance in those fields.

Signatory governments recognise that cultural heritage is not limited to material manifestations, such as monuments and objects, but must be extended to the traditions and living expressions inherited from ancestors. Sushil Ghimire, secretary at the ministry, said the government alone cannot preserve the culture and living heritage of the country.

“The local communities should also come forward before it’s too late,” he said adding that it will be impossible to revive the lost intangible cultures even if we develop physical infrastructure.

Signing the convention binds the governments to acknowledge their roles in international cooperation and responsibilities towards implementing the provisions of the convention through adoption of necessary legislative, regulatory and other appropriate measures, the ministry said.

The ministry is preparing the final draft for the formation of Intangible Culture Heritage Council through a Cabinet decision.

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Culture of vanity mars bid to preserve culture

18-month-old body formed to protect cultural heritage of the country goes defunct

BISHNU PRASAD ARYAL

KATHMANDU: An 18-month-old body formed with a view to working to preserve intangible cultural heritage has gone defunct, without delivering on its pledge, in what could reflect the culture of non-performance that has seeped into majority of government organisations.

“The body is defunct, and its targeted objectives are in a state of limbo,” said officials at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the line ministry that is responsible for preserving country’s cultural heritage. According to officials, the body failed to perform after it ran into controversy over vaguely defined roles. “The body was formed illegally — by then culture minister, not by the Cabinet — clearly against the rules that are enshrined in the policy,” said the officials.

Intangible Heritage Cultural Council in line with the

UNESCO Convention in a bid to preserve and promote the cultures and cultural heritage of Nepal.

“However, no significant activity has been carried out so far,” said Bharat Mani Subedi, Joint Secretary, MoCTCA. “We are formulating a new regulation — or a guideline — to set up an ‘eligible’ cultural body. We hope to complete it by the end of current fiscal year. It will then be sent to the Cabinet for approval and accordingly a new council will be formed.”

The government is yet to do any tangible work to safeguard intangible cultural heritage of the country, even though Nepal, which boasts diverse culture and heritage, is a signatory to the UNESCO Convention on Intangible Cultural Heritage. There are about 90 ethnic communities with about 120 languages and different living traditions.

The government in 2010 ratified the UN Convention designed to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, such as folklore, oral traditions, social rituals and performing arts, according to MoCTCA. The nine-member IHCC is chaired by the culture minister.

The committee was given authority to carry out different activities on folklore, festivals, fairs, customs, traditional crafts, performing arts and cultural practices.

The committee had plans to prepare inventory of intangible cultural heritage of the Kathmandu Valley by the end of the last fiscal year and was to work in districts in the following fiscal years. But nothing significant has been achieved so far. The officials admitted that the past commitments were not translated into action by exploiting culture, the skeleton of booming tourism industry of the country.

By ratifying the UN Convention, Nepal committed itself at the international level to safeguarding the rich and diverse living heritage of the country. Nepal is the 125th State Party to the UNESCO Convention for Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage (2003).

The main purposes of the convention, which was adopted by UNESCO Member States in 2003, are to safeguard intangible cultural heritage, to ensure respect for it, to raise awareness on its importance and of mutual appreciation, and to provide international cooperation and assistance in those fields. Ratifying governments recognise that cultural heritage is not limited to material manifestations, such as monuments and objects, but must be extended to the traditions and living expressions inherited from ancestors.

Signing the convention binds the member states to acknowledge their roles in

international cooperation

and responsibilities towards implementing the provisions of the convention through adoption of necessary legislative, regulatory and other appropriate measures, according to MoCTCA.

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PADT demands review of 99-year land lease

BISHNU PRASAD ARYAL
KATHMANDU: The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has demanded review of the lease contract of its 1,162 ropanis (61.15 hectares) of land with the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal.

The PADT and CAAN signed the contract on January 7, 1983 for 99 years, according to the PADT documents. The CAAN agreed to pay 23 pathis (one pathi=3.2 kg) of paddy per ropani of land to the PADT each year. Interestingly, both the PADT and the CAAN are autonomous government bodies under the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA). CAAN has dealt the PADT land with third parties on contracts, earning millions of rupees, said the PADT officials. “The CAAN has given our land to a golf club and private companies. However, we are paid very low compared to the present value,” they said. CAAN has used PADT land for domestic and international terminals of Tribhuvan International Airport, which occupies 3,020 hectares. Of the total airport area, 61.15 hectares is PADT’s.

Narottam Baidya, PADT treasurer, said PADT Council has recently decided to forward the procedure to review the contract. Joint-secretary Bharat Mani Subedi, chief of the Culture and Heritage Division at the MoCTCA, also said that the issue of reviewing the contract has been raised seriously. A meeting chaired by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ram Kumar Shrestha and held on May 28 discussed the issue of reviewing the contract. Minister Shrestha is chairman of both the PADT and CAAN as a sitting minister.

Baidya said Minister Shrestha was interested in reviewing the deal. “We will forward the decision to the MoCTCA asking to review it after a decision is minuted.”

Tilganga pays nothing
KATHMANDU: Tilganga Institute of Ophthalmology has not paid anything to PADT for about two decades despite an agreement to pay 20 per cent of the hospital income, according to PADT. A lease contract on five ropanis of land between PADT and Tilganga Eye Care Hospital was signed on September 21, 1992, with the hospital agreeing to pay 20 per cent of its profit to PADT. The hospital has used five ropanis of land on lease for 20 years. “We have not got a penny from the hospital in about two decades,” said PADT treasurer Narottam Baidya. Dr Sanduk Ruit, executive director of the Tilganga Institute, said, “We are incurring losses and thus unable to pay the agreed amount.”

