Author: space4knews

Acting Chief of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Sunita Dangol, described the Nepali film’s first-ever ‘Jury Prize’ victory at the Cannes Film Festival as a historic achievement. Directed by Avinash Bikram Shah, ‘Elephant in the Fog’ received this honor in the Un Certain Regard category. Dangol also announced preparations to hold the first-ever ‘Kathmandu Film Festival’ in Kathmandu and has invited the mayor of Cannes, France, to participate. May 23, Kathmandu.

Speaking to journalists at Tribhuvan Airport upon her return from the festival in Cannes, France, Dangol said that this year’s festival yielded historic results for Nepal. She emphasized that this is the first time in the festival’s history that a Nepali film has won such an honor, calling it a significant and historic milestone. The Nepali film ‘Elephant in the Fog,’ directed by Avinash Bikram Shah, was awarded the ‘Jury Prize’ in the Un Certain Regard category, a testament to the advanced progress of Nepali cinema, creative industries, and the arts.

“After the film screening, the audience gave a standing ovation lasting about 7–8 minutes. This moment was deeply emotional and a proud occasion for all Nepalis. Securing not only the hearts of international audiences but also winning an award is a tremendous accomplishment,” she said. Dangol expressed the Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s eagerness to foster balanced development in creative sectors by leveraging international knowledge, skills, and experiences through film festivals.

“We have initiated policy discussions to institutionalize the creative sector beyond one-time programs. During my visits and meetings with representatives from various cities, sharing Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s plans to organize the first ‘Kathmandu Film Festival’ has been met with enthusiasm,” she added. Having received an invitation from David Lisnard, the Mayor of Cannes, France, Dangol extended an invitation to Mayor Lisnard to participate in Kathmandu’s film festival.

May 23, Kathmandu – CPN-UML leader Ashtalakshmi Shakya has urged party chairman KP Sharma Oli to respectfully step down from his position. In a status posted on Facebook on Saturday, Shakya criticized Oli’s arrogance, stubbornness, and factional thinking for weakening the party, and strongly called for a generational leadership transition. She recalled that Oli has served as chairman for three terms and emphasized the need to entrust leadership to the younger generation.

“Your thinking of holding on as UML chairman as long as you live is wrong,” Shakya wrote directly addressing Oli. “It would be appropriate for the comrade to take honorable leave from the chairmanship at this meeting. The CPN-UML can be revived; the party, currently sinking into darkness, can rise again.” She sharply criticized Oli’s style of leadership, noting how the party, previously carrying a glorious history, has become weakened after recent elections.

Leader Shakya reminded that UML was founded through the sacrifices, struggles, and blood of millions of its cadres, warning that the party should not be treated as a personal possession or a factional enterprise. She stressed that running the party in the 21st century requires ideas, collectiveness, struggle, and honesty.

Shakya stated that it is time to work selflessly for the country and people’s interests rather than spending time praising individuals or engaging in sycophancy. She concluded that Oli must understand the sentiments of the workers and should not hold the party hostage.

Five service recipients from Khajura, Narainapur, and Duduwa rural municipalities in Banke district have been provided with passports delivered directly to their homes. Gajendra Prakash Tharu, chief of the District Postal Office, informed that the process of home delivery of passports began several weeks ago. Although the passport service itself is free, a postal fee of NPR 65 has been set, and this service has proven to be effective. (May 23, Nepalgunj)

Through the District Postal Office in Banke, five citizens from three local levels have received passports at home. The office reported that so far, five passports have been home-delivered across Khajura, Narainapur, and Duduwa rural municipalities. Following the government’s new initiative to deliver passports to beneficiaries’ residences, Kamal Kumar Verma of Duduwa Rural Municipality expressed enthusiasm about the development.

“Previously, getting a passport involved a lot of hassle. Now that it is delivered to my home, both my time and expenses have been saved,” he explained. While it used to take about a month to obtain a passport before, Verma mentioned that the service now delivers passports within 15 days directly to homes. After receiving his passport, he shared that he is now preparing for travel abroad.

Gajendra Prakash Tharu, chief of the District Postal Office, stated that the home delivery service for passports to five citizens in the district has been ongoing for several weeks. He added that as soon as passports for others become available at the postal office, they will be distributed accordingly. Once the passport is ready, recipients have the option to receive it at their current location or request delivery to another preferred address.

May 23, Siraha – Lahan Municipality has decided to keep schools operational on Sundays as well. Although the central government declared schools closed on Saturdays and Sundays, the municipality has chosen to keep schools open on Sundays. According to a notice issued on Friday by Mayor Mahesh Prasad Chaudhary, based on the decision of the municipal executive committee, all community, religious, and institutional schools within the municipality will operate regularly from Sunday through Friday. The school hours will remain the same as before. The Ministry of Education and Sports, aiming to control fuel consumption, manage administrative expenses, and streamline government operations, had arranged for a two-day weekly holiday at the federal level. Parents and education stakeholders have supported the municipality’s decision, linking it to improvements in educational quality.

