10/15/07

An Exciting Adventurous moment of Life: Rafting and Drowned in Sunkoshi River

Our team of Rafting: from left (Bikash, Nisha, Anu and Jeevan) from right (Binaya, me and Bidya)
On 13th October of 2007, all staffs of Equal Access Nepal planned for annual retreat which was rafting on Sunkoshi river. We planned to start our rafting from Dolalghat and end in Nepalthok. We went there by bus and started rafting on 12:30 pm. In our boat, we were 7, working for Naya Nepal program: Binaya Guragain, Bidya Chapagain, Anu Upadhayay, Bikash Koirala, Jeevan Sharma, Nisha Lama and me. Our boat was yellow in color. We had a guide named Amit.
Our team while rafting
We were enjoying a lot because it was our first experience. Near about three hours after, we had a break for snacks. We were waiting for extreme rapids because we enjoyed lots in rapids of river. After snacks, Bikash Jee went to next boat and Shishir Gyawali came to our boat. When we reached on the juction of Chaurikhola and Sunkoshi, there was a huge rapid which was the largest and dangerous wave between Dolalghat to Nepalthok. We had most exciting adventurous moment of life because our boat was turned and we all fell in water.


Equal Access Rafting Team
I went to the bottom of river. At that time, I was confused either I was human or fish. I was struggling to escape from that tsunami wave. Fortunately, I was able to catch the rope of boat then I was hopeful toward life. We four: Bidya, Jeevan, Nisha and me were catching rope but we were unable to know about other three: Binaya, Anu and Shishir. Near about 10 minutes after, we were rescued.