Baidya said the Office of Auditor General (OAG) questions about the deal every year. “It has asked us to review the contract rationally,” he claimed. “The OAG has also questioned about arrears of land given on contract to the Tilganga Institute of Opthalmology,” he added. “We want to help both of the institutions, but the contracts should be based on a win-win situation.”

Joint-secretary Suresh Acharya, chief of Aviation Industry Management Division at MoCTCA, said he has no idea about the deal. “If the PADT forwards e documents to the ministry, we will look into it.” “Then, we will forward files to the CAAN for further action. The PADT and the CAAN are the ones that should seal the final deal,” he added.

The 99-year deal was signed during the period of main priest Padam Naabh Shastry of the Pashupatinath Temple and Shiva Sharan Rajbhandari, chief of Pashupati Area Reformation and Development Committee.

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Pashupati heritage pressed to donate land to NGOs

Culture Minister recommends PADT to distribute its land to NGOs


PADT officials object the proposal and decide to get approval from its committee

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, May 29

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ram Kumar Shrestha has recommended the Pashupati Area Development Trust to provide the land of heritage site to the NGOs.

According to the PADT sources, Minister Shrestha recommended the PADT in written to provide about three ropanies of land to the private organisations. A meeting of the PADT Council chaired by Minister Shrestha was held yesterday to discuss on the issues.

Gajendra Narayan Singh Memorial Academy chaired by former minister Anil Kumar Jha and Bal Sarathi chaired by social worker Mala Kharel asked Minister Shrestha to provide two ropanies of land owned by the PADT at Gothatar of Kathmandu and nearly one ropani of the PADT land at Tilganga respectively.

The issues were tabled yesterday at the PADT council meeting held first time at the PADT premises after Minister Shrestha was appointed. Minister Shrestha was appointed in the cabinet in the recommendation of Pulshpa Kamal Dahal-led Maoist Party.

"However, the proposal was rejected in the meeting terming it as illegal," said the PADT officials. "We proposed to forward such proposals through the regular meeting of the PADT executive committee," they said.

Minister Shrestha might have personally recommended the PADT to provide its property to the NGOs, said the officials at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation. "We are officially unknown about it," said Jaya Ram Shrestha, chief of Culture and Heritage Section at the ministry.
Sushil Nahata, member-secretary at the PADT said that seven agendas were discussed on the PADT council. "However, they are yet to be approved," he said. "The state property cannot be given to any private organisation."

According to the PADT, the agendas discussed during the meeting are land issues recommended by Culture Minister, making Bagmati pollution free river, contract review of PADT land leased to then Hawai Sewa Bibhag (presently Civil Aviation Authority), providing a piece of land site to Madan Bhatta whose land was pooled during the PADT Master Plan, waiving interest and cost of land given to poors in place of pooled land and widening road at the PADT area.

Gargi Gurukul Pratisthan, chaired by Prof Angur Baba Joshi, also proposed to provide 25 ropanies of the PADT land at Gothatar of Kathmandu on lease. Pratisthan serves educating girls and women on Sanskrit and Hindu culture. "We decided to provide a building to the organisation at Gaurighat to run a school until it makes its own building," said Narottam Vaidya, treasurer at the PADT.

Vaidya further said that the PADT has also decided to amend PADT regulation regarding gratuity for retired caretakers, manage directives for priests and caretakers of the Pashupatinath Temple and effective management of auditing accounts.

The pagoda style Pashupatinath Temple, which is believed to be more than 2,500 years old, is enlisted in the UNECSO World Heritage Site.

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UNESCO objects to Dahal's Lumbini plan

BISHNU PRASAD ARYAL
KATHMANDU, March 17: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), has objected to the plan to erect the biggest Buddha statue inside the Lumbini Master Plan containing major components of New Lumbini Village, Cultural Centre/Monastic Zone and the Sacred Garden.

The government had formed Lumbini Development National Directive Committee under Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal to develop Lumbini, the birth place of Buddha. Dahal has been advocating development of Lumbini as per the plans of a Chinese company.

Beijing Zhongtai Jinghua Investment Co (BZZH Inc), has plans to develop five big projects including a five-star hotel on the land of Lumbini Development Trust (LDT). Dahal is one of co-chairs of Asia Pacific Exchange and Cooperation that forwarded documents in the name of BZZH Inc to Nepal Government with a plan worth billions to develop Lumbini into a Buddhist ‘Mecca’.

According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture (MoFACAPAC), the five projects include the world’s biggest 80-metre high Buddha statue, archaeological landscape garden, a five star hotel with 120 guest rooms, Buddha museum and research centre and electric transportation and boating canal on the land under the Lumbini Master Plan. However, the master plan does not allow building hotel in the area.

“UNESCO has also strongly objected to erecting the statue and hotel inside the master plan area,” said undersecretary Rishi Kesh Niraula, chief of the cultural section at MoFACAPAC. “In the many rounds of talks, UNECSO rejected the plan every time. As a result, the process has halted,” he said.

The United Nations Development Programme contributed nearly one million dollars to prepare a Master Plan for development of Lumbini.

The plan, designed by Japanese architect Kenzo Tange and completed in 1978, aims to develop about 7.7 square km as Lumbini Garden with an additional area of 64.5 km to be developed in its support.

