A young school boy in Dadheldura. PICS: SUNIL POKHAREL

Life has been hit hard for the last two weeks by series of bandas across the country called by various groups demanding their stake in the new constitution. From east to the far-west, normal life has been paralysed as transportation has been brought to a halt. Schools are closed and markets deserted.

On Thursday, Brahmins, Chettris and Dalits closed the entire country demanding indigenous status.  There are simultaneous movements going on in Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Nawalparasi, Chitwan, Saptari and nine districts of the Far West.

In the Far West, protestors demanding ‘Undivided Far-West” have shut down all nine districts for the last 10 days. The bandh is being led by lawmakers from different political parties including UCPN-Maoist and Nepali Congress, which are in the present government.

Similarly, a group calling for undivided Koshi province are agitating in the Eastern region. Nawalparasi is paralysed by another banda and Chitwan has been shut down by the locals protesting the proposal to divide Chitwan between madhes and hill province in the new constitution.

Residents of Dhangadi and Attariya, who have migrated from hilly regions of Far Western Region, demanding a united Far West.

Tharu community in Attariya demanding that Kailali and Kanchanpur split from the Far West

Women in Dipayal demanding Dipayal be declared the federal capital of the Far West

People of Dadheldura demanding a united Far West. They want Dhadeldura to be the capital.

Three motorcycles were burnt beyond use near Dipayal.

The Saule-Dipayal stretch of the road is littered with logs and boulders.

Road blocked in Jhapa. PIC: GOPAL GARTAULA

Suman Joshi, CEO of Laxmi Bank,uses a solar powered ATM

Visitors at the electric vehicles stall

Visitors learn about waste management

Two brick kiln owners receive the "orange" certification from BrickClean Network for their commitment against labour exploitation and pollution.

Talk at Eco Learn Pavilion on solar energy

Kutumba playing on the final day

The ending bell

See also:

Overcome shortages, KUNDA DIXIT, a round up of the first day

EcoFair Day I, a photo feature of the first day of Nepali Times EcoFair

Mean green, Going green is no longer a fad, but a necessity. Meet the exhibitors at Nepali Times eco fair to learn innovative ways to be environment friendly.

Glimpses from day 1.

Welcome to eco fair! ALL PICS: BIKRAM RAI

Exhibitors explain eco-friendly technologies to visitors

Busy fair

A talk on biogas development in Nepal at the Eco learn Pavilion

Visitors learn about rainwater harvesting

Talk on river conservation at the Eco Learn Pavilion

Driving the eco-engine

Ending the day with Kutumba

The festival ends the ill-omened month of Poush, the ninth month of the Bikram calender, when religious ceremonies are forbidden. It is also believed that the days become longer and the nights become shorter after Maghe Sankranti. People offer ghee, chaku and yam on Maghe Sankranti.

In Taruka village, the bulls get a special treat of eggs and rice, preparing them for the fight in the day.

On the way to watch the bull fight

The crowd is gathering

Let the fighting begin!

The bulls take the centre stage

Locking horns

Every year the locals celebrate a carnival from full moon of Dashain to that of Tihar. According to Rajesh Shakya, priest of the temple, it all started when a local cow herder found the statue of Adinath Lokeshwor in Nakkhu River and established it in the temple on top of a hill of Chobhar. Since then every year the Kalash from the temple is filled with water from the Nakkhu River and is offered to the god.

Women perform 5 days fasting known as “Nirjala”, drinking only the holy water from the temple after they have visited and taken bath in the 5 tirthas. There’s a belief that such harsh fasting settles any kinds of dispute between the married couple and ensures a happy married life.

Another attraction of Chobhar is a bathing ceremony held the first day after Ghode Jatra in Nani tole in the presence of the priest. The statue is carried in a chariot by 4 members of Nemkul family from Thasi (small village) to the Nani tole where the statue is bathed with milk. A line of priests belonging to Shakya family have been serving the temple for generations.

Chobhar is a quiet and tranquil small village for a place being so close to Kathmandu; a picture perfect destination for those who crave a little time out from their hectic monotonous life in the city. The simplicity and cheerfulness of the locals, who still live life in its most uncomplicated sense, capture one’s imagination and can bring a pleasant smile even to a most stressed out.
The thick cover of the forest provides an excellent prospect for the bird-watchers and hikers. And for those who enjoy photography or painting, 5am-Chobhar would serve as an enchanting place. The visual landscape and its unique culture is a treat to those who wish to use their images to narrate a story.

