Street kids sore over media sensationalising their woes

December 17, 2004

Filed under: Nepal Streetkid News
Street kids sore over media sensationalising their woes
(Archive)
By Bishnu Prasad Aryal

DHARAN, Dec. 17, 2004: Street children in Sunsari district are irritated with media for sensationalising their plight – neither they want to talk about their woes on how they came to the street nor do they want to be called ‘street children’.

“Many people from various organisations came to interview us and take photographs, but they do nothing for us and they never return. No one comes to share our pain in reality but only to profit from our miseries,” said Saroj Rai of Daju-Bhai Child Club, the only club of the children living in the streets. There are about 70 street children in Dharan.

Rai said that he had been interviewed more than 10 times by the local and national media persons but their condition has not improved. “Rather, it has worsened.”

“So don’t ask me more about how I was thrown to the gutter of the street and living a dog’s life. I can’t hope much from you too,” he expressed his perception to this reporter. The children said that they were slightly better off after they established the club about five years ago. The club has done more for us than the assurances given by the elite groups, they said. “We share pains and try to console each other,” Rai said.

Street children, who are in dire condition, are brought to the contact centre of a local organisation, Underprivileged Children Association (UPCA) Nepal, which has encouraged and helped them to establish the club.

After visiting the contact centre, some of the children, however, do not hesitate to tell their tales of grief and anguish.

Dil Bahadur Khadka, 16, left home four years ago as his father used to kick him frequently. “Sometimes, I used to bunk the classes and smoke with my friends,” said Khadka. “As my father knew it, I was severely beaten. Then, I decided to leave the house,” he added. Khadka comes from a poor family of five daughters and three sons. But disgusted by the abominable life — picking plastics and rusted metals, having to go without food and straying as mongrels in the cold and deserted streets, he remembers that home is where the heart is. “I visit home occasionally.”

“When I reach my home, my father scold me with vulgar words like ‘khate’ (a mean word for street children). Then I don’t like to stay there even for a moment and come back to the street,” he said.

Fifteen-year-old Umesh BK’s life is no less touching than others. “My father went to India when I was small. But he never returned.” His mother eloped with another man with his two younger brothers. “I was abandoned,” BK went on.

“A cousin told me to visit the contact centre where I am sheltered now. I am studying in Class 5,” he added.

All these children are also worried of the insurgency that has added panicky miseries in their lives. “The conflict takes the lives of elders. Those death tolls turn into a demon orphaning and pushing us in the streets,” they said.

“We have raised the voices on domestic violence, exploitation and child rights,” said Rai. “But we do not dare to speak against the conflict due to the fear.”

However, it is a good sign that children of child clubs across the country have started voicing against their deplorable condition.

According to Rajiv Lochan Adhikari, manager of the Consortium of Organisations Working for Child Clubs, there are 3,000 child clubs working under 40 organisations in 22 districts.

SOURCE: The Rising Nepal

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Waters in Mt Everest region contaminated

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, April 20

Contamination in water bodies in the Sagarmatha National Park and its Buffer Zone (SNPBZ), enlisted under the UNESCO world heritage site, has accelerated, owing to the increasing visitors and produced human excreta in the area. Every year, some 27,000 international tourists visit the Mt Everest, the highest peak of the world, which lies under the national park.

A scientific survey sponsored by the Hindu-Kush Karakoram Himalaya Partnership Project--EvK2 National Research Council Project of Italy in coordination with the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology was conducted from 2007-2008. A project on ‘Impacts of Tourism in the SNPBZ’ was carried out by Prof Dr PK Jha, NP Ghimire and BB Shrestha of the Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University.

According to the research, bacterial contamination was recorded in 13 percent water samples and one sample of mineral water. “E coli and Streptococcus faecolies were found in the waters of Khumbu Valley,” Dr Jha exclusively told The Himalayan Times. Famous water bodies in the area are Dudhkosi, Bhote Kosi, Imja Khola and Gokyo lakes.

KATHMANDU: The research team has recorded 62 Species of Algae in the area. Among them, at least 10 species of Algae are recorded new for Nepal. They were identified in cooperation with Algae expert Dr SK Rai. “We are still testing the samples and will release the research officially soon,” researcher Prof Dr PK Jha said.

Besides the local visitors, porters and guides, the total population of the area is 5,869. Unsafe toilet and overuse of manures are the major causes of water contamination. “Litter toilet is common in farming sides and used as fertilizer in potato fields,” said the research team. “There are three types of toilet tanks--simple pit (47.34%), non-cemented stone-wall septic tank (47.88 %), cement-wall septic tank (4.66%).”

