Nepali housewives suffer due to gas shortage

Radhika Subedi, a 58 year-old housewife from Gathhaghar, has not cooked food in her kitchen for the past few days for lack of cooking gas or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

Her banker son and a daughter-in-law, who is a teacher, have been forced to eat their meals in their work place. Alone in their house, Radhika has been forced to go to her neighbors and relatives to eat because of the absence of cooking gas.

The shortage LPG in the market is believed to be artificial since dealers have hoarded the supply in order to jack up prices. This has resulted in higher prices of LPG and black-marketing done by some unscrupulous dealers.

"I have three LPG cylinders. When I have one cylinder left, I usually call the nearby LPG distributor to deliver two cylinders. But lately my dealer has refused to deliver saying that they are out of stock," Radhika said.

Not only Radhika but hundreds of other Nepali housewives have complained of the lack of LPG. Some of them have to queue at LPG dealers for long hours just to get their supply of LPG.

The root cause of the shortage in LPG, which started more than a month ago, was due to the temporary closure of the Barauni refinery plant of the Indian Oil Corporation in Bihar for maintenance.

But even after the resumption of the operation of the refinery, the shortage has remained, this time due to hoarding.

The Nepali government has done nothing to solve the problem, some housewives complained.

Ram Pradhan, an employee of a private firm, was unable to report for work on Tuesday because he had to queue for LPG at the depot of National Trading Limited in Teku.

"My two little daughters have gone to school by eating just biscuits and water. I am calling on the government to do something to solve the suffering of the people," Pradhan said.

The government had started selling LPG from the National Trading on Sunday but it was stopped on Tuesday noon because of the influx of consumers.

Nepal Oil Corporation's spokesperson Mukunda Ghimire told Xinhua that traders have created the artificial shortage by hoarding cylinders.

"We have adequate supply but there is black marketing," Ghimire said.

The Nepal Oil Corporation has claimed that it has increased the daily supply of LPG cylinders from 40,000 to 70,000. The average national demand of cylinders is only 56,000 cylinders per day but the shortfall has remained.

Published in Xinhua, 29 Jan 2015

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/xinhua-news-agency/150128/feature-nepali-housewives-suffer-due-gas-shortage

मायाका कथा

त्यो आकाश मा जब तारा हरु उदाउछन   

झिलिमिली सारा शहर पार्छन
मन मा अनेक रहर हरु जाग्छन
आँखा अघि तिम्रै तस्बिर हरु नाच्छन

म एक्छिन टोलाउछु, आफै लाई भुलाउछु
अनि असंख्य सपना हरु देख्न थाल्छु

तिम्रै छेउ मा बसेर सङै तारा गन्नेे
काध्मा टाउको राखी, चन्द्रमा हेरि टोलाउने
ठुला ठुला स्वोर ले माया का गीत गाउने
तिम्रै अघि तिमि बारे एउटा कबिता रच्ने

अनि जब दिल खोली मुस्काउने छौ तिमी
मेरा साना साना रहर हरु सुनेर

सुस्तरी अङालो मा बेर्ने छु तिमिलाइ
मायाका सबै कथा भन्ने छु तिमिलाइ

Aama Mummy Mother

she prepares and brings tea even if I am in deep sleep
she calls my name many times though I hear it in first attempt

she asks  several questions that I don't want to answer at all
she let me go for late nights out & scolds when I return

she avoids my college stories but wants to know all
she warns for bad friends, loves my close friends more than me


she knows you are sad simply by your face structure
she chooses unusual dresses & colors, just says it suits on you

she asks to wear layer of cloths just as its raining outside
she feels happy when you attend pujas and shraadhas at home

she cooks delicious but wants you to cook more tasty
she doesn't seek respect to self, rather demands for guests

she feels your pain when you keep your hands in tummy
she calls you five times though you replied reaching soon

she feels lazy but wants you to dress beautifully
she acts strict like a teacher but behaves as best friend

she is a mother, above of all names and relations
she is a super-lady, a giver, a provider


A symbol of unconditional love ~~~

Me with my Mummy (Teej 2071)

What love is ?

What Love Is???

Love is an umbrella which she shares with him during rain
Love is a single icecream to eat 50-50 with beloved

Love is a warm jacket that he lends her in cold
Love is meeting just next day, but feels like a long year

Love is talking whole night & still many things left to say
Love is finding him jealous when you talk about next guy

Love is sepending hours to select best gift for her 
Love is wishing goodmorning just to initiate talks

Love is feeling safe just by holding hands in crowd
Love is when she hugs him and he hugs even tighter

Love is being with her and ignoring mom's numerous calls
Love is recalling his every small acts and laughing like an idiot



Love is fighting because he doesn't wishes first on her birthday
Love is when she likes to be kissed but feels shy


Love is when he listens favorite song & remembers her
Love is when she texts him missing you all the time

Love is cherising every single moment shared together
Love is touching each others soul

Love is a connecting chain, that connects You and Me
Love is special !!!

You are everything

She wished for brightness around
found stars in his dark brown eyes

She searched for calmness in storm
found ocean of patience within him

She looked for shed during hard times
found his strong shoulder to lay upon


She wanted a support to stand strong
found same while holding hands tight

She longed for a feeling to be wanted
found goosebumps in his passionate kiss

She hoped for never ending strength by her side
found all in the warmth of his hug

She thought of living a simple life
found heaven in her happy ending story

She seeks nothing special
But finds everything in him                                                        

Women feel safe in women-only bus service

With the exclusive launching of the first women-only bus services in Nepal this week, women of the capital have breathed a sigh of relief and have become notably at ease with public transportation.