Ganesh Temple on the banks of Bagmati river outside the gorges of Chobhar. It is believed that in the ancient times Kathmandu valley was a lake and Manjushree created this gorge through which water from the valley continues to find outlet to this day.

KRISHNA SINJALI  in Jhapa

The movement of Asian Wild elephants (Eliphus Maximus) through the six districts of eastern Nepal has increased to an alarming level in the recent years. The migratory elephants coming from Indian side across the Mechi river has put the local population in jeopardy.

Jhapa’s Bahundangi, Sanischere, Arjundhara, Khudunabari and Mechinagar are the worst affected. According to Nature Conservation Society, Bhahundagi, more than 100 elephants raid crops mainly in Ward 2,8 ,1 and 9 of Bahundangi VDC. The single tusker and small herds of 2 to 5 frequently damage the crops and the houses while the big herds raid the crops mainly during the harvest time.

In the last fifteen years, hundred people have lost their lives and more than 500 houses have been destroyed by the elephants. Similarly, thirty wild elephants have been also killed in 6 districts by the locals.

The fragmentation of forest corridors is the main cause behind  elephants and the humans crossing each other’s path frequently. The unplanned settlement of migrated population in the eastern Terai after the 1950s and increased population thereof, has led to encroachment of their wild habitat.

The land in the area is very fertile and majority of people in the region are farmers. But the loss of crop and property has impacted the growth in this region. Since the attacks by the elephants began in the mid 1990’s, hundreds have been disabled which has directly affected the living of the families. The locals of Bahundangi say nobody wants to visit their area due to elephant scare and even the girls refuse to marry boys from the village. The value of land and property in the area has been consistently decreasing in the last one decade.

Earlier, the government provided little support to the victim of attack by wild animals and the process of claiming support was often more expensive than the support itself. But recently the government announced a compensation of NRs.150,000 per human casualty by wild animals.

However, when it comes to mitigation, the only tangible step taken by the government is the construction of 17 watch towers around the area sensitive to elephant attack. Beside this, the local population lives at the mercy of fire-crackers, sticks and limited fuel from the vehicles used to burn lanterns, to chase the elephants.

Various attempts were made in the past to mitigate the problem but none were sustained. The Elephant Disaster Mitigation Service Center had started bee keeping , bio -fencing and chilly deterrence to prevent the elephants from entering the villages. But the program collapsed due to internal problem. Another local organization initiated solar electric fencing program along the bank of Mechi river with the support of local government office. But the program was never implemented.

Two years ago, the Nature Conservation Society (NCS) was formed and the organization has since been using various methods to resolve the problem. The organization has held awareness raising campaign among the community in the affected area. Four Trans boundary meeting was held in India and Nepal to share ideas and experiences on how to mitigate the problem. The organization even sent a delegation to Indian embassy asking Indian government’s help in dealing with the problem caused by migratory elephants. Currently NCS has formed 15 volunteer groups of local farmers who patrol the river side in the evenings and inform the others in case of elephant attack. The groups have been provide searching light, firecrackers, and cell phones. NCS has also purchased sirens and vehicles fixed with high voltage flood lights to drive the elephants away.

A watch tower made at the entry point

Here they come

House destroyed by wild elephants

Locals take an aim at the elephants

Trucks deployed to chase elephants away

An elephant killed

PICS BY: BIKRAM RAI

Refreshments

Armed Police Force personnel, whose training base is in Halchowk near Swayambhu, make a round of the stupa as their morning drill everyday.

The newly renovated stupa shines in the background as the Armed Police march by.

Swayambhu is a religious site for both Hindu and Buddhist devotees.

The Armed Police Force was established in 2001 to counter the Maoist insurgency. The force has almost 30,000 personnel.

Hundreds of devotees are expected to visit the stupa on Thursday to mark the anniversary of the birth of Gautam Buddha.

See also:
Renewal: a time for change
Buddhaland

More resources on Swayambhu at :
Swayambhu Renovation Project