LEAFLESS TREE

The leafless tree stands silently in its place with branches, reflecting the autumn season.

Leafless tree

Fighting for the rights-Protest against the Maoist

Protests, strikes these day have become very common in Nepal due to the improper and

unstable political management.Everyday for some or the other reasons protests are staged by the citizens.These are people that have all been victimized or had their family members killed by the Maoist rebels.They are protesting to put pressure on the government to meet their demands and to declare those killed by the Maoists as martyrs and return property "looted" by the Maoists.The protesting locals were shouting slogans against the Maoists and they had blocked the main road that links Lalitpur with Kathmandu which caused a chaos in the traffic.

Protest by the Maoists victims .They have formed a group named Maoist victims association.

A chaos on the road.People are stuck .

Security to handle the chaotic situation. But it seems they themselves were confused to take actions.

Traditional wood carving

Wood carving that reflects the traditional architecture, has always been the pride of Nepal for centuries.Wood carving is widespread in temples, monasteries,furnitures,palaces and residential homes as well.This art of wood carving could be seen in intricate patterns of geometrical, god and goddess,floral and animal and many more forms.
Among the woodcarver clans, the Silpakars and Kaisthakar are best known carvers.These day Woodcraft has become one of Nepal's best industries.Here are some pictures taken by my n95 mobile around Basantapur darbar square Kathamdnu and Patan darbar square Lalitpur Nepal.

The skillfully and beautifully carved wooden window( Akhijhyal in nepali)

The Images of gods and goddesses lavishly carved on the wood.

Sculptures depicting the unique Newari culture

I took these snaps on The YALA MAHOTSAV . These pictures depict few of the rituals performed by the newar community.

The occasion of the 77 years 7 months and 7 days

The Guruju (Buddhist priest)

CHUDAKARMA (It is an age-old ceremony in which a child’s hair is shaved for the first time

THE JYAPU (FARMERS of NEWAR COMMUNITY)

The majestic view of Annapurna mountain range and the Machapuchare " Fishtail "

Pokhara valley is dominated by the Himalayan panorama which are seen at their best mirroring on the surface of the Fewa Lake.They are just about 50 km away.The Annapurna range is a 55 km long massif series of peaks of which Annapurna-I the world's 10th-highest summit stands at 8,091 meters.
The most beautiful Machhapuchhre( Fishtail) is the mountain (6993 meters) in Annapurna range.It has a double summit that resembles the tail of a fish, hence it is called "FishTail." It is also nicknamed the "Matterhorn of Nepal".Fishtail is famous for its “purity” as no man has ever climbed it. It is forbidden to climb as it is revered by the local people as sacred to god.I took these pictures in the month of October and November,the best time for the majestic view of the Himalayas.

The beautiful Annapurna range with the Fishtail mirroring on the Fewa lake

Nature at its best - The god perfect combination of the Himalayas and lake.

The blur shadow of the mountains on the Fewalake

The view of Fishtail from the Pokhara Sports Stadium."Rangasala"

The golden rice field and the gorgeous Himalaya .

The view of the Annapurna range with the Machapuchhre mountain (Fishtail) captured from the rice field.

The Annapurna mountain

The view of Machapuchare

Rani Pokhari - Queen's Pond

Rani Pokhari , also known as Lani Pukhu (meaning -Queen's Pond) , located in Kathmandu is a rectangular pond with the mosque shaped Hindu temple of Lord Shiva in the middle.It was built by King Pratap Malla in memory of his beloved Queen.It is said that The King built this artificial pond to console the Queen after their son died.It is opened to visitors only once a year on the day of Bhaitika ( Brother's day ) during the festival of Tihar( Diwali ). As rani pokhari is a pond of consolation, people who have lost their brothers and sisters visit this temple to pay their tribute to their lost ones and those who have no siblings too visit this temple on this particular day in order to receive blessings from the priest.

This is the entrance to Rani pokhari

The tower behind is the city clock tower known as Ghanta ghar in Nepal .

The side views of and the shadow of the temple in the pond.

Protest against funding cut off for festivals on 28th sept 08

An angry protest was staged by the Newar community(Natives of Kathmandu Valley) against the government for cutting off the budget for the religious festivals(Jatras) celebrated since years on 28th September 2008.

The protesters blocked traffic in Basantapur,Kathmandu by burning tyres.

They also demonstrated rallies in Basantapur.

The security force, to avoid any unhappy incidents.

Gai Jatra -festival of cow .

Gai Jatra
(Gai= cow and Jatra = festival).The festival of cows is one of the most popular festivals celebrated in the Newar community. Traditionally the family who has lost a relative during the past year participates in this festival, with a belief that the bereaved relative then rests peacefully in the heaven.Mostly the people send a cow but if cow is unavailable they send their children dressed up as cow to walk in the procession .Thousands of whimsical characters of all sorts fill the streets on this day.
Gai Jatra is also famous as the festival of humor.Comic dramas and shows are performed. Even the newspapers bring out special editions making mockery out the government on this day.It is considered important as this festival enables people to realize and accept the Truth"death is the destination of life."
Each family brings his own bamboo pole from their houses and gather together after sometime and memorize their lost relatives .

History :
King Pratap Malla in the 18th century lost his son which led the queen to depression.Despite his efforts, he could not make the queen smile .So he announced a reward to whoever succeeds to make the queen laugh.So on the day of Gai jatra the people started making mockery out of anything possible which brought a smile on the queen's face.And since then the king ensued Gai Jatra as a festival of humor too.

Such chariots with the statue of the cows are the main tradition of this festival.

The celebration in Bhaktapur is the most interesting one.Tall decorated bamboo poles, wrapped in cloth are carried around the city in memory of the dead. Here are few pictures of Gai Jatra in Bhaktapur captured by my n95 mobile.

These are the decorated bamboo poles on which the picture of the bereaved is hung and carried around the city in his/her memory.

The bamboo poles are carried around the cities by their relatives and other people participating with their traditional music and dancing and religious songs .

Then they move further around the city one after another .

Men dressed in woman's outfit and performing their traditional dancing.

Men, women and even children all sorts participate enthusiastically on the festival

Even children are dressed traditionally and few children are also dressed up as cows

Even tourist were enjoying their coffee along with the festival.

Thousand of people attended the festival with enthusiasm . All the streets were filled . The whole city looked very beautiful and colorful.