Adopting digital systems has become essential to modernize, secure, and bring transparency to Nepal’s public transportation network. Technologies such as smart cards, QR codes, GPS tracking, and ATM machines will create a technology-friendly transportation management environment. This will provide operators with clear income data while offering convenience and respect to passengers and workers. Public transportation in Nepal functions not only as a means of passenger transit but also as a backbone for the country’s economic, social, educational, and national development.

However, over the decades, the public transportation system has been plagued by various problems. A cash-based fare system, weak ticketing processes, daily disputes between conductors and passengers, unclear revenue records, financial insecurity among operators, unstable working conditions for drivers and conductors, lack of passenger safety, and an absence of technology-driven management have all kept Nepal’s public transit confined within traditional structures even today.

The digital public transportation system presents an effective alternative. With smart cards, cashless payments, QR codes, GPS tracking, electronic ticket machines (ATMs), and real-time data management systems, Nepal’s transport sector can advance into a new era. Passengers will be able to pay fares within seconds using smart cards or mobile wallets, reducing conflicts between passengers and conductors and ensuring full transparency in fare collection.

Implementing such a digital system will also enable structured salary systems based on transparent revenue. Workers will gain easier access to social security, insurance, and banking services. For passengers, digital public transportation promises a smoother experience through faster fare payments, secure ticketing, transparent fare rates, and digital conveniences. Collaboration between the government, private sector, banks, technology companies, and transport operators can swiftly establish a safe, transparent, and fully digital public transportation system in Nepal.

The Nepali film ‘Elephants in the Fog’ has won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section at the Cannes Film Festival. The short film ‘Lori,’ directed by Avinash Bikram Shah, also received a Special Mention at Cannes. This year’s Cannes Festival is concluding today, with the announcement of winners in the main categories.

In Kathmandu, the Nepali film ‘Elephants in the Fog,’ directed by Avinash Bikram Shah, secured the prestigious Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard category at the internationally acclaimed Cannes Film Festival. This marks an important recognition for the film on the global stage. Earlier, Shah’s short film ‘Lori’ had received a Special Mention honor at Cannes.

The top award in the Un Certain Regard category was won by Austrian director Sandra Wollner’s film ‘Everlasting.’ The Special Jury Prize was awarded to French director Louis Cliche’s film ‘Iron Boy.’ Bradley Fiomona Dembéassat, actor in ‘Congo Boy,’ was honored with Best Actor; the film was directed by Rafiki Farylala. The Best Actress award was jointly presented to Marina de Tavira, Daniela Marin Navarro, and Marienzel Villegas from ‘Siempre Soy Tu Animal Materno,’ directed by Valentina Maurel. The Cannes Festival concludes today alongside the announcement of winners in the main competitions.

May 22, Kathmandu – Assistant Inspector Nim Diki Sherpa and Assistant Havaldar Anita Karki, both members of the Armed Police Force who successfully climbed Mount Everest and Lhotse, have been promoted by the Armed Police Force. The promotion process for Assistant Inspector Sherpa has been initiated immediately, while Assistant Havaldar Karki is scheduled to be promoted to Havaldar after completing the requisite service period in her current rank.

The promotion announcement was made by Armed Police Force Inspector General Narayandatt Paudel during an award ceremony held on Friday at the Armed Police Force Nepal Headquarters in Halchok, Swayambhu. Inspector General Paudel congratulated Sherpa and Karki for their successful ascents of the world’s highest peaks, stating that raising the national and organizational flags on these summits is a proud achievement.

Anita Karki summited Mount Everest on May 17 at 10:20 a.m., while Nim Diki Sherpa reached Everest’s peak on the same day at 11:55 a.m. and successfully summited Lhotse on May 18 at 3:25 p.m.

9 Jestha, Kathmandu – The Nepali Congress has rescheduled its provincial and local level meetings focused on Lumbini Province. Acting Chief Secretary Krishna Prasad Dulal issued a statement on Saturday morning confirming the change in dates for the Lumbini provincial program. According to him, the event will now be held on the 18th and 19th of Jestha. Previously, the “Provincial and Local Level Focused Provincial Meeting” was slated for the 14th and 15th of Jestha.
The statement by Dulal did not specify the reasons behind the date change for the Lumbini provincial meeting. The event is planned to take place in Tilottama, Rupandehi. The Congress has already completed meetings in five provinces through the Central Policy, Research and Training Institute, and the Koshi provincial meeting is scheduled to conclude on Saturday.

The Aathpahariya community has long demanded official recognition by the government as an indigenous ethnic group that reflects their unique identity. Dhankuta Municipality is preparing to establish a museum to preserve Aathpahariya language and culture. Dhankuta, 23 May — The Aathpahariya, a marginalized tribe residing in Dhankuta district, situated between the Arun and Tamor rivers in eastern Nepal, is grappling with preserving their identity amid modern societal influences and lack of formal state acknowledgment. This community, which has its own customs, language, and traditional attire, has been persistently advocating for inclusion in the official indigenous ethnic list.

