Author: space4knews

On the Araniko Highway, traffic will be halted on the Dhulikhel-Khava road section from Chaitra 7 to 20, from 6 PM to 5 AM, to facilitate road improvement works. The Division Road Office in Bhaktapur aims to complete blacktopping 2.5 kilometers of the four-kilometer stretch during Chaitra. To reinforce the road, a base layer will be laid — the first in Nepal to mix 20 centimeters of cement into gravel — followed by two stages of blacktopping.

Starting Chaitra 8 in Kavrepalanchok, the Division Road Office Bhaktapur has initiated upgrading work on this section of the Araniko Highway by restricting vehicle movement from 6 PM to 5 AM over two weeks beginning Saturday night. The expansion, previously delayed due to contractor negligence, has gained momentum after a new company’s contract was signed last Kartik.

To ensure permanent construction, traffic will be blocked at night from Chaitra 7 to 20. According to Senior Divisional Engineer Sunam Yogesh, the goal is to complete 2.5 kilometers of blacktopping during Chaitra and finish the remaining work by Baishakh. Heavy vehicles are fully prohibited during this period. CCTV cameras have been installed on the road to monitor progress, and both cutting and upgrading activities are proceeding rapidly.

The office has contracted the work for NPR 315.6 million, aiming to finish within 14 months. Although cold weather had halted surface work earlier, plans to solidify the road are now underway. After the blacktopping ceremony, slope maintenance and other minor tasks will be completed. New technology will be used to manage landslides on the seven-meter-wide road. Due to previous construction delays, highway travel has been difficult for three years. The old contract was canceled and a new tender issued after five months due to missed deadlines. The latest contractor completed only 25% of work over 11 months, leading to contract termination on Falgun 15, 2081. That contract was awarded for NPR 201.95 million, with a 22-month completion timeframe.

The Dhulikhel-Khava road is part of the Araniko Highway, a major route leading to the border with China and connecting districts including Sindhupalchok’s Tatopani, Dolakha, and Ramechhap. Considering the heavy load from freight vehicles, the plan involves using Nepal’s first-ever 20-centimeter thick cement-mixed gravel base topped twice with asphalt to increase road durability.

The song ‘Udi Jaun Bhane Ma Pankshi Hoina’ from the film ‘Paralko Aago’ has garnered over 1.1 million views on YouTube within just six days. Starring Prakash Saput and Suhana Thapa, the song has made a positive impact across social media platforms. This track is a rearranged version of a timeless classic, with dance choreography by Ramji Lamichhane.

Kathmandu – The song ‘Udi Jaun Bhane Ma Pankshi Hoina,’ featured in the film ‘Paralko Aago,’ continues to attract a significant audience on YouTube. Hundreds of videos based on this song are being created on platforms like Reels and TikTok, signifying the challenge it has posed. This week, the song, a reimagining of Aruna Lama’s iconic melody, was released and has since been viewed more than 1.1 million times within six days. According to producers, the song is receiving around 200,000 views daily.

One commenter praised actress Suhana Thapa and admired her attire in the video, while another expressed fandom for both Suhana and Prakash, inviting fellow fans to join them. Another viewer complimented the actress and asked, “What kind of music is this, that the more I listen, the more I want to keep listening?”

The film ‘Paralko Aago,’ released 45 years ago, was also celebrated at the time for this particular song. Its sweetness and relevance continue to resonate with audiences today. Producer Sushil Pokharel shared his enthusiasm about the song’s popularity, celebrating its over one million views on social media. Musician Shanti Thatal, whose original composition was rerecorded for this release, also expressed excitement about the revival.

Nishu Sharma provides the vocals for this song, with arrangement by Binod Bhujel. Inspired by Guru Prasad Mainali’s classic ‘Paralko Aago,’ the film features performances by Sougat Malla, Sirjana Adhikari, Kishor Bhandari, Jak Shrestha, Sarita Bhandari, Renu Nyaupane, and Manjila Baniya. Produced under the banner of Hariom Cine Makers Pvt. Ltd., the screenplay and dialogues were written by Sushil Devkota and direction was helmed by Laxman Sunar.

March 22, Baglung – To celebrate its 25th anniversary, the Baglung chapter of the Federation of Nepali Journalists is set to organize the ‘Baglung Media Fair’ on March 20 and 21. This media fair, considered a model program nationwide, is receiving special focus and preparation from the federation. The event will take place at the Jojolopa Banquet Hall in Baglung bazaar.

The organizing committee, led by Chairman Ram Thapa, along with several subcommittees, has been formed to ensure the fair’s success. The fair aims to widely promote Baglung through various media channels, contribute to the district’s development, and attract private sector investment. Additionally, the event seeks to engage Baglung’s journalists working across the country, encouraging their interest in local development, facilitating reunions, and strengthening ties between private entities and local government.

Activities such as a photo exhibition showcasing 50 years of Baglung bazaar’s history are planned, as noted by Chairman Thapa. The economic subcommittee is currently coordinating with the local municipalities of Baglung and Kathmandu through meetings to collaborate on the fair’s arrangements. The fair will feature eight panel discussion sessions alongside exhibitions of archival media materials.