A total of 2,197 metric tons of manure is produced yearly and 1.7 tons per household. “Eight tones of manure is used in per hector of fields, which contaminates the water badly,” said Jha. “The nutrient contribution in the per hector of field measures Nitrogen 97kg, Phosphorus 55kg and Potassium 136kg whereas the recommended dose is 70kg, 50kg and 40kg per hector respectively.”

Nitrate nitrogen content in water ranges between 0.1 and 1.98 mg/litre now against the 1998 report of Reynold et al by 0.15-0.17 mg/litre, according to the findings. Total Phosphorus content range is 0.02-0.66mg/litre but the USEPA criteria for rivers/streams measures by 0.1 mg/litre.

Six water samples has iron content of 1.2 mg/litre in Jorsalle Dudhkosi and 0.64 mg/litre in Bhote Kosi near Thame against the quantity of less than 0.3 mg/litre as per WHO, Nepal standard for drinking water.

A sample from Dudh Kosi and Jorsale has 1.48mg/litre Copper content against the standard of 1.0mg/litre.

Sodium, Magnesium, Lead, Manganese were below the WHO Standard but higher than earlier report. Sodium content was measured 0.2-6.4 mg/litre against the earlier report of 1.61 mg/litre.

“Water pollution prevention programme should be implemented to control the hazard,” Jha added.

The field was visited in September 2007, May 2008 and November 2008 respectively. Structured questionnaire and interviews were applied in 20 percent of the households. The samples were tested under the standard methods at Environmental Assessment Material Testing Division, Battisputali, Kathmandu.


This news article has been published in THE HIMALAYAN TIMES on April 21.

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Erratic impacts of climate change on crop cultivation

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Lalitpur, April 17

The scientists and agronomists have pointed out erratic impacts on crop cultivation and recommended varieties, underlining the need to shift the crop zone in Nepal due to the worrisome climate change.

“Now, there is an urgent necessity to assess the crop zone shifting standards,” said Dr Anand Kumar Gautam, chief scientist at the National Agricultural Research Council (NARC). “Otherwise, it will result to dire consequences on the production, leading to food crisis if not timely addressed,” he warned.

A study of NARC on crop yielding trends has indicated an alteration in cultivation method. “Either we have to develop and recommend new varieties or choose a way to change plantation period but it will be problematic in relation to the irrigation,” Gautam added. “Rise in temperature has caused carbon emission from land and added the lifecycle of insects and bacteria, which is alarmingly harmful to the crops.”

Tarai falls under the sub-tropical zone and the varieties are recommended as per the climatic nature. “However, there is a need to apply tropical varieties in this region now,” said Hari Krishna Upreti, senior scientist, NARC.

Upreti said that early maturing varieties of paddy—Harinath-1, Sugandha-1, 2 and 3, and CNTRL85033, tested and recommended for Tarai—have been found cultivated in the Kathmandu valley during the period of last six years. “A few years ago, they were unproductive, failing to head here,” he said. “Even maturity period of rice has decreased by one to two weeks whereas the heading period has been adaptable to late period by two weeks in the hilly region.”

Annually, mercury is on rise by 0.06-degree Celsius. Positive and negative both results of climate change have been traced in crop cultivation in Nepal. “The production of crops in the fertile Tarai region, known as food bank, has been declining whereas it is increasing in the hilly region,” said Gautam. Tarai covers a big majority of the productive land.

The cultivation of wheat crops in western Tarai will be almost infertile in about a decade if this climate change ratio continues, according to the scientists. “Wheat production has drastically come down in Tarai during last few years whereas production in hilly region is increasing,” said Upreti.

According to Open Top Chamber field experiment, production of paddy and wheat has increased by 17-26 and 8-18 percent respectively due to the rise in temperature and carbon dioxide in Kathmandu. “Production of maize has decreased by 21 per cent in the low land as per the DSSAT model experiment based on temperature record of the Department of Hydrology and Metrology,” said Gautam. “It was found apples could not head this year where it was cultivated earlier.”

An extensive research is inevitable to quantify change and timely tackle the problem but financial crunch has become a big obstacle. “It is the government’s responsibility to think in time,” Gautam said.

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Oldest varsity yet to update its system

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, April 11:

Tribhuvan University, the government-owned oldest university of the country, is yet to overhaul its older and traditional systems of curricula and exams as per the international standards, and interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary approaches. It has failed to include semester system and a four-year Bachelor’s Degree programme in many faculties and departments.

