A number of programs were held in Nepal and abroad to mark the great Devkota’s birth anniversary. The famous Nepali poet was born on Kartik 27, 1966 BS, which coincided with the Laxmi Puja of Tihar festival that year.

His famous works include Munamadan, Pahadi, Pukar, Shakuntal and Sulochana. Devkota was also an essayist and wrote books in all genres of Nepali literature. His other works span dramas, epics, essays, fiction, long narrative poems and storybooks. His writings were a fusion of eastern and western philosophy.

He wrote the Shakuntal epic in three months, Sulochana in 10 days and Kunjini – a long narrative poem in one day.

Devkota’s contribution to Nepali literature is seen in his initiatives which include global publicity of Nepali literature by translating Nepali books in foreign languages and heading Nepali delegations to foreign conferences, translating and publishing the Parasiddha Prabandha Sangraha – a collection of essays from 15 foreign writers into Nepali language and making Nepali language a compulsory in the Nepali education curriculum during his stint as Nepal Education Minister in 2016 BS.

Devkota also contributed to the establishment of Nepal Academy.

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This initiative came after a 2-year-old agreement was signed between the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

The exhibition also includes a conference on fine arts that will bring artists from both Bangladesh and Nepal together. This event witnessed the participation of a nine-member team of Nepali artists (skilled in various genres), who started towards Bangladesh on Sunday.

Headed by veteran artist and Chancellor the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, Ragini Upadhyaya, the team included artists Ramesh Dhwoj Shrestha, AC Suman, Sushma Rajbhandari, Ganesh Kumar GC, Chanda Shrestha, Ranju Yadav, Manoj Tamang, and Kanchakaji Bhasis.

Supported by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, Bangladesh, the event presents a great opportunity for the promotion of Nepali art that has been practiced since old times.

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The Assembly, inaugurated by the Nepali Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jitendra Narayan Dev, is aimed at formulating policies and regulations for the effective functioning of the organization.

In his message to the Academy on the occasion, the Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said, “The role of academicians is highly significant in infusing knowledge, wisdom and moral sense on human beings and leading the society towards a right direction.”

In this regard, Deuba called on the academic circle of the country to take the responsibility of bringing in political and democratic transformation in the country.

Meanwhile, Dev opined that the promotion of language, art, culture and philosophy is important for national integrity.

In his address, Academy Chancellor Ganga Prasad Upreti informed that the Academy would take required decisions on key high-level national awards like Prithvi Pragya Puraskar.

Culture Promotion At Provincial Levels

On the occasion, former Chancellor of the Academy Baraga Kaila pitched on the need for the establishment of provincial academy to encourage cultural and linguistic diversities in the country.

In this regard, the Chancellor of Nepal Academy of Music and Drama Sarubhakta sought a cordial collaboration with the Nepali Academy in promoting culture across the provincial levels of Nepal.

According to Academy Vice Chancellor Dr Bishnu Bibhu Ghimire, this Assembly session will finalize the annual policies, budget and future plans of the organization.

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The four-day Chhath Festival which began yesterday, is being celebrated by devotees across the country with great enthusiasm and fanfare. Part of Nepal’s biggest festival season and a cultural symbol of the Terai region, Chhath is dedicated to the Sun God and occurs during the four days from Shukla Chaturthi to Shukla Saptami in the month of Kartik.

Significance of Chhath

During the festival period, prayers are offered to the rising and setting sun to receive blessings of well-being, progress and prosperity from the Sun God, who is considered as the god of life-force and energy. As part of the Chhath puja, devotees undertake rituals such as having a holy bath, fasting and later partaking in a feast with various delicacies.

Home-made products are majorly used during the Chhath celebrations, with a preference for sand and bamboo-made materials. The significance of water in the sustenance of healthy life is elucidated during the festival and efforts are made towards nature conservation by cleaning up the water sources.

Expert Opinion

Dhirendra Premarshi, renowned cultural expert and Academic Assembly member at the Nepal Academy said that, “People started celebrating Chhath since ancient times, showing gratitude to the Sun God for sustaining life on Earth. Each activity of this festival represents a relationship between human life and nature.”

This year’s Chhath Festival concludes on Friday, October 27.

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