Most popularly celebrated by Hindus, Nepalis belonging to other religions also celebrate Holi.

The festival begins with the Nepali culture of installing Chir, a traditional bamboo pole decorated with strips of colorful cloths, in Basantpur a week before the festival arrives. Then the actual celebrations begin across the country and last for almost a week.

The celebrations offering traditional prayers, playing with colors and water, singing, dancing, playing music, along with exchanging joy, delicious foods, among others with family and friends. Gujiya, Thandai, Bhalla, Kanji Wada and Dahi are some of the dishes made during Holi.

While hilly regions of the country begin the celebrations with the installation of Chir, Terai region celebrates the occasion a day after celebrations in hilly areas of the country.

Holi marks the beginning of spring season and arrives at a time when the agricultural fields are on pace for a better harvest. Burning of Chir marks the conclusion of the Holi festival in Nepal.

Preparations Ready

To ensure public safety and an undisturbed festive environment, the Metropolitan Police Range of Kathmandu is deploying 1,500 police security across the Kathmandu Valley.

Besides 106 police teams, 20 mobile teams are also planned to avoid discrepancies in law and order situation during the celebrations, says SSP Bishow Raj Pokharel, Chief, MPR.

All Set for Holi Celebrations!

“I can’t wait to go to Gokarna Forest Resort for ‘Colors Republic’ where there will be colours, music, dance and a lot of other actives,” says Kavita Gautam of Biratnagar.

Best part of Holi can be witnessed at Durbar Square and in the streets of Thamel.

Though usually celebrated in the month of March, the actual date of the Holi festival varies every year and is indicated by the appearing of the full moon before the spring equinox.

The Legend Behind ‘Holi’

The emergence of Holi festival dates back to the Krutayuga period during the times of demon-king Hiranyakasap.

As part of his efforts to kill his god-loving son Prahlada, Hiranyakasap places Prahlada on the lap of his demon-sister Holika and plans to put Prahlada under fire along with Holika, as Holika has the boon of fighting away fire. However, the situation happens otherwise. Due to Prahlada’s devotion to Lord Vishnu, Holika turns into ashes completely and Prahlada comes out safe.

So, the festival of Holi is celebrated marking the victory of Prahlada over Holika. A night before ‘Holi’ day, public light bonfires across the streets indicating the death of Holika.

President Bhandari Extends Holi Greetings

President Bidya Devi Bhandari has extended her greetings to the Nepali citizens on the occasion of  Holi or Fagu Poornima.

In a message of best wishes extended today, President Bhandari expressed that the festival of colors may encourage social harmony, national unity, tolerance, fraternity and solidarity among all the Nepalis of different cultures.

Likewise, Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba has also offered his best wishes of peace, prosperity, mutual trust and a higher degree of social values to all the Nepalis on this occasion.

Impact of ‘Coronavirus’ on Holi

Holi in Nepal is celebrated with great fervor across the country annually. However, 2020 Holi celebrations are slightly different from the way it’s celebrated so far.

The coronavirus outbreak has taken a toll on the 2020 Holi celebrations.

As the coronavirus has spread across the world affecting around 109 countries, the Nepali Government has banned the mass gatherings and celebrations on the occasion of Holi.

The government has suspended the Holi celebrations in Thamel, Kathmandu Durbar Square and other most visited places during the festival.

This time, it will be “Safe Holi Year 2020”.

The government’s strong response comes on the heels of the WHO’s statement that Nepal is at high risk of the new virus.

So far, Nepal has no case of coronavirus infection, and even the 4 suspected cases tested negative. But the government has been implementing stringent measures as the country lacks the minimum healthcare facilities and procedures to combat the coronavirus infection if it enters the nation.

The novel virus has infected around 110,087 people globally and killed 3,830.

Nepali Sansar wishes you ‘Safe Holi Year 2020’!

The post Nepal Celebrates ‘Holi’, A Festival of Colors appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Dignitaries at the Program:

• Yogesh Bhattarai – Nepali Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation
• Mahesh Raj Dahal – Nepali Ambassador to Australia
• Shesh Ghale – NRNA’s former President and Chief Patron
• Graladis – Member of Australian Federal Parliament
• Keshab Kandel – President of NRNA Australia

During the program, Minister Bhattarai has persuaded the Nepali tourism authorities to attract 100,000 Australian tourists during Visit Nepal Year 2020.