“The government had approved the plan in principle,” said MoFACAPAC officials. “However, the Cabinet is yet to approve the plans of the Chinese company, which go against the spirit of the Master Plan.” UNESCO can enlist Lumbini in the endangered list if the plan is approved.”

MoFACAPAC documents show the proposal was submitted to Culture Minister Dr Minendra Rijal in 2009. The cabinet then granted permission on October 23, 2009 to move ahead with the project. MoFACAPAC issued a letter of intention on November 7, 2009 regarding the BZZH proposal and decided on November 17 to allow the process.

According to a BZZH letter, the concept, design, report, cost estimate and work plan was submitted on March 16, 2010. All of these projects— archaeological landscape garden, Buddha Museum and research Centre, electric transportation and boating canal were proposed for development on the LDT premises.

The LDT finalised the deal on April 20, 2010, allowing BZZH to use its land for the projects.

Japan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand among other countries have constructed monasteries in the LDT land. However, hotels have been built on private lands. The LDT and Hekke Club of Japan agreed in 1986 to open a hotel on LDT premises but did not build it.

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Famous four temples on verge of collapse

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, January 27

Famous four Hindu temples of the country are at a pathetic condition, waiting for renovation as soon as earlier. Delay in renovation is putting them on verge of collapse. The  temples are in a sorry state of repair despite rich income.

According to the Department of Archeology (DoA), Muktinath Temple in Mustang, Mankamana in Gorkha, Ram Mandir in Janakpur and Pashupatinath in Kathmandu are at high risk. The DoA is responsible to renovate three of them while the autonomous Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) is solely accountable to renovation of Pashupatinath.

"There is an urgent need to renovate all of these temples," said Bishnu Raj Karki, Director General at the DoA. "However, we are not at a financially strong position to begin renovation," he said. "I am preparing separate proposals for the renovation of three temples--Muktinath, Manakamana and Ram Mandir," he added.

The DoA is entitled to renovate all the older temples than 100 years while the Ministry of Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture (MoFACPAC) is responsible for other cases, said Rishikesh Niraula, under-secretary at the MoFACPAC.

Muktinath is one of the biggest shrine as Pashupatinath while Manakamana is overwhelmingly famous for fulfilling their wishes and Ram Mandir belongs to outstanding art of Mithila. "The condition of Mankamana is at high danger as the temple has bent down for about a decade," said the Ministry sources. "Muktinath is also not out of serious risk as Ram Mandir."

According to DG Karki, at least Rs 70 million is necessary for Manakamana, Rs 40 million for Muktinath and Rs 25 million for Ram Mandir. "Other several temples including Baraha Kshetra are also in need of renovation but they will be renovated in the next phase," said Karki.

The heritages at main temple of Pashupatinath have gone cracked for about two years and the roof of main temple is leaking. Moreover, all of the age-old infrastructures are damaged by mice.

Narrottam Baidya, treasure at the PADT, said that they were going to begin renovation in near future. "Now, we are busy at preparation for electric crematorium. As soon as we call e-bid for the crematorium probably tomorrow, we will start process for renovation," he said.

However, Karki could not divulge when the renovation of three temples would be started. "We don't have any fund now. After we collect the funds, we will begin the renovation," he said. "We are on the process to raise funds."

Karki informed that they first would set up a fund by collecting themselves. "As we collect some money, we will appeal for donations," he added.

Interestingly, the millions of donations offered by the devotees in all of the temples mainly in Pashupatinath and Manakamana are not in records. The priests gobble them without transparency. "We need to maintain transparency of all internal earnings of these temples. If we will be able for this, a huge amount will be collected within a few years," said Baidya, adding that they were amending its act provisioning strong transparency.

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PADT clearing Christian graves from Hindu shrine

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, December 29

The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has decided to remove the remains and concrete structures of more than 200 Christian burial sites inside Pashupatinath Temple premises on religious and environmental grounds.

"Hundreds of bodies have been buried in the Shleshmantak forest area, and the concrete structures are causing deforestation in the area. Also, dead bodies of non-Hindus are not allowed to have their rest in the holy site," said Sushil Nahata, member secretary of the PADT.

Non-Hindus started cremating bodies in a large scale after the People's Movement in 2006 became successful and the country was declared secular in 2006.

Non-Hindu groups like Kiratis also claim the area as their heritage, and started burying the dead in the area about a decade ago. The PADT had demolished 67 structures then.

The government in participation of Department of Archeology (DoA) made an agreement with Rai-Kiratis a decade ago. PADT Standards 2050BS restricts non-Hindu activities inside the area.
Only Hindu Sadhus of Giri, Puri and Dashanami societies, children of Hindus can be buried, but without constructing structures, inside the premises.

Dr KB Rokaya, general secretary of the National Council of Churches of Nepal, said they were forced to bury the dead in the PADT as the government did not allocate them land for a cemetery.

Said Rokaya, also a member of the National Human Rights Commission: "The government should provide land for the Christian cemetery."

Nahata informed that a three-member committee to look into the issue has been formed at the PADT Council meeting held today at the Ministry of Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture (MoFACAPAC). The committee headed by Nahata includes Chief District Officer of Kathmandu and chief of DoA.

"The Committee will study on the cases and find out the solutions," said Bhola Prasad Sitaula, director at PADT. "This will seek appropriate alternatives and present to the government as soon as possible but time frame has not been fixed for it," said Nahata.

Dr Minendra Rijal, Minister for MoFACAPAC and chairman of PADT said that the procedure would be forwarded as per the gravity of the issue. This concern will be discussed with the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Local Development to solve the problem of cemeteries.

