Russia Signs Agreement With Nepal for Repayment Of It's $1.16 million (USD) Loan

Russia has signed an agreement with the government of Nepal for the repayment of a $US1.16 million Soviet-era loan.

It is not clear why Russia is bothering to collect such a small, old debt. But given Russia’s troubles — its currency has collapsed along with its economy, and Russia’s own foreign debts are now crippling it — and the mercurial nature of president Vladimir Putin, it is temping to read the Nepal agreement as a sign of … something. The landlocked nation of Nepal, which became a republic in 2008 after almost half a century of rule by monarchs or a ruling family, remains one of the world’s poorest countries, with a GDP per capita of $US694.10. It suffered from a decade of civil war after Maoist rebels took on the monarchy under King Gyanendra, which only ended last November when a peace deal was finally signed. Its relationship with the Soviet Union began in 1956, three years before the US set up an embassy in the capital Kathmandu. According to US diplomatic cables from the time, by June, 1958, the Nepalese King Mahendra had agreed, in principle, to accept Soviet economic aid. Now the Russian Finance Ministry wants the country to pay back its debt. Yet it’s unclear why it has taken the decision now. Russia is significantly richer than Nepal with per capita income at around $US14,600 in 2013, according to World Bank data. The move could be seen as part of a trend of Russia leaning on its debtors in order to raise funds as the country’s economy suffers in the wake of the collapse in global oil prices and Western sanctions over its role in the ongoing Ukraine crisis. Earlier this month Russian president Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine should repay a $US3 billion loan because Russia needs that money to fight the economic crisis that’s currently ravaging the nation, reports Bloomberg’s Anton Doroshev. However, the tiny size of the Nepal loan relative to the Russian economy makes this move look decidedly odd not least as the country still has some $US368 billion in international reserves in its coffers, the majority of which is held in dollars and euros. It should already have enough to take care of its damaged economy — for the time being at least. Perhaps then this loan recall from Nepal is just a shot across the bow for its larger debtors. Russia is simply saying: It may soon be time to pay up. [Originally Posted on :http://www.businessinsider.com.au/russia-calling-in-a-soviet-era-loan-from-nepal-2015-2] [image courtesy: http://static1.cartoonsy.com/preview/82/e9edc34819c911e]

Message to Nepal from Pakistan

The chief of the foundation Kalki Avatar, Younus Algohar has released the following video in regards to the members of the foundations, who were arrested by Nepal Police.

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Photography Competition Now Open To All

Thank you guys for breaking the boundaries and promoting our cultures world-wide. We are very excited to receive participants form outside valley and outside Nepal as well.

Yenya Punhi is no longer celebrated inside the valley only. Newa People have carried their tradition wherever they have settled. This year, Yenya Punhi was observed in America, Australia, Sikkim and few other districts of Nepal. If you were there and had taken photos, you too can participate in the competition. Even if you didn't, please do share this message with your friends, for they might be interested.

Thank you to all contestants for participating and we hope more of our friends from all around the world will be joining too.

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For Competition Details>>> Click Here
Facebook Page>>> Click Here
Watch Videos Of This Year's Jatra>>> Click Here

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Yenya Punhi 1134 Videos

Playlist of Videos of Indra Jatra 2014

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Khota: Baji Episodes shot in Sydney

The following episodes of Khota Baji were shot during, Director/Actor Surendra Tuladhar and Bhintuna Joshi's visit to Sydney, Australia. The episode was shot in Sydney by Digital Key Production(Saurav Manandhar).

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Episode 532

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Episode 533

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Episode 534

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Clebrating My first Yenya Punhi(Indrajatra) In Sydney

It had been raining all week and as we feared, it rained on the 6th aswell. Though distressed, we had hopes that the sun would show us a smile and yes it did with isolated showers.

Bit of History

The event had been long-planned, not weeks or months but years ago. The first year I came to Australia and had to miss the festival for the first time, I was crestfallen. I thus created a fan page in facebook, where my friends from Nepal would upload photos and I could get glimpses of the festival too. I also began searching the internet for photos and videos of the festival so i could share them on this page, and for others to view aswell.

