KATHMANDU: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ram Kumar Shrestha on Sunday went to the Pashupatinath Temple and acquired detailed information regarding the arrangements made there by the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) for the convenience of devotees on the occasion of the Teej festival.

PADT has deployed its staff, security personnel and volunteers in the Pashupatinath temple complex since last night for making arrangements so that the devotees would be able to offer worships at the temple from all the four gates within one hour for their convenience.

On the occasion, Minister Shrestha directed the PADT office-bearers to make provisions so that the devotees and pilgrims could offer worships at the temple easily and promptly.

Earlier, Member Secretary of PADT Dr. Govinda Tandon, coordinator of the Haritalika Teej Festival Management Main Committee, Shila Panta and Secretary Bharat Marasini, among others, briefed Minister Shrestha about the various efforts made for the convenience of the devotees coming to the temple for offering worship.

KATHMANDU: Hindus throughout the country are celebrating Krishna Janmastami or Krishna Jayanti, considered the birth anniversary of Lord Krishna on Wednesday. The day is celebrated as the birthday of Lord Krishna, revered as the eighth avatar of Lord Vishnu, to King Vasudeva and Devaki of Mathura in Dwapara Yuga on the eighth day of the dark half of Bhadra.

Hindus through out the nation thronged Krishna temples since morning today and offered prayers and offered money, fruits and sweets.

President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav visited the Patan based Krishna Temple and recieved tika from the temple’s priest in the form of the Head of the state.

They observe a fast and sing devotional songs dedicated to Krishna until midnight, believed to be the time of Lord Krishna’s birth.

President Ram Baran Yadav today extended greetings to Nepalis living at home and abroad on the occasion of Krishna Janmasthami and Gaura Parva, which is mainly celebrated in the Far-Western Region.

“Festivals like Shree Krishna Janmasthami have helped the Nepali people enjoy various cultures and languages,” he said in the message.

Similarly, Hindus from the Far Western Region are celebrating Gaura Parva today. Programs have been organized in all the nine districts of the region and in Kathmandu as well.

President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, visiting the Shree Krishna Temple at local Mangalbazaar on Wednesday, August 28, 2013. The head of the state also paid homage to Lord Shree Krishna on the occasion. Photo: RSS

KATHMANDU: Hindus throughout the country are celebrating Janai Purnima and Rakshya Bandhan on Wednesday. As part of the festival Brahmins and Chhetris put on new janai (sacred thread) after a bath and receive a protective thread on their hand from their pandit.

Along with that Hindus in the terai region and some road side towns and cities in the mountain regions, are also celebrating Rakshya Bandhan today.

As part of the festival, sisters tie color threads (rakhis) on the hand of their brothers and wish for their successful lives.

The festival is marked with festivities which includes kwati (a soup of beans). Devotees gather in temples, rivers and ponds on this day to take a bath and have doro tied around their wrists.

KATHMANDU: The 2557th Buddha Jayanti is being observed across the country today wishing for peace by organizing special worships, singing hymns and holding discourse.

Buddha Jayanti commemorates the day on which Lord Buddha was born, attained enlightenment, and died. The day falls on the full moon day in the Nepali month of Baishakh. Buddhists throughout the world celebrate the day paying obeisance to the Buddha.

Devotees especially throng at Lumbini, Bodhgaya, Rishi Pattan and Kushinagar on this day. These places are the four major pilgrimage sites for the Buddhists. Lumbini is where the Buddha was born, Bodhgaya is the place where he attained enlightenment, Rishipattan is the place from where he started to make sermons, and Kushinagar is the place where he died.

The government first declared Buddha Jayanti as a public holiday on May 22, 1951. Animal sacrifices on prohibited in this day in Lumbini since February 19, 1956.

The United Nations has also been observing the day of Buddha Jayanti as a public holiday at its various bodies since 2002.

It is said so far the largest number of books published are on Buddhism or related to it. Some of the famous among them are ‘The Light of Asia (published in 1879)’ by Sir Edwin Arnold, the then editor of The Telegraph, ‘Buddha and His Dhamma (published in 1957)’ by Dr BR Ambedkar, then chairman of the constitution drafting committee of India, and ‘Siddhartha’ a novel penned by German writer Herman Hesse, who won a Nobel Prize in literature in 1946.

Buddhism is taught as a discipline in world-famous universities as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard etc. Tribhuvan University (TU) has also been providing courses on Buddhism at the Masters Level.