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Remodeled TIA arch becomes an eyesore

 Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, November 19

The 15-year old entrance gate, erected to commemorate golden jubilee of then king Birendra's coronation, is being remodeled for the Nepal Tourism Year 2011. If successful, one million foreign visitors will pass through the gate in the next year.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAAN) has invested Rs 15 million to reconstruct the arch.The gate built 15 years ago to commemorate the 25th year of then King Birendra’s coronation cost some Rs 3 million.

Visitors to the airport are confused and put off by the design. "It looks unpleasant and odd," said Prakash Pokhrel, a visitor from Naya Gaon in Gulmi. “It might surprise a stranger, but one who can appreciate a work of art will be shocked," he said.

The experience of local Raj Kumar Pradhan from Sinamangal, Kathmandu was not similar to Pokhrel. "This gate is uglier than the older one," he said. "It is unnatural an unaesthetic."

The arch of the 72 feet high structure designed of modern architecture using metal cladding blending with Stupa and Pagoda styles, designer of the gate Shesh Krishna Shrestha said.

Architect Prajwal Haada said it was entirely inappropriate to mix modern and traditional techniques. "Either it should be completely traditional or modern," he said. "It looks terrified due to lost proportion."

Metal cladding technique was completely horrible and disastrous for Nepal, said architect Varun Rana. "The wood carving, or brick or plaster technique must be used to represent the traditional culture," he said. "There may be vested interest of commission behind importing the metals instead of using local materials."

The designing of the arch was approved by the Civil Maintenance Division (CMD), the supervising and approving body under CAAN after the Minister for Civil Aviation and Tourism okayed it.

The design seeks to represent eyes of Buddha (peace) on the main arch, and pagoda style Pashupatinath on the right and left pillars along with metal cladding pillars and wings. Yellow symbolises stupa, brick colour, the Nepali tradition, and golden colour seeks to give continuity to the old golden gate, according to the architect.

Narayan Giri, chief at CMD, admitted that the form of the arch looked odd. “We are discussing internally to modify the top of the arch but it is yet to be decided,” he said.

The contract was signed in 2009 with joint venture Biruwa-Azad-Uma and Pratima, Kathmandu to complete the work by mid July. “It was delayed as the architect provided us the design after seven months. The construction began only in May and will be completed within a month,” said Dinesh Prasad Shrestha, general manager at CAAN.

Designer Shrestha claimed he submitted the design within three months. “Their internal causes including budget row made the construction delay,” he said.

Giri said that 95 per cent work has been completed. “We will install two pagoda mini-temples and a brass pinnacle soon,” he said. “It will look beautiful after completion.”

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Women paint Pashupatinath in Red on Teej today

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Rare and old coins sold away against laws

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, June 19

Although a coin or currency more than 100 years older is prohibited by law to sell abroad, the historically and culturally important old and rare coins of Nepal are being taken to other countries without interruption.

Numismatics is a hobby of collection of coin or note of any country. A coin or currency is archaeological, historical and cultural asset, which is used to carry out a research or study on culture, history, politics, society and anthropology of antiquity.

According to the Ancient Monuments Preservation Act 1956, any coin or denomination older than 100 years is restricted to send away from the country or move from one place to another. Clause 13, Sub-clause (1) of the Act clearly mentions that a prior permission from the Department of Archaeology must be taken before moving such monuments, archaeological objects and curios abroad or inside the country. However, there is no such practice.

“A bulk of such entities is being taken away from the country without any obstacles,” said Jal Krishna Shrestha, joint-secretary at the Ministry of Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture (MoFACAPAC).

Old coins of Lichhavi, Malla and Shah period, other belonging to even 300-200 BC, are available in Nepal. The DoA purchases or collects the older and rare coins to enhance the national museum. Among others, a very rare coin belonging to unifier of Nepal Prithvi Narayan Shah has been decorated in British Museum, London, said Shrestha, who is spokesperson for MoFACAPAC and also a collector.

The coins, archaeological sources, are generally sold ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 600,000 per piece. They are made of gold, silver and copper. Old and rare Nepalese coins issued by Man Dev, Trailokya Bikram, Prithvi Narayan Shah, Pratap Singh and Rana Bahadur Shah among others are sold on higher prices. If a foreign collector wants to have it, one may pay more than the aforementioned amount.

Ghana Shyam Rajkarnikar, a collector of coins dating from Man Dev to present period and president of Nepal Numismatic Society, said that people use the coins issued by Prithvi Narayan Shah and Chakra Bratendra Malla as medicines during the delivery problems. “Coins are also used as ornaments in the festivals and special occasions,” he said.

The coins are smaller in shape and easy to carry. “If a person keeps it in a pocket or anywhere, it will go unnoticed and will be easily taken away,” said Shrestha. “This is the reason behind smuggling of archaeological entities,” he added.

There are about a dozen of local collectors including Bhupendra Narayan Shrestha, who owns coins worth about Rs 10 million, in the country. They also sell the coins when they are in need of money, said Shrestha.

A person who trades monuments or illegally carries is fined from Rs 10,000 to Rs 100,000 and six months to three years jail term separately or both, according to laws. SSP Rana Bahadur Chand, chief at the Department of Crime Investigation, said that there was no record of coin cases. “If we are informed, we will take action as per the law,” he added.

During British queen Elizabeth’s Nepal visit in 1956, she asked about coins of Nepal. Four years after her visit, DoA initiated to establish museum in the country but it is yet to manage well. However, there is not a specific data of coins available. “Before the time of then king Mahendra, who died in early 1970s, there was no cataloguing system of coin issuances,” said Rajkarnikar.