Minister Bhattarai said that the Nepali Government is trying to implement direct flight services between Nepal and Australia to provide hassle-free transportation facilities for the Australian tourists.

He further requested the Nepalese to support the Australians in the devastating bushfire incident.

Earlier, Minister Yogesh Bhattarai has organized the inauguration ceremony of ‘Visit Nepal 2020’ campaign in Sydney on January 7, 2020.

The Nepali government has inaugurated the ‘Visit Nepal 2020’ campaign on January 1, 2020 with an aim to attract 2 million foreign tourists.

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Observing the launch of the new scheme, Oli called it as a new era for the country terming it as the ‘First Social Security Day’.

The scheme often considered ‘much-hyped’, is going to give a complete social security cover for Nepali citizens, especially the working population, in the country’s both formal and informal sectors.

As a first step in the process, the Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli unveiled the scheme first for Nepali employees in the formal sector.

The scheme will soon be launched for the informal sector as well, informed the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security (MoLESS).

“We are entering into the new system from Tuesday itself for respecting the labor, encouraging all to devote to labor and protecting all as per the modern civilized society. We have started a scheme that will provide social protection to those who are employed, those who have lost their jobs, and those who are unemployed,” Oli said in a statement.

Calling this as the nation’s pride, MoLESS Minister Gokarna Bista called on everyone to support the successful implementation of the scheme.

Contribution-Based Social Security
The social security law mandates every employee of both the sectors to deposit their installment for the scheme, which is coming into act in accordance with the Contribution-Based Social Security (CBSC) Regulation.

“We have already published a notice asking formal sector enterprises to register their entities in our system by February 22, 2018. They will then have to submit their employees’ data before May 21, 2019” said Shyamraj Adhikari, Executive Director of Social Security Fund.

Under the new law, all private employees of Nepal are mandated to contribute 11 percent of their basic salary to the social security fund, while employers will add 20 percent of the employee’s basic salary.

Through this contribution, employees will get entitlement to compensation in case of job loss, illness, accidents and situations leading to work-off due to pregnancy (in case of females).

Once the scheme is launched, the employees will start sending mandated deposits to the Citizen Investment Trust and Employees Provident Fund to Social Security Fund (SSF).

Out of the total fund, SSF will allocate 3.22 percent for medical treatment, health & maternity security, 4.52 per cent for accident & disability security, 0.87 per cent for dependent family security and 91.39 per cent for old age security.

Nepal Social Security Scheme Benefits
As per CBSC guidelines, an employee can avail medical treatment scheme under SSF only if he/she has paid the mandated deposit regularly at least for six months. Whereas, the contributor should have worked for 18 months and regularly deposited instalments for at least 12 months to avail the health and maternity security benefits under SSS.

Coming to the accidental and disability coverage, workers can avail the benefits immediately a day after depositing their first instalment.

Employees can also avail compensation benefits in case of any injuries in the workplace or in case they develop medical complications due to work condition. This will be effective only after they work for a minimum of two years and deposited all instalments on a regular basis.

The scheme also offers pension eligibility for all workers for 15 years after they begin regular contribution to the fund.

Responding to the scheme, the private sector feels that SSC will surely ensure workers’ social security and creates investor-friendly environment across the country.

“The scheme is being introduced after the government held discussions with the private sector and we welcome this initiative,” said Chandra Dhakal, Chairman of Employers’ Council and Vice-President of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

“The social security scheme has ended the uncertainty surrounding their lives even as they continue to work hard for their employers,” said Chirag Man Singh Kunwar, president of National Democratic Confederation of Nepalese Trade Unions.

Hope the new scheme will start address basic social security concerns of Nepalese in their day-to-day lives!

The post Nepal Launches Social Security Scheme, Calls it ‘New Era’ appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

US Breast Cancer Scenario
According to the American Cancer Society, 2018 is witness to approximately 1,735,350 new cases of cancer. Furthermore, 609,640 cancer-related fatalities are likely to occur in US including 266,120 new cases of invasive breast cancer in 2018.

In an alarming estimate, the cancer treatment cost in US is likely to touch USD 157.8 billion by 2020 and even higher for breast cancer.

Scenario in Nepal
Breast Cancer puts a considerable amount of strain on Nepal, socially and economically. Prevention methods have been the only effective way in lessening the rise of this malignant illness.