Organizers emphasize that the event will highlight the evolving roles of journalism and media and the significance of rural journalism. Attendees will include the Chief Minister of Gandaki Province, prominent figures from the Federation of Nepali Journalists, and journalists representing all 11 districts of Gandaki Province. The program includes scholarly lectures, panel discussions, reunions for Baglung journalists, a wall newspaper writing competition, photo exhibitions, live painting sessions, and displays of media equipment and materials.

According to Treasurer Khemraj Gautam, the fair’s expenses are estimated at around NPR 1.7 million. The secretary of the chapter, Narayan Rizal, stated that the event also aims to attract domestic tourists by offering visits to Baglung’s media houses, libraries, religious sites, and tourist locations. Complementing the fair, professional stalls from the supportive private sector will be present, and performances by national and local artists are scheduled to entertain attendees.

Vice Chairman Subas Acharya expects approximately 25,000 visitors to attend. The opening ceremony of the media fair is scheduled for March 20.

March 21, East Nawalparasi — On the Daunne section of the East-West Highway, vehicle movement is currently restricted to one lane. Since Friday, heavy rains caused road blockages at Daunne in Vinayee Triveni Rural Municipality-2, East Nawalparasi, but since this morning traffic has been allowed to move in a one-way alternating pattern. According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Yubaraj Khadka from the District Police Office, East Nawalparasi, vehicles have been operating alternately on the road since this morning.

Presently, there is a traffic jam extending approximately five kilometers up to Jamire in Dumkibas. Passengers have been stranded for three days due to the road closure. The Daunne road section, currently under expansion, became slippery and muddy because of the rain, leading to a disruption in traffic. Police reported that vehicles are encountering difficulties ascending the Daunne slope due to the muddy conditions. Although most of the Narayangadh-Butwal roadway has been paved, about four kilometers of the Daunne segment remain incomplete, causing inconvenience for travelers.

8 Chait, Jaleshwar – The Chaiti Chhath festival has officially begun today across the entire Mithilanchal region of Nepal and India, including Mahottari. Celebrated over four days with various rituals, this festival marks a significant religious occasion observed throughout Terai districts such as Mahottari, Dhanusha, Siraha, Saptari, Sunsari, Morang, Sarlahi, Rautahat, Bara, Parsa, and the wider Mithilanchal area.

In Mahottari, the festival is enthusiastically celebrated at ponds, lakes, and prominent local rivers—including Bighi, Rato Marha, Jangha, Ankusi—as well as canal banks in both remote rural and urban areas like Jaleshwar, Matihani, Suga, Gaushala, Pipra, Samsi, and Bardibas.

According to Kameshwar Pathak, priest of Baba Jaleshwarnath Mahadev in Jaleshwar Municipality–1, the central essence of this festival is to foster people’s interest in truth and non-violence and to inspire empathy towards all living beings. He explains, “Chaiti Chhath is a unique festival dedicated to sun worship, performed both at sunset and sunrise. It is the only celebration in the world that venerates the setting and rising sun.” The festival is observed with solemn devotion, praying for family happiness, peace, prosperity, physical well-being, liberation from illness, and fulfillment of various wishes. As a result, devotees flock to ponds, rivers, lakes, and water bodies during this time.

The first day of the four-day Chaiti Chhath festival (today, Sunday) involves devotees performing a cleansing ritual by bathing and eating, which symbolizes purification of the body. Tomorrow (Monday), the second day called ‘Kharna’ will be observed, where devotees fast throughout the day and perform a sacred communal worship honoring the ancestral deities while inviting the presiding deity of Chhath. They consume ‘Arwa Arabain’—a traditional meal without salt—in the evening.

On Shashthi (Tuesday), devotees grind wheat and rice using traditional tools such as a mortar and pestle (okhal, jhato, or dhiki) to prepare various sweets like Thakuwa, Bhuswa, Khajuriya, and Perukia, along with offerings of fruits, radish, carrot, turmeric stalks, ground ginger, sugarcane, coconut, orange, banana, Nango, Koniya, Sarwa, Dhakan, clay elephants, and larger clay pots. Family members then proceed in procession, singing devotional and folk songs, to the festival ghats located near the designated water bodies.

In the evening of Shashthi, devotees enter the water and worship the setting sun. They apply sandalwood paste and vermillion (sindoor) on their foreheads and palms, offer sacred flowers, and present offerings to the sun in a ritual sequence, establishing all the ritual materials for the arghya (offering). On Wednesday morning, devotees return to the Chhath ghat to repeat the worship in the water, offering tribute to the rising sun, thus concluding the Chaiti Chhath festival.

According to the Mahabharata, during their exile in incognito, the Pandavas, including Draupadi, worshipped Surya (the Sun God) to ensure success. At that time, the Pandavas were residing in the Kirat kingdom of Mithila. Folklore holds that the tradition of celebrating Chhath began from that period. The Surya Purana mentions that the wife of sage Anusuya was the first to undertake the Chhath fast, which resulted in her attaining unwavering fortune and deep love, marking the origin of this practice.

While the festival holds deep religious significance for Hindus, it also promotes social harmony and is observed by Muslims as well. It is believed that the offerings presented to the deity should total seventy items; however, even those who cannot afford the full number are considered to have pleased the deity by offering simply unhusked paddy rice (Gamhari dhan ko chawal).