While searching for videos of jatra in YouTube, I came across a video of an event in London, where they performed the pulu kisi dance during a program inside a hall. I hoped to organise a similar event since then, but I was relatively new to Australia. At that time, I was unaware of any Nepalese Organizations and I was financially constrained, so I was helpless. Years went by and eventually I began organizing "Indrajatra Photography Competition". The event was self sponsored and in the first year, some gift items were promoted by "Canon Imaging School". The responses were good, both for the competition and especially for the page, as it had laid a platform for all jatra lovers, who were abroad, to enjoy the festival online. From the comments during the festival it was obvious that so many people were missing their favorite festival.

This year, I actually had plans to go to Nepal during the festival. I was already very excited, I'd be seeing the jatra after so long. But destiny had other plans. I had to stay here, but i definitely wasn't going to sit idle just watching pictures this year. I approached Mr. Ganga Nemkul (Founder Chinari Nepal), whom I had seen in facebook photos, dancing as Lakhe on different occasions. Because Ganga also has been very passionately involved in promoting the Nepalese culture abroad, he immediately agreed to cooperate. I also approached Mr. Padam Shakya (Advisor Guthi Australia). As this was a typical newa cultural event, and Guthi Australia stood in Sydney representing the newa community, I had a wish that the Guthi would take up the responsibilty. Sarun Tamrakar (President Guthi Australia), along with Padam dai and other Guthi Members(present during the discussion), casted their positive determination.

Despite staying abroad, where we usually have such a busy time, many friends from Guthi came and contributed not only their precious time but their skills aswell. I must say, i didn't expect for such a good structure of the "kisi" and certainly not the 'mask' of the Kisi. Prateek and Kundan (Executive Member Guthi Australia) deserve all credit for the efforts they have put in painting the kisi's mask and body so beautifully and Sarun, being the president of the organization didn't limit his participation only to the executive level but also contributed his time and effort to the building process aswell. Such generosity is rare in most people who have achieved a top level position in any organization. All in all, it was a great experience to be working with Guthi Australia.

 

The Program

After performing some formal rituals and a "samya baji" break, we made it to Darling Harbor where the event was staged. The rain had stopped, but the ground was damp. We marked our territory behind one of the stalls and began our preparations while a few of us went to check on the program schedule. Like any other Nepalese event, the program had begun quite late so schedules were to be kept tight but because we did not require any stage time, that didn't become an issue for us at all. However, it would have been way more fun if we could have integrated our program with some other stage performances, as there were many dance performances in Nepal Bhasa songs. We could have thought of some puns we could play to entertain the crowd IF, we had access to the schedule sheet.

Nevertheless, the program went well. We began our show with the lakhe and jhyalincha dance. Ganga was dressed as lakhe and I took on a very rough appearance of the jhyalincha (we had no other option, it's very hard to find volunteers). After being chased by the lakhe, I ran back to our enclave and came back with the kisi, riding it along the skirts of the tumbalong park, which was bounded by stalls for the day, pretending an search for the lakhe. We got blank responses from many of them, but some spectators enjoyed it a lot and a handful of them paid homage to this mighty ride of the King of The Gods himself.

As we made a circle of the park and made our way through the center, we encountered the lakhe. We performed a shot dual among the crowd and rushed back to our resting area. After a very quick lunch but a long break, when more patrons had filled the space, we marched again. This round was more applauded and people from the crowd also seemed to join us, singing along with us, "la: chagu woyeka! samyabaji!! wolla wolla! pulu kisi". This was a moment of pride, not only for me or for we newa but all the Nepalese people because this culture belongs to the nationa as a whole and is a highly valued asset.

Many foreigners fly to Nepal to witness the festival and this year, we offered them the opportunity to save their flight money and enjoy the festival here in their own country. Hopefully, we will be able to host further events and more complete events in the coming years, with inclusions of Devi Pyankha, Sawa: Bakhu and chariot processions as well. If your support continues, we certainly will!

