KATHMANDU: Sharat Singh Bhandari has taken charge as the coordinator of the Rastriya Janata Party Nepal (RJPN) presidium.
Bhandari was elected as the coordinator as per the party’s provision of changing the coordinator every two months.
A meeting of the party presidium had recently decided to elect Bhandari to the post from today, according to RJPN general secretary Keshab Jha.
The party’s presidium has six members and take turns to assume the post of party coordinator.
The RJPN is holding its general convention next month to elect the party new leadership.
KATHMANDU: Nepali Congress General Secretary Dr. Shashank Koirala has said his party is ready to go for a referendum to decide the fate of republic, federalism and secularism.
Speaking at a tea reception on the occasion of Holi at his residence in Tokha, Koirala said referendum would be the right way to know the people’s opinion on secularism, federalism and republicanism.
He urged one and all to put pressure on the government to hold referendum to reinstate Nepal as a Hindu state. “Let people decide on key issues,” he said adding that the state cannot neither be secular nor non-secular, but freedom to religion.
KATHMANDU: France has conferred the honorary distinction, ‘Chevalier de l’ordre national du Mérite,’ knight of the national order of Merit, on Pratima Pande, honorary consul of Italy to Nepal.
Ambassador of France to Nepal, François-Xavier Leger, conferred upon Pande the French honor.
The Ambassador said this honor was conferred in recognition to Pande’s many years of selfless service to the Government of France.
According to a press statement, Embassy of France in Kathmandu said Pande has a long relationship with France and especially through the Alliance Française, the French culture center.
Pande has been a member of the board between 2001 and 2007. She has also served as the Vice President between 2007 and 2011, and the President between 2011 and 2017.
Pande is also the founder member of Nepal France Friendship Society (NFFS) which was established in 2017 with the aim of enhancing cooperation between Nepal and France at the initiative of Binod Khakurel, chairman of NFFS who has been residing in Paris for past 23 years.
The organization was set up with the objective of exploring cooperation opportunities between Nepal and France as well as supporting and connecting culture, people and art and literature of the two countries.
The honor Ordre National du Mérite (National Order of Merits) was instituted by General Charles de Gaulle in 1963. The honor is awarded for distinguished services rendered in civil, public, military posts, or a private profession.
KATHMANDU: Meteorological Forecasting Division has forecast light rainfall to thundershowers at a few places in the hilly region this evening.
The change of weather has been attributed to the impact of pre-monsoon weather system.
The Division, however, said the rainfall is expected for a short time. Likewise, the Division has also predicted cloudy Thursday and Friday
KATHMANDU: Revelers in Kathmandu flocked to the streets to celebrate Holi, the festival of colors.
People, especially youngsters, smeared with different colors also danced with the music in different parts of the city.
The festival, which marks the advent of the spring season, is popular among the youngsters in Kathmandu and elsewhere.
Tourists also joined the celebration in Kathmandu.
KATHMANDU: Nepal has entered final of the SAFF Women’s Championship by defeating Sri Lanka by 4 goals held at Sahid Stadium in Biratnagar on Wednesday.
Punam Jargha Magar had opened points account by scoring the first goal against the opponent team at the 42nd minute by utilizing a header from Sabitra Bhandari.
Likewise, Anita Basnet doubled the score capitalizing on the pass by Rekha Paudel at the 73rd minute.
Similarly, Nepal left Sri Lanka behind with a 4-0 lead after Sabitra Bhandari and Rekha Paudel scored one goal each into the goal post of the opponent team at the 82nd minute and 86th minute respectively.
With this win, Nepal will lock horns with the winner of the other semifinal for the SAFF Women’s Championship 2019 title on Friday. Nepal is confident to win the title.
The next semifinal match is taking place between Indian and Bangladesh at 3 pm today.Nepal is the winner of group A. Earlier, it defeated Bhutan by 3-0 in the opening match and emerged out to be the group winner by trouncing Bangladesh by the same goal differences.