10/10/07

त्यो पाल्पा, यो पाल्पा : डा. मोहनमान सैंजू

साभार: आश्विन 15, 2064. दृष्टि साप्ताहिक)
धेरै समयपछि राजधानीबाट जन्मथलो पाल्पा पुगियो। राजधानीको व्यस्त जिन्दगीमा पाल्पा मेरा लागि अमेरिकासरह बनेको थियो। यसपालि जन्माष्टमी, भगवती जात्रा र सिस्ने मूल खानेपानी आयोजनाको उद्घाटन समारोहमा सरिक हुन पाइयो। पाल्पा गएको मूल कारण भने किनारीकृत माझी र बोटेहरुलाई रेडियो वितरण गर्नु थियो, त्यो पनि विशेष दिनमा। दिदीको सम्झनामा। संयोगले अरु केही महत्त्वपूर्ण काममा सहभागी हुन पाइयो।<'/span'>" दिदी सुश्री शिवकुमारी सैंजूको स्मृतिमा केही सामाजिक काम गर्ने अवसरका रुपमा पनि यसपालिको पाल्पा यात्रालाई उपयोग गर्न पाइयो। ७७ वर्षीया दिदीले गत पुस ३ गते हामीबाट विदा हुनुभएको थियो। ४४ वर्षघि मसँगै काठमाडौं आउनुभएकी दिदी त्यसपछि आजीवन यहीँ रहनुभयो। उहाँको नाममा भएको सम्पत्ति उहाँकै स्मृतिमा सदुपयोग होस् भन्ने मान्यता हो। त्यही मान्यतामा रहेर केही सामाजिक काम गर्न सकियोस् भनेर यसपालि एउटा सानो प्रयास थालियो। पाका पत्रकार भैरव रिसालको अनुकल्पनामा साथ दिँदै पाल्पाका कुमाले, माझी र बोटे समुदायलाई रेडियो वितरण गरेर उनीहरुलाई सूचना सञ्जालको मूलप्रवाहमा जोड्न खाज्नु हाम्रो प्रयासको धेय थियो।
पाल्पामा जम्मा चार सय परिवारमा रहेका माझी, बोटे, कुमाले लापोन्मुख अवस्थामा छन्। उनीहरुलाई राष्ट्रिय विकासको मूल धारमा ल्याउने प्रयासहरु सफल भएका छैनन्। अझ भनौं प्रभावकारी प्रयास नै भएका छैनन्। न उनीहरुको जीवनस्तर सुध्रिन सकेको छ, न मौलिकता जोगिन नै। उनीहरुका परम्परा, भाषा, संस्कृतिहरु हराउँदै गएका छन्। उनीहरुको पहिचान हराउँदै गएको छ।
हराउँदो संस्कृतिको जगेर्ना र लोपोन्मुख जातिलाई राष्ट्रिय विकासको मूल प्रवाहमा ल्याई सञ्चार माध्यमले जोगाउन सक्छ। रेडियो सञ्चारको एउटा त्यस्तो माध्यम हो, जसले अपठित जनतालाई पनि प्रभावकारी सूचना दिन्छ। सूचना चेतना हो। चेतना शक्ति हो। मुलुक राजनीतिक परिवर्तनको तीब्र गतिमा अघि बढिरहँदा कुमाले र बोटेहरुले त्यहाँ आफ्नो स्थान र भूमिका खोज्न सक्नुपर्दछ। त्यसका लागि रेडियोले प्रवाह गर्ने सूचनाले महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका खेल्न सक्छ । पिछडिएका वर्ग र जातिलाई कसरी चेतनशील गराउने भन्ने कुरा हामी सबैको चासोको विषय हुनुपर्छ। उनीहरुमा पनि मौलिक क्षमताहरु छन्। ती लुकेका क्षमता उजागर गर्न सके हामी पनि नेपाली हौं भन्ने भावना उनीरुमा अवश्य पलाउँछ। हाम्रो पनि राष्ट्र निर्माणमा भूमिका र अधिकार हुँदोरहेछ भन्ने अवश्य बुझ्छन्। पिछडिएको समुदाय पनि उत्प्रेरित हुन्छ।
यसमा सञ्चारमाध्यमले महत्त्वपूर्ण भूमिका खेल्ने निश्चित छ। हामीले रेडियो वितरण गर्दाको क्षणमा अन्य स्थानीय भद्रभलाद्मीले पनि सहयोग गर्ने तत्परता देखाउनु अझ सुखद पक्ष हो। हाम्रो प्रयास समुद्रमा फालिएको एक थोपा पानी मात्र थियो। त्यस थोपाले उत्पन्न गरेका तरंग फैलिएर वरिपरिको क्षेत्र पनि प्रेरित हुनु स्वाभाविक नै हो। पहिले एउटै रेडियो थियो, रेडियो नेपाल। अहिले एफएमहरुको बाढी नै आएको छ। दक्षिण एसियामै पहिलो एफएम नेपालमा स्थापना भयो, रेडियो सगरमाथा। यसको सफलता दक्षिण एसियामै नमूना सावित भएको छ। अहिले पाल्पामा मात्र तीनवटा एफएम सञ्चालनमा छन् ।