The Story Of Kumari: The Living Goddess

यो जनश्रुति हो । अथवा भनौं, जनविश्वास । कुमारीको दैत्यसँग माया बसेको हुन्छ । पछि यस्तो स्थिति आउँछ, कुमारीले आफ्नो दैत्य प्रेमी वा देशमध्ये एउटा रोज्नुपर्ने हुन्छ । कुमारीले देश रोज्छिन् । दैत्यको हत्या गर्छिन् । आफ्नो प्रेमीलाई रोजेको भए, देश रहने थिएन । यो उनको मायाको हत्या थियो । त्यसैले उनले घोषणा गर्छिन्, 'म अब विवाह गर्दिनँ, कुमारी नै रहन्छु ।' उनले देश पनि बचाउँछिन्, आफ्नो प्रेम पनि अमर राख्छिन् । यसै कथालाई समेटेर अहिलेसम्म पनि 'प्याखँ' प्रदर्शन हुँदै आएको छ । वियोगान्त छ, यो कथा । ०६५ को दसैंताका काठमाडौं इतुंबहालको प्रतापमान शाक्यको घरमा पनि ठूलै छलफल चलेको थियो, उनकी कान्छी छोरीलाई कुमारी बनाउने विषयमा लिएर । कुमारी यही बेला फेरिन्छ । आखिरमा उनीहरू सबैले त्यो वियोगान्त कथा त सुनेकै थिए । कान्छी छोरीको नाम राखेका थिए, मतिना । नेपाल भाषामा मतिनाको अर्थ हुने गर्छ, प्रेम, माया, प्रीति, प्यार । त्यतिबेला मतिना तीन वर्षभन्दा केही बढीकी मात्र थिइन् । नर्सरीमा भर्ना मात्र भएकी । शाक्य परिवारले निर्णय गर्‍यो- आफ्नो संस्कृतिको धरोहर कायम राख्न मतिनालाई कुमारी बनाउने । 'त्यो वियोगान्त कथा खालि एक पुस्ताबाट अर्को पुस्तामा सर्दै आएको कथा न हो,' शाक्य परिवारको निचोड थियो । त्यसो त, कुमारीका पनि दर्जनभन्दा बढी प्रथा छन् । त्यसमध्ये केही लोप भइसके । जति छन्, त्यसमध्ये पनि वसन्तपुरकी कुमारी मुख्य मानिन्छ । यसकै बढी महत्त्व छ । राजकीय कुमारी भएर पनि यस्तो भएको हुन सक्छ । कोही यसलाई महालक्ष्मी त कोही वज्रदेवीको प्रतीक मान्छन् । यस्तै केही तलेजु भवानीको प्रतीक । जयप्रकाश मल्लले कुमारी प्रथाको स्थापना गरेको मानिन्छ । अहिले वसन्तपुरमा रहेको कुमारी घर नेपाल संवत् ८७७ तिर बनेको मानिन्छ । त्यसअगाडि सायद हनुमानढोकामै कुमारीलाई बस्नका लागि व्यवस्था थियो । जयप्रकाश मल्लदेखि अहिलेसम्म लगातार एकपछि अर्को कुमारी बन्दै आएका छन् । एकखाले अनुमान छ, अहिलेकी मतिना सम्भवतः ४४ औं राजकीय कुमारी हुन सक्छिन् । यिनै मतिनालाई पनि त्यति बेला सोधिएको थियो, 'कुमारी हुन्छौ त ?' सानैदेखि केही फरक र विशेष देखिएकी मतिनाले आत्मविश्वासले भनेकी थिइन्, 'हुन्छु ।' जो कोहीले कुमारी कहाँ हुन पाउँछन् र ? शाक्य कुलकी हुनुपर्‍यो । आमा र बुबा दुवैमा तीन पुस्तासम्म हेरिन्छ, कुल ठीक छ कि छैन भनेर । फेरि चिना पनि मिल्नुपर्‍यो । पहिले पहिले कुमारी हुनेको चिना राजाको चिनासँग मिल्नुपथ्र्यो । अहिले त राजै रहेनन्, त्यसैले मतिनाको चिना देशको ग्रहदशासँग मिलाइएको थियो । सबै मिलेपछि अन्ततः मतिना बनिन्, गणतन्त्र नेपालको पहिलो कुमारी । दसैंको मुखैमा परिवारको सबैभन्दा प्यारी कान्छी छोरीले घर छाड्नुपरेको थियो । त्यो दसैं कुनै पनि अर्थमा दसैं