Buddha’s precepts should be internalized as guidelines in subjects like economics, medical science, political science etc. which are needed for social progress rather than taking them as a ‘religion’, according to modern view.

It is said that the Buddha gave religious sermons 84 thousand times in his life, which are codified in such scriptures as Vinaya, Sutta, Abhidhamma and Tripitak, among others.

This year marks 108 years of the discovery of what is called the Ashoka Pillar in Lumbini established by then Emperor Ashoka in 249 B.C. It is clearly stated in the Pali language inscriptions on this pillar that the Buddha was born at Lumbini.

The then Commander General Khadga Shumsher Rana saw this pillar while on a hunting trip in the Lumbini area in 1896 and this pillar was studied and officially recognized through joint study carried out with archaeologist Dr. Furer.

The extensive development of Lumbini was initiated with the visit of then UN Secretary General U Thant in 1967.

Prez, Veep, IEC Chair wish all on the occasion of Buddha Jayanti

Moreover, on the occasion of the 2557th Buddha Jayanti, President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav has extended best wishes to all Buddhists and Nepali brothers and sisters at home and abroad.

Stating that the messages of peace, non-violence, and love from Lord Gautam Buddha are more relevant and useful in today’s world, President Dr. Yadav has wished that may this day inspire us all to establish peace and good health by enhancing mutual good will and brotherhood.

Likewise, Vice-president Parmananda Jha has said that the relevance and importance of the message of peace and non-violence by Gautam Buddha as been gradually increasing in today’s world mired by violence and anarchism.

“Internalizing the teachings of Buddha could helps us establish brotherhood, good and lasting peace in the country and word”, he said.

Likewise, Chairman of the Council of Ministers Khil Raj Regmi has said the Buddhist philosophy does not only represent any particular religion but advocates for the overall humanity and service of the mankind.

“I wish that this day inspire us all to follow the path of peace, humanity and service shown by Gautam Buddha and contribute to the national interest and social prosperity”, he has said in the message.

Moreover, Chairman of the Council of Ministers Khil Raj Regmi is scheduled to attend separate congregations to be organized at Anandakuti Vihar at Swayambhu in Kathmandu, and at Lumbini today.

Best wishes on the occasion of Ubhauli festival

Also, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has extended best wishes to all Kiranti sisters and brothers in the country and abroad on the occasion of the great festival of the Kirants, the Ubhauli festival.

In a message today, President Dr Yadav has said that the diverse cultural traditions in the country help enhance mutual trust and goodwill, and also in building a prosperous social structure.

Likewise, Chairman of the Council of Ministers Khil Raj Regmi has said that the religious tolerance, ethnic co-existence and communal harmony are exemplary in Nepali society, and every festival observed in Nepal are socio-culturally recognized with each having importance of its own.

He has also wished that the Ubhauli festival inspires us all to enhance peace, prosperity, mutual good will and cultural tolerance, collaboration and unity along with the prosperous future of all the Kirant communities.

Lord Ram is worshipped during the Ramnavami which is a festival highlighting victory of truth over evil.

A large number of Hindu devotees from different parts of the country and from neighbouring India come on a pilgrimage to the Ram Janaki Temple in Janakpurdham on this occasion. Likewise, worships are also held at temples dedicated to Ramchandra, the Hindu deity and incarnation of Lord Vishnu, across the country.

Hindu scriptures such as the Ramayana are recited and the devotees observe a vigil tonight by observing a fast. It is believed to fulfill one’s wish.

Born as the 10th incarnation of Lord Vishnu and the eldest son of King Dasaratha of Ayodhya, Sri Ram married Sita, the daughter of King Janak of Mithila.

The festival is observed to commemorate the victory of Sri Ram over the demons and his inspiration to the human kind to follow the path of truth and that of highest moral standards

BHAKTAPUR: At least three persons were killed and 10 others were wounded by being crushed from the wheels of chariot in Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur on Wednesday.

Police identified dead as Rukesh Shilpakar, 22, of Taumadhi in Bhaktapur Municipality-16, Dhirendra Shilpakar, 23, of Jenla in Bhaktapur Municipality-2 and Asish Suwal, 22, of Nasmana in Bhuktapur Municipality-14.

Suwal who was seriously injured after falling off the chariot was dead while receiving treatment at Kathmandu Medical College, Sinamangal.

Other injured are receiving treatment in different hospitals in Kathmandu and Bhaktapur.