Since 2001, the Kirant Aathpahariya Society, with its central vice-president Surya Aathpahariya, has sought organized recognition as an indigenous group but has faced postponements from the government. “Due to the state’s refusal to formally recognize Aathpahariya as a distinct entity, our community has lagged socially, educationally, and economically,” he stated. “All our evidence confirms that we are Aathpahariya; therefore, we must be officially listed as an indigenous nationality in Nepal.”

According to Surya, the Aathpahariya possess their own language, traditional dress, customs, culture, rituals, and social structure. However, the failure to accept them as a separate community threatens their very existence. The Aathpahariya chiefly inhabit Dhankuta Municipality and are known as the native inhabitants of the region. The 2021 census recorded 5,878 Aathpahariya individuals. While the 2001 census referred to them as “Aathpahariya Rai,” in the 2011 and 2021 censuses, they have been listed solely as “Aathpahariya.” The Aathpahariya community comprises 19 ethnic subgroups including Chhara, Humbarak, Kimdahang, Lensuwa, and Pangsung, each maintaining distinctive cultural traditions, worship systems, and festivals.

The Aathpahariya celebrate unique festivals and worship their deities. Although their main settlement is in Dhankuta, community members working elsewhere return home to observe festivals and conduct ancestral rites. Following Nepal’s constitutional amendment in 1990, committees were formed to promote indigenous development, and in 2001, a national institution was established aiming to preserve linguistic and cultural diversity; however, the demand for the Aathpahariya’s inclusion in the indigenous listing has yet to be fulfilled. Dhankuta Municipality Chief Chintan Tamang has also advocated for official recognition of the Aathpahariya as an indigenous group.

To protect the Aathpahariya language and culture, the municipality is in the process of constructing a museum that will soon commence operations. The principal festival, Wadangmet, is particularly celebrated during the month of Mangsir (November-December). This festival collectively commemorates mourning in human life and joyously celebrates the birth of the eldest child. The Wadangmet festivities begin with the raising of the “Manglang” at the 52-chule house. Three days afterward, family members of the deceased undertake a three-day pilgrimage on foot to the Kokaha stream in Barah Kshetra, Sunsari. There, participants cleanse their hair and beards and perform worship rituals, including viewing the deity Barahi Bhagwan and releasing ritual offerings. During this journey, the group stays in open areas and riverbanks, traditionally singing devotional songs (Mundhan or Mundhum) not performed otherwise. Upon returning from Barah Kshetra, a day is dedicated at home to ancestral worship. Joyous feasts and dances are arranged to honor the birth of the eldest child and the construction of new homes. The Wadangmet celebrations commence approximately one week before Kartik Purnima and continue until the new moon (Aunsi). Special delicacies are prepared, and performances featuring drums, Maruni, and Dallo dances take place, complemented by the ritual of offering money garlands, believed to fulfill wishes. Dhankuta Municipality also grants local holidays on such occasions. Other major festivals include Bisu in Baisakh and Nwagi in Bhadra, celebrated with grandeur, wherein prayers are offered for family and community welfare, peace, prosperity, and unity. The Bisu festival lasts eight days, while Nwagi involves offering new crops to ancestors and clans and takes place over three days from Wednesday to Friday following the full moon of Bhadra.

The language, religious rites, and culture of the Aathpahariya are in a precarious state. The community lacks a recognized script, and their language and traditions face extinction. However, a grammar for the Aathpahariya language in the Devanagari script has been developed by a small number of scholars, facilitating education and study. State provisions offer mother tongue education up to grade five; yet, the absence of dictionaries for endangered languages hampers learning success. Aathpahariya language belongs to the Kiranti languages, specifically the Bhoṭ-Barmi group, and is related to Belhare, Chhatre Limbu, and Yakkha languages. It is classified as a vulnerable language. The community recognizes Marga and Jimi as their traditional territories. Despite variations in caste, surname, and lineage, the language remains common. Community leader Dhanbahadur Aathpahariya has warned of language loss as younger generations increasingly neglect their mother tongue. “The primary cause is the influence of other languages, especially Nepali and English,” he explained. “Parents’ growing preference for English has further distanced children from learning their native language. Difficulties in pronunciation and usage have discouraged the youth, and increased use of Nepali at home weakens linguistic transmission.”

The clothing worn by Aathpahariya men and women is highly distinctive, especially women’s attire and jewelry. However, modernization has led to gradual disappearance of this traditional dress. Responding to such concerns, Dhankuta Municipality has provided sewing training to produce Aathpahariya dress, fostering skilled workforce. Traditional homes are also fading; the Aathpahariya’s customary houses with thatched grass roofs are being replaced by modern buildings within Dhankuta Municipality. While the community traditionally uses grass-thatched roofs for clan worship, zinc sheet roofing has become common, impeding such rituals. Seventy-five-year-old Itmaya Aathpahariya stated that worship is not permitted in houses roofed with zinc sheets.