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A moment with Swami Ram Dev

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, April 3

It was the regular day I am living in this world. But it was not the same as other days. I prepared myself to attend a meeting with Yoga Guru Swami Ram Dev, who was in Nepal for a yoga camp. He was to leave Nepal today and I left my apartment at 07:07 AM. It was told another day Swami will meet us at 7:45 at Sant Niwas, the residence of Dr Upendra Mahato, former president of Non-Resident Nepalis. I was curious to visit him and listen to his words.

However, he could not come in time as he could not avoid meeting President Dr Ram Baran Yadav before leaving Nepal. It was his urgent appointment. Before meeting President, Swami had devoted him to teach the  armed police force personnel yoga at its Headquarters. He arrived at the scheduled at about 9 AM. And he started talking to media persons. In course of talks, he said all people are different from each other but some are more different than others. "But I am unable to cure their disease of blaming others."

He felicitated the journalists wrapping with shawls for covering news about Yoga. I was one of them. It was the first time I was felicitated. I was not the only person to be hounoured. I was among all the journalists, about two dozens, who were thanked in this way. This was new experience for me that remained a moment of being myself a sage inside me spiritually. I, who belong to The Himalayan Times, did not write any word offending Swami but I cannot say about others.

He was disheartened by an article published in the Kantipur daily--"Swami is above President...". This allusion was related to the stage where Swami was on his posture at his place and President was on the other side. "I honour and respect President. It was not my fault that place was made to address people and teach them yoga. I am touched with this misinterpretation," he said.

Ram Dev Baba is really a sage and totally a humanitarian person but not a shrewd, selfish and dishonest politician. He is kind enough for humanity and dedicated to help people get rid of ailments through yoga practices. His intention to teach Patanjali Yog is crystal clear. Nobody knows mystery inside a person but an enlightened person is said to understand others. This is the problem that I don't have to solve it.

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Space set for Yoga Camp widened to adjust crowd

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, March 27

Some 5,000 people who thronged the Yog Vigyan Shivir-2010 to learn Yoga practices from Yoga Guru Swami Ram Dev were compelled to return home without practices due to the lack of stage set for the camp. The one third of additional space has been widened to adjust the interested people today.

According to the Main Organising Committee, about 40,000 tickets were sold to the people for learning Yoga practices in the camp. The place for 30,000 people was arranged. However, some 35,000 people were adjusted at the arranged stage.

Rajani Sharma from Kupondol in Lalitpur said that she was forced to go back home owing to the narrow space in the camp. “I could not get any space to sit for the camp as it was already occupied. Though I had taken ticket I arrived here a bit delay,” she said.

Prabhari Babita Karki, head of the Central Zone Yoga Committee, said, “Nearly 5,000 people were forced to return this morning because of the high interest of people to take part in the camp and lack of adequate space for all interested,” she said. “Therefore, we have widened the one third of the space today to adjust the comers from tomorrow,” she added.

Karki said that innumerable calls were received different parts of various districts to take part in the camp. “The number of participants will reach more than 40,000 tomorrow,” she said. There are five kinds of visitors—gold paying Rs 500, VIP paying Rs 1,100, VVIP paying Rs 2,100, invitees and free pass.

KATHMANDU: About 3,000 people received treatment and free-check up at the Yoga Science Camp on the first day today. About 5,000 people were queuing up to check up their health as per Ayurved principle. Forty vaidhyas from India were checking up health of people. The health camp will continue from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm everyday during the camp, according to the organiser. A special camp will be held for school children in the afternoon on march 29. -- BPA

Swami Ram Dev, who operates Patanjali Yog Peeth in Haridwar of India, is here to operate the camp from March 27 to April 1 at Tundikhel in Kathmandu. Keeping the overwhelming interest of Nepalese people in Yoga, Swami has pledged to produce 100,000 Yoga teachers in Nepal.

Addressing the Yoga Science Camp that began at 5:00 this morning, Swami Ram Dev said, “There are 25,000 Yoga teachers in Nepal. I am dedicated to produce 100,000 such teachers here to teach the Yoga in order to make people healthy and cultured,” he said. “Yoga makes people healthy and cultured that they would help develop the nation,” he added.

Swami Ram Dev is going to inaugurate three yogpeeths at Mandikhatar in Kathmandu, Dhulikhel of Kavre and Syangja in Nepal this time.  He has also planed to laid foundation of eight yoga practices centres including Mahendranagar, Dhangadhi and Chitwan, said Karki.

Swami Ram Dev and Ayurved Acharya Balkrishna visited Armed Police Force Headquarters at Hallchowk in Kathmandu today to talk about the importance of Yoga practices to the police personnel. Similarly, both of them were present at Pashupatinath Temple to light 21,000 lamps in a function.

President Dr Ram Baran Yadav inaugurated the camp and released Bichar-Kranti, a book written in Nepali language about the Yoga and spiritualism. Meanwhile, the political leaders including CPN-UML president Jhala Nath Khanal, UCPN Maoist leaders Amik Sherchan and Janardan Sharma ‘Prabhakar’, industrialist Upendra Mahato Minister for Industry Mahendra Raya Yadav, Minister for Local Development Purna Kumar Sherma Limbu and DIG Upendra Kant Aryal were practising Yoga at the camp this morning.