Recently established two state-owned universities--Purbanchal University and Pokhara University, and another private-run Kathmandu University have already adopted the updated exam systems and curricula, meeting the international values and standards.

“Though TU has well maintained its quality in Medicine and Engineering, it is yet to update systems in other faculties,” said Dhruba Prasad Niure, teacher at the Central Department of Education at TU. “Neither it has adopted a four-year Bachelor’s programme in many departments and faculties nor implemented semester system,” said Niure, who is doing MPhil in Curriculum from TU. “Students are compelled to sit in the exams once a year.”

According to the Curriculum Development Centre (CDC), TU, the semester system and four-year Bachelor programme have been applied only in the Faculties of Medicine, Engineering, Forestry and Agriculture, and Bachelor in Business Administration and Bachelor in Information Management.

“However, these systems are yet be put into practice in the Faculties of Science, Humanities, Education and Management,” said Dr Keshav Kumar Shrestha, executive director at CDC. “We don’t have any plan to reform and enforce these programmes immediately.”

About 300,000 students are annually enrolled in TU and its affiliated campuses across the nation. TU, established five decades ago, developed its own curriculum in 1974 and revised it three times. “We are modifying it now after 12 years of last amendment and implementing from this year,” said Shrestha. “If it is demanded, we can think upon modernising it.”

Sixteen-year education is mandatory to get admission in Master’s Degree in Europe and American universities. “Our degrees are not internationally recognised. Nepalese students must complete additional one-year course prior to get admission in European and American universities,” said Niure.

“There is a need of drastic change in our education system based on the outdated traditional courses,” said Ram Bahadur Bakhati, retired deputy administrator at Equivalent Section of CDC. “Fifty percent of the present system is unscientific and does not meet even national need,” he said. “It is the age of interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary concepts in education system, adopting micro and macro practices with specialisation but TU is all slow for this.”

Shrestha said that they were facing resource and manpower crunches for developing the internationally recognised courses. “But there is a lack of national policy for adopting semester system presently,” he added.

Lekhnath Paudel, sub-spokesperson at the Ministry of Education, denied the lack of policy and said that autonomous body TU was responsible for not implementing the programmes. “Ministry can support TU if it takes initiative on this matter,” he said, adding politicisation in the university has marred it.

This news article was published on THE HIMALAYAN TIMES on April 12.

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Bio-diversity museum in dire neglect

Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, April 5

Lack of coordination among major concerned authorities to work on the scientific building for the Natural History Museum under Tribhuvan University has put the plan at stake for a decade. Thousands of specimens have been accumulated in a dilapidated unscientific building since 1975.

“TU indicates the responsibility towards the Ministry of Education (MoE), which points it to the University Grant Commission (UGC) and the Ministry of Finance (MoF). The MoF shows that the government is solely accountable for including the issue in the National Planning Commission and carrying out the construction plan of about Rs 560 million,” said Prof Dr Keshab Shrestha, chief at the NHM.

According to the NHM, there are at least 15,880 species of wildlife, flora and fauna in the country. The NHM, only biodiversity museum of the nation, houses 55,000 specimens of wildlife, plants and fossils, which covers the 60 percent samples out of the total species. Shrestha said, “The complexity of shifting responsibility to each other has overshadowed the sensitivity and concerns of the national biodiversity to preserve them.”

In 1999, TU provided 200 ropanis of land on university premises at Kirtipur for the construction of the museum hall. “But we are confined in a dilapidated and congested ordinary building just like a hut made in 1960 in about a hector of land for a school hostel,” he said.

Though it would be the concern of the Ministries of Forestry and Soil Conservation, and Environment, Science and Technology, and Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, the government and the MoE, who must take the responsibility, are totally indifferent to the matter, said Shrestha. “The MoE said that it wouldn’t take initiative without permission from the UGC.”

Ram Prabesh Yadav, spokesperson of the MoE, expressed ignorance on the issue and referred it to ask co-chairperson Lekhnath Paudel for the details. “I exactly can’t say in detail where the process has reached. However, this must be forwarded through UGC as the museum falls under TU,” he added.

Kamal Krishna Joshi, chairman at the UGC, said that the UGC has already recommended it to the MoE. “First, university need to include it in its annual programme and then government should approve it and assist with additional grants,” he added.

Shrestha said that TU has included it in its annual programme since 2002. “However, we are waiting for the government’s will to make it successful.”