सित्तैमा लिने र दिने भावना प्रोत्साहित गर्नु राम्रो हुँदैन। त्यसो नहोस् भनेरै उनीहरुको जाति, संस्कृति, परम्परा र लोकजीवनका अनेक पक्ष रेडियोमा रेकर्ड गराउने समझदारीमा रेडियो वितरण गरियो। यसका लागि मुक्तिनाथ सामुदायिक रेडियो एफएम छान्यौं, व्यावसायिक होइन। यसले एकातिर माझी, बोटे, कुमालेका संस्कृति, भाषा, परम्परा, चाड, लोकगीत रेकर्ड हुने भए। अर्कोतिर आफ्ना कुरा रेडियोमा आएपछि उनीहरुमा रेडियोप्रति आकर्षण बढ्ने भयो।
राज्यले विकासमा जति लगानी गरेको छ, त्यसको प्रतिफलमा समानुपातिक वितरण आवश्यक छ। यसो भए मात्र माझी, बोटेलयातका किनारीकृत समुदायलाई मूल धारमा ल्याउन सकिन्छ । सूचना शक्तिले उनीहरुलाई बदल्न सक्छ। बाहिरी जिल्लाबाट राजधानी आएकाहरुले आफू जन्मेका ठाउँमा पनि केही योगदान गर्ने सोचको विकास हुनु जरुरी छ। अन्यमा पनि यसले उत्प्रेरणा जागोस् भन्ने दृष्टिकोणले यो अभियान सुरु गरेका हौं ।
हामी काठमामाडौंमा रहेका पाल्पालीले पनि पाल्पालाई के दिन सक्छौं भन्ने कुरा बिर्सनुहुँदैन। भोलिको पाल्पालाई कस्तो बनाउने भन्ने कुरा हाम्रै हातमा छ। पहिलेको पाल्पा अहिले हराएर गएजस्तो महसुस यसपालिको पाल्पा यात्राले मलाई गरायो। वास्तवमा उहिलेको पाल्पा र आजको पाल्पाबीच निकै अन्तर भइसकेको रहेछ। भगवती जात्राको झाँकीमा सैन्य ठाँट थिएन। प्रशासनिक रवाफ थिएन। जनताको साँस्कृतिक सहभागिता र भूमिका बढेछ। तीनतीनवटा एफएम रेडियो चल्न थालेछन्। सहर फराकिलो बन्दै छ। भौतिक पूर्वाधार र सहरीकरणले पाल्पाको मुहार अर्कै बनाइसकेछ। पाल्पा केही पुराना परिचय गुमाउँदै छ। नयाँ परिचय स्थापित गर्दै छ। वास्तवमा विकासको नियम नै हो यो। परिवर्तनको यस क्रममा विचार पुर्‍याउनुपर्ने कुरा धेरै छन्। परिवर्तनका नाममा हाम्रा मौलिकता र सुन्दर संस्कृति हराउँदै छन्। वातावरण र ऐतिहासिक महत्त्वका सम्पदा अतिक्रमित हुँदै छन्। पश्चिम क्षेत्रको प्रमुख व्यापारिक नगरी मानिने ऐतिहासिक परिचय पाल्पाका लागि पुरानो बन्दै छ। तैपनि आत्तिनुपर्ने कुरा केही छैन। सजग भएर विकासको बाटोमा हिंडे पुग्छ ।
पाल्पामा मेडिकल कलेज स्थापना भई त्यसको प्रभावकारी सञ्चालन भइरहेको छ। मेडिकल स्नातक उत्पादनमा महत्त्वपूर्ण योगदान यसले पुर्‍याउने छ। गुणस्तरीय जनशक्ति उत्पादनमा सघाउने छ। झापादेखि बैतडीका प्रख्यात डाक्टर त्यहाँ भेट्न पाएँ। पाल्पा अरुजस्तो दुर्ग पनि छैन। भारतबाट पनि नजिक छ। सहरीकरणको मारमा धेरै परिसकेको छैन। पर्न दिनु पनि हुँदैन। देशको मध्यभागमा अवस्थित छ। यस भूमिलाई हामीले पर्यटकीय गन्तव्य बनाउन पनि नयाँ सोच बनाउनैपर्छ। यसलाई शैक्षिक पर्यटनको गन्तव्य बनाउन सक्छौं। पर्या-पर्यटन त छँदै छ। स्वास्थ्य पर्यटनको पनि उत्तिकै सम्भाना छ। त्यसका पूर्वाधार निर्माणमा भने आजैदेखि लाग्नुपर्छ। पाल्पाको विकास हुनु भनेको राष्ट्रिय विकासमा सघाउ पुर्‍याउनु हो।
मैले आफ्नो पाल्पालाई जति दिन सक्थेँ, त्यो सकिनँ। राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोगको उपाध्यक्ष भएँ। गरिबी निवारण कोष सम्हालेँ। हुन पनि म राष्ट्रकै लागि उपाध्यक्ष भएको थिएँ, एक्लै पाल्पाको थिईँन। मेरा आफ्नै सीमा थिए। जेहोस्, अबका दिन मैले पाल्पाकै लागि खर्च गर्ने सोच बनाएको छु।