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Swami Ram Dev Yoga Camp in Kathmandu

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, March 27

Yoga Science Camp is being held from March 27 to April 1 at Tundikhel of Kathmandu in Nepal. Yoga Guru Swami Ram Dev and Ayurved Acharya Balkrishna from India are teaching yoga about 40,000 people in the camp, which is operated 5 AM to 8 AM.

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Not all sages are holy but some more unholy too

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, March 13

Not all sages are holy but some are involved in unholy and criminal activities. Some sages or other persons in guise of sages, who come to shelter in Pashupati vicinity, are reported to be involved in smuggling arms and narcotics.

According to the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), some sages sheltering illegally in Ram Mandir at Pashupatinath are also reported to be involved in weapons and narcotics smuggling. There are about five dozens of sages and sadhus hailing from Nepal and India often live in Ram Mandir. "We are scrutinising the matter in cooperation with the Department of Crime Investigation that informed us about the arms and drugs smuggling by the sages," said Sushil Nahata, member secretary at the PADT.

Sources at PADT, which is enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, informed that it aimed to vacate fake sages from the Ram Mandir area before February 12, citing suspicion of involvement in arms and drugs smuggling. "PADT has warned us to remove from the area by mid-April," said Lal Baba, 83, who has been regularly living at Ram Mandir for last 26 years. "We are troubled due to the suspicious activities in guise of sages," he said. "However, I will not go away."

Lal Baba said that the smuggling of narcotics from the area including Tilganga was rampant. "Even the school and college students come to buy those intoxicating drugs," he said. "The smuggling of weapons also cannot be denied as many people in guise of sages come and go frequently," he said. "Only about a half dozen of sages stay inside the temple premises, rest of them frequently go away."

Baba complained the PADT and other government mechanism were unable to identify who is guilty or not. The criminals can disguise to earn money safely, he revealed.

The new sages should register their names to PADT, however, they all don't abide by the rules, according to PADT. The PADT lacks orderly registration system at Ram Mandir besides its office time. PADT permits them to shelter in the temple upto five days.

"We have recently requested the District Administration Office to remove illegally settling sages and persons from the area," said Bhola Prasad Sitaula, director at PADT. "We are not against the true sages who are not involved in illicit activities. They will be allowed to stay here."

The attempts of authorities to quell illegal and criminal activities in the past could not be successful owing to the lack of effective governance and willpower of political parties.

The crimes in the society are alarmingly increasing making commoners' life vulnerable, said Shiva Sharan Rajbhandari, local and storekeeper at the Pashupatinath temple. "It will be hard to subjugate illegal activities unless the efficiency and performance of the government and police are professionalised," he said.

SSP Rana Bahadur Chand, chief at the Department of Crime Investigation, said that they have assigned a team to watch the activities in the area. "They will face at least 12 years of jail term under the Arms and Ammunition Act and Narcotics and Drugs (Control) Act if they are caught," Chand said, urging all to cooperate with police to punish the criminals.

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Holy shrine of Pashupati stained in illicit activities

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, March 6

The holy shrine of Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), place of sanity, spirituality and humanism, has been notoriously stained in indecent, illegal and criminal activities, even by the sages

According to the PADT, some sages sheltering illegally in Ram Mandir at Pashupatinath are also reported to be involved in weapons and narcotics smuggling. There are about five dozens of sages and sadhus hailing from Nepal and India have been living in Ram Mandir. “We are scrutinising the matter in cooperation with the Department of Crime Investigation that informed us about the arms and drug smuggling by the sages,” said Sushil Nahata, member secretary at the PADT.

Sources at PADT, which is enlisted in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, informed that those who would be found guilty would be expelled from the area. The guilty will be taken legal actions if proved through investigation, according to the Metropolitan Police Range at Gaushala.

Nahata said that PADT was planning to systemise the shrine in a decent and proper manner against all kinds of malaises. “About 300 shops are illegally stalled inside the area while lands of shrine are encroached, and sand from Bagmati bank inside area is illegally traded,” he said. “One who wants to work fairly is threatened and forced not to take action against the unauthorised practices.”

PADT set to install CCTV cameras by Sunday

KATHMANDU: In a bid to check suspicious activities in the area, PADT is all set to install CCTV cameras by Sunday. “We will fix at least two CC Televisions by Sunday,” said Nahata. “One camera will be installed at the Office of Secretariat and another at the main gate of Pashupatinath Temple,” he added. “The cameras will be gradually installed in different locations of the area where necessary.” Nahata, who was issued death threats three times, has lodged a complaint with District Administration Office and the police seeking security. Nahata was threatened over his mobile phone using public telephone booth and grocery from Teku area.

The PADT, which is spread at the area of 283 hectors of land including settlements, aims at expelling sages involved in arms and drugs smuggling, evicting illegally settled street vendors, evacuating land encroachers from the area, checking illegal trade of sand and concrete and  banning alcohol and meat business in the area.

Narottam Baidya, treasurer at the PADT, also said the illegal and criminal activities are taking place at the shrine though they are strictly banned. “Even sale and consumption of alcohol and animal flesh are prohibited in the area, they are openly traded,” he worried.

However, the attempts to quell illegal and criminal activities in the past could not be successful owing to lack of effective governance and willpower of political parties.

The crimes in the society are alarmingly increasing making commoners’ life vulnerable, said Shiva Sharan Rajbhandari, local and storekeeper at the Pashupatinath temple. “It will be hard to subjugate indecent and illegal activities unless the efficiency and performance of the government and police are professionalised,” he said.

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Glimpses of Hanumandhoka Durbar Square in Ktm

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu: Feb 27

The artistic views at the Hanumandhoka Durbar Square in Kathmandu, which is enlisted under the UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is one of 10 UNESCO heritage sites in Nepal.