However, there is more to prevention than meets the eye. Due to lack of financial resources, socio-economic gaps, inadequate numbers, training and distribution of health-care personnel & equipment, Nepal has not been successful in its prevention measures.

Although Nepal lacks a population-based national cancer registry, it has a multi-institution hospital-based registry that keeps a record of the breast cancer sufferers and related information.

Through various population-based studies performed across Nepal, the most common age of breast cancer patients has been recorded between 40-50 years with a remarkable chunk below 50 years.

Risk Factors

Following are the risk factors that breast cancer brings to patients:

• Early menarche: Maturity before the age of 12
• Late Menopause: Beyond 55 years of age
• Nulliparity: Being unable to reproduce or have the first baby before 30 years

 
As per studies, breast cancer also occurs in premenopausal Nepalese patients with a late menarche (above 14 years of age), early first full-term pregnancy (before 40 weeks of pregnancy) and a longer duration of breastfeeding.

Additionally, delayed childbearing, reduced breastfeeding and other westernized lifestyle patterns were found to be important factors for breast cancer risk and prognosis among Asian women.

Studies also suggest that high dietary fat, smoking excessive alcohol intake, exposure to radiation and hormone replacement contribute to an increased risk of breast cancer in Nepalese women.

Early Detection of Breast Cancer
Unfortunately, Nepal lacks a breast cancer screening program. The malignant disease can be only arrested through early detection, which is an important step in reducing its spread.

Breast self-examination and clinical breast examination are the most effective early detection practices among others. Additionally, studies suggest that Mammography screening can reduce breast cancer mortality risk by 20 percent. Following this, screening may be considered as the optimal method to prevent breast cancer.

Detection methods like high-resolution ultrasound, automated whole breast ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging are out of reach and too expensive to invest in for a nation like Nepal.

Therefore, it would be effective if early detection methods like awareness and breast self-examination are extensively promoted through newspapers, electronic media, as well as through the support of health personnel.

Methods of Treatment in Nepal
As discussed earlier, factors such as financial position, access to proper healthcare facilities and social condition of the patients are the biggest hindrance to breast cancer treatment.

Following are the methods of breast cancer treatment in Nepal:

• In Nepal, modified radical mastectomy, simple mastectomy or toilet mastectomy are frequently-practiced surgical techniques for the treatment of breast cancer in the country
• Prior to 2009, Nepal witnessed 6-15 percent breast cancer surgeries, of which, the most common one was modified radical mastectomy
• Few Nepalese patients are also offered post-mastectomy reconstruction. However, only a proportion of those offered the option accepted it due to financial constraints
• Additionally, surgical staging of breast cancer through axillary lymph node dissection is still a frequently-practiced process by many Nepal hospitals
• According to a study by Sapkota in 2016, radiotherapy was among the most commonly practiced methods for treatment of breast cancer in Nepal
• Tamoxifen is the most commonly-used hormonal medicine for the management of breast cancer, irrespective of the menopausal stage in Nepal
• A patient’s health status is put into consideration when choosing the most appropriate chemotherapy method for breast cancer. In Nepal, anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimen is most commonly practiced in Nepal

 
Breast Cancer Treatment –The Way Forward
Nepali women lack the required knowledge of breast cancer risk factors. A study on breast cancer literacy among higher secondary students of Nepal indicated that students had poor knowledge on breast cancer risk factors, symptoms and cure.

Furthermore, students lacked awareness of age, early menarche, delayed menopause and usage of the oral contraceptive pill as risk factors for breast cancer.

In another cross-sectional study conducted at KIST Medical College of Kathmandu, 70 percent of the students never heard of breast cancer. The study thus concluded that the understanding and awareness of breast cancer among Nepali women was remarkably poor.