Happy Dashain...

During the month of Kartik (late September and early October), the Nepalese people indulge in the biggest festival of the year, Dashain. Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival in the Nepalese annual calendar, celebrated by Nepalese of all caste and creed throughout the country. The fifteen days of celebration occurs during the bright lunar fortnight ending on the day of the full moon. Thorough out the State of Nepal the goddess Durga in all her manifestations are worshiped with innumerable pujas, abundant offerings and thousands of animal sacrifices for the ritual holy bathing, thus drenching the goddess for days in blood.
Dashain commemorates a great victory of the gods over the wicked demons. One of the victory stories told is the Ramayan, where the lord Ram after a big struggle slaughtered Ravana, the fiendish king of demons. It is said that lord Ram was successful in the battle only when goddess Durga was evoked. The main celebration glorifies the triumph of good over evil and is symbolized by goddess Durga slaying the terrible demon Mahisasur, who terrorised the earth in the guise of a brutal water buffalo. The first nine days signify the nine days of ferrous battle between goddess Durga and the demon Mahisasur. The tenth day is the day when Mahisasur was slain and the last five days symbolise the celebration of the victory with the blessing of the goddess. Dashain is celebrated with great rejoice, and goddess Durga is worshiped throughout the kingdom as the divine mother goddess.
In preparation for Dashain every home is cleansed and beautifully decorated, painted as an invitation to the mother goddess, so that she may visit and bless the house with good fortune. During this time the reunion of distant and nearby relatives occur in every household. The market is filled with shoppers seeking new clothing, gifts, luxuries and enormous supplies of temple offering for the gods, as well as foodstuffs for the family feasting. Thousands of sheep, goats, ducks, chicken and water buffalo are prepared for the great slaughter. All types of organisations are closed for ten to fifteen days. Labourers are almost impossible to find; from the poor to the rich, all enjoy the festive mood. Anywhere you go the aroma of 'Vijaya Dashami' is found.
The first nine days of Dashain are called Nawa Ratri when tantric rites are conducted. In Nepal the life force is embodied in the divine energy and power of the female, depicted as goddess Durga in her many forms. All goddess who emanated from goddess Durga are known as devis, each with different aspects and powers. In most mother goddess temples the deity is represented simply as a sacred Kalash, carved water jug or multiple handed goddess holding murderous weapons. During these nine days people pay their homage to the goddess. If she is properly worshiped and pleased good fortunes are on the way and if angered through neglect then misfortunes are around the corner. Mother goddess is the source of life and everything.
The first day of Dashain is called Ghatasthapana, which literally means pot establishing. On this day the kalash, (holy water vessel) symbolising goddess Durga often with her image embossed on the side is placed in the prayer room. The kalash is filled with holy water and covered with cowdung on to which seeds are sown. A small rectangular sand block is made and the kalash is put in the centre. The surrounding bed of sand is also seeded with grains. The ghatasthapana ritual is performed at a certain auspicious moment determined by the astrologers. At that particular moment the priest intones a welcome, requesting goddess Durga to bless the vessel with her presence.
The room where the kalash is established is called 'Dashain Ghar'. Generally women are not allowed to enter the room where Dashain puja is being carried out. A priest or a household man worships the kalash everyday once in the morning and then in the evening. The kalash and the sand are sprinkled with holy water everyday and it is shielded from direct sunlight. By the tenth day, the seed will have grown to five or six inches long yellow grass. The sacred yellow grass is called 'Jamara'. It is bestowed by the elders atop the heads of those younger to them during the last five days when tika is put on. The jamara is taken as a token of Goddess Durga as well as the elders blessing.
As days passes by regular rituals are observed till the seventh day. The seventh day is called 'Fulpati'.
In fulpati, the royal kalash filled with holy water, banana stalks, jamara and sugar cane tied with red cloth is carried by Brahmans on a decorated palanquin under a gold tipped and embroidered umbrella. The government officials also join the fulpati parade. With this the Dashain feasting starts.
The eighth day is called the Maha Asthami: The fervour of worship and sacrifice to Durga and Kali increases. On this day many orthodox Hindus will be fasting. Sacrifices are held in almost every house through out the day. The night of the eighth day is called 'Kal Ratri', the dark night. Hundreds of goats, sheep and buffaloes are sacrificed at the mother goddess temples. The sacrifice continues till dawn. While the puja is being carried out great feasts are held in the homes of common people where large amount of meat are consumed.
The ninth day is called Nawami: Temples of mother goddess are filled with people from dawn till dusk. Animals mostly black buffaloes are slaughtered to honour Durga the goddess of victory and might and to seek her blessing. Military bands play war tunes, guns boom and officers with beautifully decorated medals in full uniform stand there. When the function ends the courtyard is filled ankle deep with blood. On this very day the god Vishwa Karma, the God of creativity is also worshiped. All factories, vehicles, any machinery instruments and anything from which we make a living are worshiped. We also give sacrifices to all moving machinery like cars, aeroplanes, trucks etc. to get the blessing from goddess Durga for protection for vehicles and their occupants against accidents during the year. The entire day is colourful.
The tenth day is the Dashami: On this day we take tika and jamara from our elders and receive their blessing. We visit our elders in their home and get tika from them while our younger ones come to our home to receive blessing from us. The importance of Dasain also lies in the fact that on this day family members from far off and distant relatives come for a visit as well as to receive tika from the head of the family. This function continues for four days. After four days of rushing around and meeting your relatives Dashain ends on the full moon day, the fifteenth day. In the last day people stay at home and rest. The full moon day is also called 'Kojagrata' meaning 'who is awake'. The Hindu goddess of wealth Laxmi is worshipped. On this day the goddess Laxmi is given an invitation to visit each and everyone.
After Dashain everyone settles back to normal. After receiving the blessing of goddess Durga, people are ready to work and acquire virtue, power and wealth. Dashain thus is not only the longest festival but also the most anticipated one among all the festivals of Nepal.