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Moments at Pashupatinath during Mahashivaratri

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu: Pashupatinath Temple falls under the World Heritage Site enlisted by the UNESCO. There are eight cultural world heritage sites and two natural heritage sites in Nepal.

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5.5 lakh throng Pashupatinath for Mahashivaratri

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, February 12

Number of visitors and devotees at Pashupatinath Temple on the Mahashivaratri went higher by nearly 40 per cent than in the previous years following well management and tight security situation along with increased facilities. Despite rain for about three hours in the afternoon and a few burglaries, devotees thronged the Pashupatinath with their faith in sanatan Hindu religion.

According to the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), more than 550,000 visitors paid homage to the temple. However, number of sages, sadhus and visitors from India decreased this year because of the Kumbha Fair coinciding with other big fairs in India, said Sushil Nahata, member secretary of the PADT.

In the previous years, only one door of the temple was used to be open for worshiping. But this time, all the four doors were open for visitors. Another privilege of paying ticket of Rs 1,000, which was first time delivered, additionally attracted the visitors. About 2,000 tickets were sold this time, said Rajendra Dhar, coordinator of the media centre that was set up first time.

PREZ, EX-KING VISIT the TEMPLE 

KATHMANDU: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav paid homage to Lord Pashupatinath today on the auspicious occasion of the Mahashivaratri. President Yadav arrived at 5:25 PM and returned at 5:37 PM after worshipping at the temple. Dr Yadav said that he wished successful conclusion and timely statute writing. “It is the need of time to write constitution in time and conclude peace process successfully,” he said on the occasion of Mahashivaratri.  

Following President’s visit, former king Gyanendra Shah visited temple at about quarter past 7:00 PM and worshiped as usual. Shah stayed at the temple for about half an hour to complete the rituals of worshiping. Speaking briefly with media, Shah wished peace and progress of the nation. “We worshipped wishing peace and prosperity of the country,” he added.

Ordinary people were blocked for visiting temple during both of President’s and Shah’s visits. --

Devotee Suyasana Shrestha, who came from New Road with her family members, was happy with ticketing system and cooperation from the volunteers in the area. “We experienced easier moments avoiding long rows after we got the privilege of paying tickets,” she said.

Other visitors expressed qualms over the serpent-like rows to reach temple. “I am following row for about four hours to enter the south gate of the temple,” said Gita Karki from Bhaisepati in Lalitpur. “However, it was better than the previous years,” she added.

However, PADT, which offered Prasad for every visitors first time, officials claimed that it did not took more than two hours in reaching to the temple. Another local visitor Ambika Bhatta from around the temple area criticised the paying system to worship god.

Although having hashish and opium strictly restricted in the area for ordinary people, a bulk of youths were seen puffing hashish along with sadhus and sages, who are permitted to have as Prasad of Shiva. An Assistant Sub-Inspector on duty at Mrigasthali said it was impossible to control it without the government’s will.

EGO CLASH BETWEEN POLICE & SCOUT
KATHMANDU: A tense environment was created at Pashupatinath Temple after volunteers of Nepal Scout and officials of Nepal Police misunderstood each other with the ego clashes. Nepal Scout volunteers blamed DIG Binod Singh of Traffic Police misbehaving the volunteers while entering to the temple. “DIG Singh was entering the temple with his family members, violating the rules set by police themselves. When we asked his family members to show official IDs, they demeaned us by asking our status,” said Scout Master Ranjan Lal Shrestha. “We were asked—What is your status to ask our IDs,” he claimed. When DIG family was en route to out, slogans were chanted against DIG. It was widely reported that Scout volunteers were also misbehaving the visitors enquiring them more than necessary. --

PADT and volunteering organisations managed food, accommodations and refreshment services to the needy visitors from different places. Health workers and camps provided the free services and medicine to the people who fell ill during standing on row. About 200 people including two serious cases were treated yesterday and today.

Dr Minendra Rijal, Minister of Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture, said that the programme was successful. “Everything including security services were well managed this year,” said Rijal, who is chairman of PADT.

Mahashivaratri Festival 2010 was jointly organised by PADT, Indian Embassy and Nepal Manv Sewa Dharma Samiti. The festival is being observed from February 11-13.

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5.5 lakh throng Pashupatinath for Mahashivaratri

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, February 12

Number of visitors and devotees at Pashupatinath Temple on the Mahashivaratri went higher by nearly 40 per cent than in the previous years following well management and tight security situation along with increased facilities. Despite rain for about three hours in the afternoon and a few burglaries, devotees thronged the Pashupatinath with their faith in sanatan Hindu religion.

According to the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), more than 550,000 visitors paid homage to the temple. However, number of sages, sadhus and visitors from India decreased this year because of the Kumbha Fair coinciding with other big fairs in India, said Sushil Nahata, member secretary of the PADT.

In the previous years, only one door of the temple was used to be open for worshiping. But this time, all the four doors were open for visitors. Another privilege of paying ticket of Rs 1,000, which was first time delivered, additionally attracted the visitors. About 2,000 tickets were sold this time, said Rajendra Dhar, coordinator of the media centre that was set up first time.

PREZ, EX-KING VISIT the TEMPLE 

KATHMANDU: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav paid homage to Lord Pashupatinath today on the auspicious occasion of the Mahashivaratri. President Yadav arrived at 5:25 PM and returned at 5:37 PM after worshipping at the temple. Dr Yadav said that he wished successful conclusion and timely statute writing. “It is the need of time to write constitution in time and conclude peace process successfully,” he said on the occasion of Mahashivaratri.  