This news article was published on THE HIMALAYAN TIMES in an April issue.

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Govt apathy brings a trend of brain-drain

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Owing to the government’s least priority to invest in research and development (R&D) sector, the national progress has fallen lagging farther behind the developed countries. This trend has forced the science and technical manpower, backbone of the developmental infrastructure, flying to the developed nations from Nepal.
“One of the prominent reasons for failing to develop the country is inadequate investment in the R&D and to link each other,” said Dr Dinesh Raj Bhuju, Chief at the Faculty of Science, Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), government apex body of science and technology. “Thus, it has encouraged our technologists to drain into the developed countries.”
There are more than 30,000 science and technical graduates in the country. It is said that almost all the Science products of government-funded Budhanilkantha School, Kathmandu go to the developed countries. About 80 percent products of Physics and Chemistry, Engineering and 25 percent of IT products of Tribhuvan University migrate to America, Europe and other developed Asian countries, according to a NAST expert.
“However, a large majority of the science graduates are engaged in non-research fields,” said Bhuju, who refused to stay in Japan as a scientist. “Some came with great zeal to do something for own country. However, they are in teaching profession. This is an irony of the country.”

Technologists in non-research field

PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai, Ministers Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Dev Prasad Gurung, Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’, Hisila Yami, Pampha Bhusal and Ganesh Shah; Former Chief Secretary Bimal Koirala, Chief Secretary Bhoj Raj Ghimire, Ram Chandra Man Singh-Secretary-Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Dipendra Bikram Thapa-Secretary-Education Ministry, Dr Udaya Raj Sharma-Secretary-Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation , Tek Bdr. Thapa-Secretary-Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Abanindra Kumar Shrestha-Auditor General-Office of the Auditor General.

“This is unfortunate that the science graduates are either only in teaching or administrative or managerial posts,” said Bhuju. “Government, which should invest in basic research, is yet to institutionalise the R&D. Private sector also must be involved in applied researches.”
Nepal’s gross investment in the sector stands by only 0.3 percent of the total GDP, which is spent on salaries and perks whereas developed countries such as Japan have more than 3 percent in R&D. “If we want to pace the sector utilising our manpower, the government should allocate at least 1 percent of the GDP,” he said. “If NASA can exploit our scientists, why shouldn’t we think upon it?”
Economic crisis, political instability and lack of vision and will power are the main constraints to hinder the exploitation of untapped human and natural resources for the development, said Shiva Prasad Koirala, principal at Kathmandu Engineering College. “Government, instead of encouraging the private sector for the development, is discouraging unnecessarily.”
The developed countries float the diplomatic strategies to attract the science and technical manpower of the developing countries without any investment, veteran scientist Bhuju said. “Germany and Japan floated 25,000 visas for free wrights from developing countries in 2004.”
According to the UNESCO Science Report 2004, 100,000 scientists have gone to the developed countries from Africa alone. “The number from Asia is unexpectedly higher than it,” said Bhuju. “Among 10 million scientists world-wide, developed countries boast of 80 percent of them and 60 percent out of them are migrants from developing countries.”

This article has been published on THE HIMALAYAN TIMES, agenda page of March issue.

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Yogi catches popular imagination

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, March 26: A suburb in the capital — Tapketar of Sundarijal VDC — has caught the popular imagination. People are making a beeline for the non-descript village for a glimpse of a spiritual soul rapt in meditation, who has been camping here for the past few weeks. Overnight, Krishna Prasad Dhakal (24) — a resident of Deurali of Baseri VDC in Dhading — has become a celebrity. His quest for a perfect meditation spot ended here, an oasis of serenity, surrounded by pipal, banyan and chap trees. Dhakal, who studied till Class 10, took to farming in his formative years, like most rural folks. “His tryst with meditation started about a month ago. It was the second day of Mahashivaratri. He has taken a pledge that he would maintain silence during meditation,” said Dipendra Tamang, a local resident. His method to contemplate has also gone through a makeover. Initially, he meditated in an open place for nine days. Then, he made a hole in the ground to further his spiritual quest for a week. “He was happy with the progress of his meditation. He distributed tika and prasad to the visitors over the next six days,” claimed the locals. “Around 4,000 people have received his healing touch for various ailments like stomach pain, headache and psychiatric disorder. He has adopted a unique method to meditate for the past 11 days. He has been sitting in a triangle-shaped cradle that hangs from a tree,” said Top Bahadur Khadka, a local resident. Another local Dol Bahadur Pandit (76), who has been playing host to the yogi at night, had an interesting insight of the ‘hanging baba’. “I have been witnessing a miracle for the past three nights. He becomes invisible for 15 minutes, only to be found in the cradle in his meditative posture,” claimed Pandit. Dhakal’s brother Narayan elaborated on his spiritual bent of mind. “He liked to wander around since his childhood. He would go missing frequently for days. He came to the capital on the occasion of Mahashivaratri and never returned to our village,” he said. Meanwhile, Sundarijal Yogi Management Committee — a hurriedly-formed panel — has come forward to provide him security cover. “Devotees are offering him cash daily. The amount is multiplying by the day. Hence, the management committee has been formed for the yogi’s welfare,” said Rajendra Shrestha, chairman of the panel. This news article was published in THE HIMALAYAN TIMES on March 27, 2009.