10/5/07

EC cancels all election programmes

KATHMANDU, Oct 5 - The Election Commission Friday decided to cancel all the election programmes after the government in a letter requested it to suspend the Constituent Assembly election slated November 22.
The commission had finished all necessary preparations to hold the elections on the given date, but as per the government’s request to suspend the entire election process, the decision has been taken, the EC stated in a press statement today.
The EC admitted that the will of the EC alone was not sufficed to hold the elections, and that the EC was forced to cancel all the election programmes due to the government’s decision.
As per article 63(2) of the interim constitution of Nepal, the government had decided to hold the polls on November 22.
We thank all political parties, leaders, the media, the general public and international community for extending their support during commission’s preparation work for the polls, said joint secretary at the EC, Laxman Bhattarai.
The government today faxed a request letter to the EC to cancel all election programmes, including today’s nominations and November polls.
A meeting of the seven parties held at Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's residence at Baluwatar this morning took the decision.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) Friday said that the party has agreed to suspend the November 22 elections to maintain the seven-party unity and continue peace process.
Issuing a press release today, the CPN-M said that the party agreed to suspend the polls unless a decision is taken through the special House session regarding declaring the country a republic and adopting fully proportion electoral system.
However, the press statement stressed that the party still believes in holding the polls on November 22, provided its demands including an immediate declaration of a republic and adoption of fully proportional electoral system are met.
Earlier on September 30, EC had extended nomination deadline by five days following the government request to do so.
A facsimiled letter from the Prime Minister’s Office this morning to the commission, however, has no mention of a new poll date.
The seven political parties during today’s meeting agreed to postpone the November 22 polls.
This is the second time the polls have been postponed.
However CPN-UML, Janamorcha Nepal and Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party have written notes of dissent on the agreement.
CPN-UML leader Jhalanath Khanal had said yesterday, after the meeting, that UML, was of the opinion that the polls must be held on time.
During yesterday’s meeting the parties had agreed to suspend the entire election programmes till the special House session.
While a question on legitimacy and constitutionality of the government and parliament is being raised by experts with the second time poll postponement, some say that yet another amendment in the constitution could save the legitimacy once the special House session begins.
The CPN-Maoist along with the Left Front and the Nepal Communist Party of Nepal (United) on September 28 had registered a motion at the Prime Minister’s Office seeking a special House session.
As per the constitution, the prime minister has to summon a special House session within 15 days of the filing of the motion.