This brings us to the conclusion that the following steps are necessary to enhance breast cancer awareness and healthcare:

• Healthcare settings should increase cancer literacy to ensure the widespread knowledge among general public
• Government should create formal policies for effective nation & district-wide cancer literacy programs and engage with community-level, national & international organizations and healthcare system
• Furthermore, breast health education sessions, guidance by nurses on BSE, regular follow-up by nurses and other healthcare training institutions should be conducted throughout Nepal
• Awareness campaigns should be conducted through advertisements on breast cancer along with screening via radio, internet, television and poster platforms to promote an attitude change regarding breast cancer in women
• Cancer-related curriculum in medical schools with focus on breast cancer awareness and screening methods should be enhanced in the country
• Additionally, future research should be carried out to focus on genetic makeup of breast cancer, for improved understanding on the early onset of breast cancer in Nepal

 
Important Facts about Breast Cancer in Nepal:

• In countries with lesser resources including Nepal, breast cancer is diagnosed at later stages
• According to Nepal Cancer Relief Society, modern lifestyle, lack of exercise and improper diet, pollution and tobacco consumption are some of the major reasons for rising cancer in Nepal
• Breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers in Nepal after lung cancer and cervical cancer
• “Every year, the number of breast cancer patients is increasing by 5 percent. Anyone with the family history of any kind of cancer is at high risk of breast cancer,” says Dr Prakash Raj Neupane, Medical Director at Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital (BCH), Nepal in 2017
• Breast cancer is the second-most common malignant disease among Nepali women
• Out of the estimated 3,500-4,000 new cancer patients in Nepal, 200 new cases of breast cancer are being diagnosed every year
• Around 120 patients have undergone breast cancer surgery in BCH in the 2016-17 fiscal year
• Women in the age groups of 40-45 years and 60-65 years were found to be suffering from breast cancer across the nation
• The revelations also indicate risks of breast cancer among men. Men also need to remain aware as cancers are genetic
• Men aged above 60 years were reported to be suffering from such cancer.
• For early detection of the disease, doctors advise public to go through a mammogram test after crossing 21 years to check if there is any lump formation under the skin.

 

 
Let’s unite against Breast Cancer – A 2018 Initiative
On October 13, 2018, people got together at Kathmandu and held a rally with the theme “Let’s unite against breast cancer”. Hundreds of people including women, girls, cancer survivors & celebrities participated in the event organized by Nepal Cancer Relief Society (NCRS) and Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital. They shared knowledge about the risk factors, disease, treatment methods and prevention of breast cancer.

The post Breast Cancer Awareness Month – A Glance at Nepal’s Scenario appeared first on Nepali Sansar.

Interview by Sai Nikesh D

Nepal has come a long way in development. As a nation sharing borders with the world’s two major economies, Nepal has been striving to become a developing country and grow further to achieve the developed country status.  As a process, the Government of Nepal has been actively participating in various global and local level platforms promoting country’s strengths and potential to development, and is sincerely aiming to see the benefits as part of its UN 2030 Agenda.

Continuing with a wide coverage on Nepal and its developments over a period, Nepali Sansar, as a Nepal-focused media house, got a chance to get in touch with Dr.Ek Raj Ojha, Senior Sustainable Development Consultant from Nepal, for a better understanding of the country’s progress towards its set goals.

Dr. Ojha, with his sound expertise in working with national and international level organizations like ADB, UN and government departments in sustainable development and planning, policy framework, among other key aspects of development and planning, shared a valuable information in this regard, helping us portray a complete picture of Nepal and its developmental path over a period and towards future.

Following are a few excerpts of Nepali Sansar Bureau’s detailed interaction with Dr. Ojha:

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The campaign that began from the sacred banks of River Ganga will end at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on April 14, 2018.

“We are getting overwhelming support from both Nepal and India for this initiative that will restore Nepal’s unique identity across the globe as being a fully Hindu nation,” says Chief coordinator of the campaign Padam Prasad Subedi, who has arrived in Haridwar with dozens of Nepali volunteers.

Subedi informed that religious gurus of India are also supporting the campaign.

“Jagad Guru Shankaracharya Swami Raj Rajeshwaram Maharaj and Mahamandaleshwar Shyam Sundar Das Shastri will welcome and bless volunteers undertaking this yatra,” he added.

Meanwhile, Shamsher Bahadur, Founder of Gorkha Sandesh Foundation, says, “We are mobilizing Hindus both in Nepal and India to restore the hill country as the lone Hindu nation. 82% of Nepal’s population is Hindu. If Arab countries and Pakistan can declare themselves as Muslim nations, why not Nepal as Hindu nation.”

According to Acharya Hariharanand, who is mobilising saints from India, the campaign will begin with religious rituals at sanctum sanctorum of Brahma Kund, Har-Ki-Pauri, seeking Ganga’s blessings.

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