At a time when women are attacked by groping and sexual harassment, as well as other sorts of violence in public vehicles, this new initiative has provided an instant relief to the female passengers, who maintain that this women-only bus service has made them feel respected and special.

Women-only mini bus service

Mahouts' Tale in Nepal

Elephant safari is a lucrative business in Nepal, especially in Sauraha, a tourism hub located in the southwestern Chitwan district, some 170 km from the capital.

Also rich in natural beauty and biodiversity, Sauraha is currently synonymous to elephant safaris, a favorite pastime of foreign tourists.

But there is also a negative side to the elephant safari as the elephant riders or mahouts have poignant stories to tell.

Bishal Chaudharty, 26, a mahout since he was 15, must wake up at 4 every morning in his little but cozy room near the elephant shelter.

His 24-hour-duty begins with feeding his elephant, named Janaki- kali, with wheat and rice straws.

Mahout Bishal Chaudhary with 'Janakikali'

"I have been working as a mahout for the last 11 years. I spend more time with my elephant than with my wife and family. I have to be with my elephant all the time, day and night. My work as a mahout is really hard," Bishal told Xinhua.

At 6 a.m., Bishal would ride his elephant to the Chitwan National Park where he will pick up tourists for the jungle safari.

The elephant safari begins at 6 a.m. and runs until 6 p.m. with a short break at noontime since the elephants cannot walk under the burning heat of the sun for long time.

Bishal said he and the other mahouts make at least six trips a day from Chitwan National Park depending on the flow of tourists.

But even during the break period, they remain occupied with works like bathing the elephants and feeding them.

Another caretaker of Janaki-kali, 17-year-old Arman Khan said riding the elephant is no big deal.

"It is preparing food and feeding the animal that is difficult, " he said.

Khan left his family in Bihar, India five years ago because of his love for the elephant and to earn money from tourists who would ride with them.

There are around 60 elephants for hire in the area and 120 mahouts. There are two caretakers for one elephant. These caretakers live with the elephant itself. They work for 365 days.

But it is distressing to know about the low salaries of mahouts despite their skills in taming the elephant that needs a lot of patience.

Though the safari business is highly profitable, the living condition of mahouts is still among the lowest in Nepal.

"We cannot eat before feeding the elephant. We cannot sleep before the animal sleeps. This job is really difficult. We don't have any day off or time to relax. But even with low salary, we have to continue with our job because we love the elephant and it has become a part of my life," said Mangan Bote, a 55-year-old mahout.

Suman Ghimire, an elephant owner, said mahouts are the best friends of elephants. They understand each other. He said he treats his mahouts and elephants well and they are like family to him.

"We give them proper food and care," Ghimire said.

Time and again, different animal rights activists have accused mahouts of mistreating elephants by beating them with sticks or iron rods.

But such claims have been denied by the mahouts who said the activists do not know the true relationship between a mahout and his elephant.

"Elephants are the strongest creatures, so it's difficult for us to understand and control them. Sometimes, we need to be strict but it is just to control them. The truth is they are our best companions," Bote said.

The bonding between mahouts and elephants is the best example of how man and animal can relate to each other, a relationship nurtured by love and understanding. And this is what Sauraha is known for, the elephant safari capital in Nepal. 

Published in Xinhua, Broadcasted in CNC World TV (Jan 7, 2015)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFdsRWncSdA&feature=youtu.be

Strictest 'Swasthani' fasting in Nepal

Rasmi Bhujel, a 12- year-old Grade 5 pupil, was gathering firewood in a cool Tuesday morning on the banks of the Sali River in Sankhu, some 15 kilometers away from the capital.

Dressed in traditional red kurtha-salwar but barefoot, Rasmi looked fresh although it was her third day of the month-long Swasthani fasting that is being observed by Hindu women like her.

The fasting is a form of sacrifice by Hindu women as part of their devotion to Goddess Swasthani.

The month-long fasting in honor of Hindu Goddess Swasthani started in Nepal this week coinciding with the first full moon day of Nepali month of Poush.

Women performing fasting in Salinadi of Sakhu, KTM

Unique Tharu Dance

In a cool December evening, young Sushma Mahato, dressed in typical Tharu attire with white plain sari, black blouse, a peacock feather on her hair and heavy dazzling silver jewelry, was getting ready for her dance performance.

Pretty and cheerful, Sushma climbed the stage at exactly 7 p.m. Along with the other young performers, who wore the same Tharu costume, she sang a folk song and danced and swayed gracefully.

The dancers clapped and made several turnarounds as they performed the traditional Tharu dance, called "Jhamta."

The performance was part of the evening activities at the Tharu Culture House located at Sauraha, Chitwan, a hub made popular by Nepal's thriving wildlife tourism, some 170 km away from the capital.

"I have been dancing here for the last two years. I miss dancing only during my exams or when I'm sick. Or else, we perform all the 365 days in a year," the 17-year-old Sushma told Xinhua in an interview.

Cheers for 2015

Oh yes, another new year is in door 

A silent good bye to 2014
Some lessons, few experiences
Some new faces, some old pains
Ups and downs, lefts and rights

Journey is long.... too long
Ready to embrace 2015

No fire-works but dazzling hopes
No celebrations but wishes of happiness
No commitments but promise of strength
No resolutions but determination of newness



I am the way I am
I will be the way I am
Joyful. Vibrant. Dreamer. 

CHEEEEEERS :)