Following President’s visit, former king Gyanendra Shah visited temple at about quarter past 7:00 PM and worshiped as usual. Shah stayed at the temple for about half an hour to complete the rituals of worshiping. Speaking briefly with media, Shah wished peace and progress of the nation. “We worshipped wishing peace and prosperity of the country,” he added.

Ordinary people were blocked for visiting temple during both of President’s and Shah’s visits. --

Devotee Suyasana Shrestha, who came from New Road with her family members, was happy with ticketing system and cooperation from the volunteers in the area. “We experienced easier moments avoiding long rows after we got the privilege of paying tickets,” she said.

Other visitors expressed qualms over the serpent-like rows to reach temple. “I am following row for about four hours to enter the south gate of the temple,” said Gita Karki from Bhaisepati in Lalitpur. “However, it was better than the previous years,” she added.

However, PADT, which offered Prasad for every visitors first time, officials claimed that it did not took more than two hours in reaching to the temple. Another local visitor Ambika Bhatta from around the temple area criticised the paying system to worship god.

Although having hashish and opium strictly restricted in the area for ordinary people, a bulk of youths were seen puffing hashish along with sadhus and sages, who are permitted to have as Prasad of Shiva. An Assistant Sub-Inspector on duty at Mrigasthali said it was impossible to control it without the government’s will.

EGO CLASH BETWEEN POLICE & SCOUT
KATHMANDU: A tense environment was created at Pashupatinath Temple after volunteers of Nepal Scout and officials of Nepal Police misunderstood each other with the ego clashes. Nepal Scout volunteers blamed DIG Binod Singh of Traffic Police misbehaving the volunteers while entering to the temple. “DIG Singh was entering the temple with his family members, violating the rules set by police themselves. When we asked his family members to show official IDs, they demeaned us by asking our status,” said Scout Master Ranjan Lal Shrestha. “We were asked—What is your status to ask our IDs,” he claimed. When DIG family was en route to out, slogans were chanted against DIG. It was widely reported that Scout volunteers were also misbehaving the visitors enquiring them more than necessary. --

PADT and volunteering organisations managed food, accommodations and refreshment services to the needy visitors from different places. Health workers and camps provided the free services and medicine to the people who fell ill during standing on row. About 200 people including two serious cases were treated yesterday and today.

Dr Minendra Rijal, Minister of Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture, said that the programme was successful. “Everything including security services were well managed this year,” said Rijal, who is chairman of PADT.

Mahashivaratri Festival 2010 was jointly organised by PADT, Indian Embassy and Nepal Manv Sewa Dharma Samiti. The festival is being observed from February 11-13.

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Sages smeared in hues throng for Mahahivaratri

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, January 29

They emerge in all hues, appearances and semblance around Pashupatinath. Their rugged appearances, matted hair, and smeared body with ash resemble the perfect disciple of Lord Shiva. There will be droves of them at Pashupati during Mahashivaratri, the night of Lord Shiva on February 12, exhibiting strange and bizarre conduct and behaviour.

These people have renounced all the worldly pleasures and comforts and want to find solace by praying Lord Shiva and experience sartori in hemp and marijuana, and making wild merriment replicating the Dynossiac culture of medieval Greece. Drug addicts also throng the shrine to have intoxicated in on the very occasion.

Sushil Nahata, member-secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), said the sages have started arriving, earlier than a week than previous years. “This year will be different from past years in every thing. Mysterious great sadhus like Chandra Swami will also be here”
They are treated as guests and housed and fed for free. Elaborate preparations are being made to cater to thousands of their tribe who will be visiting the Pashupatinath Temple for the festival, making the pilgrims feel homely and facilitate them whatever they need.

“Accommodations for the yogis and the beggars will be separately arranged,” said Bhola Prasad Sitaula, director of PADT.

Sadhus are welcome lots. But there will be beggars as uninvited guests. Hundreds of beggars have already arrived - some of them in unimaginably wretched state. They are found all over the Pashupati area with hopes for generosity from the devotees who come there.

Nahata said that the beggars always outnumber the Sadhus. “Still by treating them as pilgrims we will do whatever we can,” he said.

The sages and the beggars will be settled separately, and that will be managed by the PADT and other organisations from the private sectors. All the necessary security facilities will be provided to the visitors. For that, security posts and camps will be set up mobilising the police and the army to control possible mobs in the adjoining areas of Pashupatinath Temple.

Number of devotees is increasing every year. At least half a million pilgrims and other visitors are expected for Shivaratri this year – 25 per cent more than last year. It is estimated that the number of sages alone will exceed 5,000 this year coinciding with Kumbha Mela in Kavre, Hridwar and Kuruchhetra, said Raj Babu Pandey, chief of the Pashupati Guthi. More than 150 sages and yogis have already arrived from India. The Naga Babas (naked sages), one of the attractions of Shivaratri, will come soon.

The accommodation facilities will be provided free to all the sages and beggars during the celebration. When they leave, they are bid farewell with rudrakshya, clothes, sweet and cash ranging from Rs 350 to Rs. 1,100.

The Sadhus are provided with logs for bonfire during the cold February nights and marijuana as a 'prasad' of Lord Shiva while they remain here. “However, we are facing difficulty in getting logs. While we need some 60,000 logs, we have only 15,000 pieces,” Pandey said.

Twelve different subcommittees have been formed aiming to make the festival successful and different than the previous years.

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