रहेन । बज्यै बालदेवी र आमा सुनिता शाक्यको मन कम्ती रोएको थिएन, त्यस बेला । न त बुबाको मन ठीक ठाउँमा थियो । हिजै जस्तो लाग्छ, यी सबै घटना, अहिले छ वर्ष भइसकेको छ । मतिना पनि नौ वर्षकी भइसकिन् । कुमारी हुँदासम्म उनले आफ्नो घर र्फकनु हुन्न । वसन्तपुरको कुमारी घरमै रहनुपर्छ । उनको हेरविचार गर्न चिताइदारहरू हुन्छन् । केही साताअगाडि मात्र इतुंबहालमा देवताहरू प्रदर्शन चल्दा उनी त्यहाँ आएकी थिइन् । र्फकंदा परबाट आफ्नो घर हेरिन् । खासै प्रतिक्रिया दिइनन् । उनका आफ्नै उमेरका दिदीबहिनीले घरबाट हात हल्लाएर बाईबाई गरे । कुमारीले आफ्नो गहना र वस्त्र धारणा गरिसकेपछि उनी केही फरक देखिन्छन् । बाल चञ्चलता हराउने गर्छ । अरू बेला भने साधारणजस्तै हुन्छ । अचेल कम्प्युटरको जमाना छ, त्यससँग पनि मतिना अभ्यस्त भइसकेकी छन् । ल्यापटप र मोबाइल पनि उनका लागि नौला रहेनन् । अहिले उनी चार कक्षामा पढ्ने भइसकेकी छन् । स्कुल जान्नन्, स्कुल नै उनीसम्म आउने गर्छ । उनको स्कुल हो, गणबहालको गि्रनपिस को-एड । दुईजना शिक्षक दिउँसो पालोपालो कुमारी घर पुग्छन्, पढाउन । मतिनाले पढ्ने मात्र कुमारी घरमा हो, उनको पढाइको ढाँचादेखि लिएर अरू सबै स्कुलले तोकेजस्तै हुन्छ । जाँच पनि दिनुपर्छ, पास पनि हुनुपर्छ । शाक्य परिवारबाट पनि बरोबर कुमारी घर पुग्छन् । आफ्ना दिदीबहिनी आउँदा कुमारी खुबै खुसी हुन्छिन् र साधारण केटाकेटीजस्तै खेल्छिन् । बज्यै र आमालाई भने कुमारी घर छाड्दा अझै गाह्रो हुने गर्छ, उनको मायाले । बुबा प्रतापमान बरोबर कुमारी घर गइरहन्छन् । छोरी भेट्न उनलाई कुनै रोकतोक छैन । मनले भनेपछि पुगिहाल्छन्, कुमारी घर । उनले पनि अनुभव गरेका छन्, आफ्नी छोरी अरू बेला साधारण हुन्छिन् । जति बेला कुमारीको गहना र वस्त्रमा सज्जिन्छन्, विशेष हुन्छिन् । अब एकाध दिनमै इन्द्रजात्रा सुरु हुँदै छ । काठमाडौंको सबैभन्दा ठूलो सांस्कृतिक चाड हो, यो । यसलाई येँया पुन्हि भनिन्छ । तीनपटक कुमारीको रथले भित्री काठमाडौं घुम्ने गर्छ । बुबा प्रतापमान पनि रथसँगै घुम्छन् । त्यसैलै इन्द्रजात्राको बेला उनी खुबै व्यस्त हुन्छन् । आखिरमा उनी कुमारीका बुबा हुन्, अझ भनौं देवताका बुबा । यत्तिकै भन्दा पनि उनको मन खुसीले झुम्ने गर्छ । मान्छे भएर देवताको आमा बुबा, बाजे बज्यै, दिदीबहिनी, दाइभाइ हुने अवसर । प्रतापमान आफै प्राज्ञिक व्यक्ति हुन्, भाषा संस्कृतिप्रति अनुराग राख्ने । खासमा उनी लिपि विशेषज्ञ हुन् । नेपालमा चलनचल्तीमा रहेका कम्तीमा १२ लिपिका ज्ञाता हुन् । त्यसमा नेपालको गौरव रञ्जना लिपि पनि पर्छ । लामो समय नेपाल लिपि गुथिको नेतृत्व सम्हाले, अहिले त्यही गुथिको प्राज्ञिक परिषद्को सदस्य छन् । अहिले उनी कुमारी अधिकारकर्मीजस्तै भएका छन् । र, कुमारीबारे विशेषज्ञ पनि । कुमारीलाई लिएर निस्केका समाचारका कटिङ राख्छन्, कुमारीलाई लिएर लेखिएका थेसिस पनि जम्मा गरिरहेका छन् । उनकै भाषामा मतिना कुमारी हुनुअगाडिसम्म यो प्रथा संकटमा थियो । डर थियो, कतै त्यो लोप हुने त होइन । आफ्नो छोरी कुमारी भएपछि प्रण गरे, यो प्रथालाई कायम राख्न केही दिगो काम गर्नुपर्छ । यसका लागि उनले पछिल्लो छ वर्ष लगातार काम गरेका छन् । धेरैलाई भेटेका छन् । धेरैले उनलाई सहयोग पनि गरेका छन् । समस्या अझै धेरै छन् । यसबीच पनि अहिले केही सन्तोष मान्ने स्थिति बनेको छ । जस्तो काठमाडौं महानगरपालिकाले हालै मात्र कुमारीमा कायम रहेकालाई प्रतिमहिना ४० हजार रूपैयाँ दिने निर्णय गरेको छ । नेपाल सरकारका तर्फबाट सात हजार पाँच सय रुपैयाँ अलग्गै आउँछ । अवकास प्राप्त कुमारीले पनि अहिले नगरपालिकाबाट प्रतिमहिना १० हजार रुपैयाँ पाउँछन् भने सरकारका तर्फबाट तीन हजार सात सय ५० रुपैयाँ । प्रतापमान मान्छन्, कायम कुमारी मात्र होइन, अवकाश प्राप्त कुमारीको स्वास्थ्य र शिक्षाको जिम्मा पनि सरकारले लिनुपर्छ । यसपछाडि प्रतापमानसँग पर्याप्त तर्क पनि छन् । पहिलो, नेपाली पयर्टनमा कुमारीको जबरदस्त आकर्षण छ । यो सबैलाई थाहा छ । धेरैलाई थाहा नभएको के हुन सक्छ भने कुमारीको नाममा पहिले १ सय ८० रोपनी जग्गा थियो, पछि त्यो सरकारले लियो । राजा महेन्द्रको पालामा । टुँडिखेल अगाडि नेपाल वायु सेवा निगम (एनएसी) को भवन रहेको जग्गा यसैमा पर्न सक्छ । अझै पनि घोडेजात्राका बेला त्यही एनएसीको भवनको एउटा कोठामा बसेर कुमारीले जात्रा मनाउने परम्परा छ । यस्तै पुतलीसडकस्थित क्यापिटल मार्केट रहेको भवनको जग्गा पनि कुमारीकै थियो, बूढापाका यस्तै भन्छन् । 'कुमारीको नाममा धेरैले लाखौं करोडौं कमाइरहेका छन्, आखिरमा त्यही कुमारीलाई राम्रो होस् भनेर त्यसको केही अंश खर्च गर्न किन कन्ज्युस्याइँ ?' प्रतापमानको प्रश्न छ । उनी अवकाश प्राप्त सबै कुमारीहरूले सहज र सामान्य जीवन बिताइरहेको तथ्य पनि सबैलाई बुझाउन चाहन्छन् । उनी प्रायः रश्मिला शाक्यको उदाहरण प्रस्तुत गर्न चाहन्छन् । यी पूर्वकुमारी अहिले कम्प्युटर इन्जिनियर भएकी छन् । सायद दुई वर्षपछि मतिनाले पनि अवकाश पाउनेछिन् । यही दुई वर्षभित्र प्रतापमानलाई अझ धेरै काम गर्नु छ । पछि मतिनाले के बन्न चाहने हो, त्यो उनमै छाड्न चाहन्छन् । खालि चाहन्छन्, मतिना देशको सफल र सभ्य नागरिक बनुन् । प्रतापमानलाई दुई वर्षपछि मतिना घर र्फकंदा उनलाई नयाँ वातावरणसँग अभ्यस्त गराउने चुनौती पनि छ । उनी अहिलेदेखि नै त्यसको तयारीमा छन् । र, उनी त्यो दसैंको पर्खाइमा पनि छन्, जुन बेला घरमा कान्छी छोरी हुनेछिन् ।

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[Article source: https://www.facebook.com/nEWa.rocKkss/posts/821178144581920:0] [Image: http://traveloncloud9.files.wordpress.com/2008/04/kumari-6.jpg]