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Why are butterflies soaring higher?

Bishnu Prasad Aryal

Kathmandu, April 8: Climate change comes home to roost. A research, based on Apollo butterfly and Pika hare — the harbingers of global warming — conducted by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in the Langtang region of the Himalayas indicate a disturbing trend. Both the insect and mammal have migrated up to 500m in the upper reaches in the last 15 years or so due to the adverse impact of climate change. “Usually Apollo butterflies are found at 3,000m above sea level. Over the years, it has moved 500m above. While, Pika has relocated 100m higher,” Bhaiya Khanal of Natural History Museum told The Himalayan Times. Khanal, an expert on butterflies, was a part of the WWF team that conducted the research. “We can find more evidence of climate changes in the Himalayan region if we conduct an extensive survey. It has been observed that some species of butterfly like Pancy and Crow, which are usually found in the Tarai, are now being sighted in the Valley these days,” he explained. There has been a discernible shift in the life cycle of butterflies as well. Earlier, it would be visible from April to October-November. Now, species like Pieris, Urema and Papillion are found in the wild in March. While, other varieties are making its presence felt in Koshi and Bardiya conservation areas in December. Pieris, which usually lives in 1,800m, has moved up to 2,200m. Of the 14 families, belonging to 650 species, 11 are found in Nepal. Khanal felt that more pronounced changes to global warming would come to light soon. “We are yet to explore many parts, especially the Eastern, Mid and Far-western regions. New species and sub-species will be found in these geographically diverse areas during the course of our study,” he added. At a conservative estimate, the Valley and its fringes are home to around 369 species of butterfly. Of these, around 200 can be found in Godavari and Fulchowki areas. “IUCN has enlisted 20 species as endangered. While, the habitat of 12 is threatened in Godavari. No wonder, some of it haven’t been sighted in the past 15 years. Chinese Windmill is seldom found in the Valley these days,” said Khanal. Dr Dinesh Raj Bhuju, chief, Science and Technology at Nepal Academy of Science and Technology, attributed the drastic changes to global warming. There has been an annual rise in mercury by .06 degree Celsius. “Add to that rampant deforestation, destruction of habitat, haphazard industrialisation and unscientific use of pesticides and insecticides that have gradually sounded a death knell for the rich and diverse fauna in Nepal,” he reasoned. This piece of news was published in THE HIMALAYAN TIMES daily on April 9, 2009.

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Balloons or colours: The festival of joys

By Bishnu Prasad Aryal

KATHMANDU, Mar. 17: Swoosh! Water-filled balloon flew like a projectile and burst. The coloured water spilled, drenching the target. The receiver arched back and turned - but with a smile. No hard feelings. It is Fagu, the festival of colours.

Age and gender were no bar. Children, youth and the old alike were in the streets daubing colours on anyone they confronted. Fagu has even crossed races and religions. Even foreigners seem to be joining in the fun of Fagu (also called as Holi), smearing each other's faces with vermillion powder and throwing balloons filled with coloured water.

Tourists, their faces painted in red, blue and black, were seen rambling in Patan Durbar Square, Hanumandhoka, Bhaktapur and Thamel. Although unaware of its religious significance, they found Fagu to their taste.

Fagu was celebrated in Kathmandu and in the hills of Nepal today. The week-long festival, which began on March 10, the 8th day of the full moon, ends tomorrow (Tuesday) on the full moon. In Kathmandu, the festival starts after a pole (called as chir) is erected at the Basantapur Durbar Square and on the final day it is pulled down and burnt. The people of the Terai will be celebrating the festival tomorrow as Holi.

"I don't know what Fagu stands for. We don't have such festivals of colour in France," said Peter Neau, a French national who came here a fortnight ago.

Little boys at Patan Durbar Square had painted his face in colours of green, red, yellow and blue and his clothes were soaked in water. "I have never had so much fun," said the 63-year-old Neau.
His son Fred, 30, an optician by profession, said that it was very rare to play with children in his country. And he has enjoyed playing Holi with the children. "In my country, no one has the time to do all these crazy things."

He thinks there is an association between children and the festival, although he knows nothing about its cultural and religious significance. They were busy taking photos of the Holi celebration in Hanumandhoka and Thamel.

In Jawalakhel, Roman Clavadetscher, a Swiss national, was throwing balloons filled with coloured water at people in the streets. His body was painted in different colours. This was the first time Clavadetscher, who came here nine months ago, has experienced the festival.

The festival revolves around the mythological demon king Hiranya Kashyapu, who did not like his son Pralhad chanting the Lord Vishnu's name. The demon king, therefore, ordered his sister Holika to kill Pralhad. Holika, who had won a boon that gave her the power to withstand the devastating heat of a fire, was to enter a fire with Pralhad.

But, miraculously, Holika was burned to death while Pralhad survived. The festival is, thus, celebrated to mark the victory of good over evil.

Mallica, a Londoner, who landed Nepal a week ago, hopes peace will prevail in Nepal in keeping with the spirit of the Fagu festival. She has enjoyed the festival this year, and hopes it will be just as much fun next year. She will be spending two years in Nepal as her husband works in an NGO.

"I will recommend to my friends and relatives to visit Nepal especially during Fagu time," said the Neau duo. "I will tell my countrymen that the Nepalese are friendly, smiling, caring, kind … and that food here is very delicious."

This feature news was published in The Rising Nepal, March 18, 2003.

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Smeared with ash, sages brace for Shivaratri

By Bishnu Prasad Aryal

KATHMANDU, Feb. 27: They come in all hues, appearances and semblance. Their rugged appearances, matted hair, and body smeared with ash make them the perfect disciple of Lord Shiva. There will be droves of them at Pashupati during Shivaratri, the night of Lord Shiva this Saturday (March 1), displaying strange and bizarre conduct and behaviour.

These people have renounced all the worldly pleasures and comforts and want to find solace by praying to Lord Shiva and in hemp and marijuana and making wild merriment a la replication of the Dynossiac culture of medieval Greece.

They are treated as guests and housed and fed for free. Elaborate preparations have been made to cater to thousands of their tribe who will be visiting the Pashupatinath temple for the festival.
The Pashupati Area Development Trust is making elaborate preparation to make the pilgrims feel at home and to provide them whatever they need.

Ram Prasad Dahal, co-ordinator of the publicity sub-committee under the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), said more than 200,000 pilgrims and other visitors are expected for Shivaratri this year - twice more than last year. The number of people coming for Shivaratri had gone down in the last few years. But this year, because of the peace in the country, their number is expected to double.

He said there should be separate arrangements for accommodating the Sadhus and the beggars.
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. For most of them it is good business.

Dahal said that the beggars always outnumber the Sadhus. Still by treating them as pilgrims we will do whatever we can.

The Trust keeps records of the sadhus so that they can be managed. Last year there were more than 900 sadhus, and over 1,000 beggars, according to the committee, who visited the Pashupatinath Temple during the festival.

In the last few gone years, the number of visitors was decreasing due to the violence and other hurdles. However, it is estimated that the number of sages alone will exceed 2,000 this year, said Dahal. More than 549 sages and yogis have already arrived. The Naga Babas (naked sages), one of the attractions of Shivaratri, from India have been coming from today, said Dahal.

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. When they leave, they are bid farewell with rudrakshya, clothes and cash ranging from Rs. 200 to Rs. l,000. "Important sadhus are also presented with chamars (tails of Yak) and bells," said Dahal.

The accommodation facilities will be provided free to all the sages and beggars during the 3-day celebration lasting from Friday to Sunday. The PADT has allocated Rs. 1.2 million to purchase wood to perform bonfire as a ritual, informed Dahal.

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 mob violence in the adjoining areas of Pashupatinath Temple.

A 301-member Main Committee chaired by Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Kuber Prasad Sharma, a 25 member monitoring committee co-ordinated by Ram Prasad Dahal and 13 other sub-committees have been formed to facilitate the devotees and visitors.

This feature news was published on THE RISING NEPAL daily, Kathmandu Friday February 28, 2003 Falgun 16, 2059.

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