KATHMANDU: Nepal has taken a lead 3-0 against Sri Lanka at the semifinal of the SAFF Women’s Championship being held at Sahid Stadium in Biratnagar on Wednesday.
Punam Jargha Magar scored a goal against Sri Lanka at the 42nd minute by utilizing a header from Sabitra Bhandari. Likewise, Anita Basnet doubled the score capitalizing on the pass by Rekha Paudel at the 73rd minute.
The match began at 11 am. Nepal is confident to clinch a win against the group B runner up, with supports from Nepali football fans.
Nepal is the winner of group A. Earlier, it defeated Bhutan by 3-0 in the opening match and emerged out to be the group winner by trouncing Bangladesh by the same goal differences.
Sri Lanka became group B runner up by defeating Maldives by 2-0 in its opening match while it lost to India 5-0.
Similarly, the other semifinal match is being held between India and Bangladesh today itself. It will start at 3 pm.
KATHMANDU: Nepal has taken a lead 1-0 against Sri Lanka at the semifinal of the SAFF Women’s Championship being held at Sahid Stadium in Biratnagar on Wednesday.
Punam Jargha Magar scored a goal against Sri Lanka at the 42nd minute by utilizing a header from Sabitra Bhandari.
The match began at 11 am. Nepal is confident to clinch a win against the group B runner up, with supports from Nepali football fans.
Nepal is the winner of group A. Earlier, it defeated Bhutan by 3-0 in the opening match and emerged out to be the group winner by trouncing Bangladesh by the same goal differences.
Sri Lanka became group B runner up by defeating Maldives by 2-0 in its opening match while it lost to India 5-0.
Similarly, the other semifinal match is being held between India and Bangladesh today itself. It will start at 3 pm.
KATHMANDU: The security has been tightened in view of the Holi festival in the Kathmandu Valley on Wednesday. The Ministry of Home Affairs has deployed as many as 3,000 security personnel across the capital to preempt any untoward incidents.
According to Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu, 2000 police personnel have been deployed in Kathmandu alone. Similarly, 584 and 408 police officials have been deployed in Lalitpur and Bhaktapur respectively.
With 107 checkpoints, 85 quick response and 20 mobile teams will be taking action against those who smear colors against the will of the individuals. Similarly, around 300 plainclothes police have been deployed in the capital.
SP Hobindra Bogati, spokesperson of Nepal Police, said the security has been tightened in view of the Holi festival.
“We are fully prepared for the security of the Holi festal. Every one is free to play Holi festival. But we will arrest those who engage in unruly activities, smear color on individuals against their will and target them with water-filled balloons (lolas), said Bogati.
KATHMANDU: Observed for centuries, Holi is a popular springtime festival. It is a Hindu festival that marks the start of spring season.
In addition, the festival also celebrates the triumph of good over evil, color, and love predominantly in Nepal and India.
In Nepal, it is a jubilant occasion that sees people, especially youngsters, chill out on this day. All offices, including education institutions, remain closed on this day while the markets look deserted – with most of the stores pulling down their shutters.
Different activities, including musical concerts are organized on this day in different parts of Kathmandu and elsewhere.
Kids poise with water guns from rooftop terraces while motorcyclists wielding handfuls of colored powder take to streets by launching drive-by assaults. Throngs of people, caked in multi-colored dust, wander around the city wildly.
The festival is celebrated in Tarai on Thursday and the next day in Kathmandu.
Holi is becoming a hot favorite festival in Nepal.
According to various legends in Hindu mythology, one of the major belief is the story of a demon, Holika, her brother King Hiranyakashipu, and his son Prahlad, who is Lord Vishnu’s devotee.
Irate with his son’s devotion, Hiranyakashipu and his sister Holika plot to kill Prahlad when Holika lures Prahlada onto a pyre to burn him to death. However, instead of Prahlad, Holika is consumed by the flames.
Lord Vishnu protects Prahlad, his devotee. This was how the festival began, according to mythologies. People, especially in the Terai, burn the effigy of Holika which is placed on top of the pyre.
Whatever the myth, Holi festival continues to be a favorite amongst the youngsters.