“To know the food is to know the culture and tradition,” This statement certainly justifies the meaning as food that entails different aspect of traditional values. Nepali food is something that gives you the right taste and flavors. In Nepal there are around 50 different ethnic groups, with distinctive languages, dress, and customs and to degree cuisines. In remote areas, there is little choice, you eat what you grow. But the foods prepared during festivals are rare and unique in their own way. Nepalese recipes consist of many spices and herbs, which are used in each dish in a different proportion and manner. This makes each recipe unique in its own way. Heavily influenced by Indian and Tibetan cuisine Nepalese food still hold its unique taste and presence where it is highly considered healthy and extremely nourishing.

Highlighting, that there are several regional variations in Nepali food, but one dish more than any other has come to characterize the country’s cuisine it’s the dal-bhat-tarkari. Dal is a lentil sauce that is eaten with the bhat (rice). Tarkari is a generic name for curry vegetable and can be prepared in different ways according to seasonal availability of vegetables and local preferences. It is often served with achar (pickles) which do much to enhance overall appeal.

Like such, the Thakali food is yet another rich version of dal-bhat-tarkari which is popular for its tastes and species. The Thakali food has also aspired its ways to the Nepali Restaurant Industry and to dining habits and may be due to its full diet or vivid taste it is very popular among Nepali as well as foreigners. The Thakali food comes from the tradition of the people of Tibetan affinity who settled in Thak-Khola Valley. Thakali cuisine also uses locally-grown buckwheat, barley, millet and dal as well as rice and dal. The Thakali food set generally consist flavors of rich spicy content that shows the rich and vast array of exploration of taste buds.

Now talking more about the taste variation, Nepalese love spices and pickles, it’s an essential part of their diet. Pickles mostly come salty, sour, sweet or tangy, all big on flavor such that just a spoonful is needed with the meal. It adds flavor and it blend into any type of dish and has become an important part of Nepali cuisine.

Looking and understanding the taste, dal bhat tarkaari is common among Newars, one of the oldest inhabitants of Kathmandu but they have incorporated it in a variation of taste. Another popular item among them is chiura: dried beaten rice, served with an array of meat and vegetable curries and pickle. Outside the Kathmandu Valley where the variety of vegetables and ingredients is much less, diets are simpler. Above 3000 meters, of altitudes, corn, millet, buckwheat, barley and wheat take over as staples. The everyday lunch and dinner of many hill villagers is dhindo, a thick mush of boiled ground grains, doctored up with a soupy vegetable sauce of the ubiquitous.

Nepali saag (spinach), gundruk (dried and fermented vegetable leaves) or sisnu (nettles) are commonly used according to availability. In the far west, hill dwellers subsist on heavy bread made from a crude brown wheat or buckwheat. Barley, potatoes, dairy products and a few hardy vegetables fuel the highest Himalayan settlers of Nepal. Traders to Tibet cross 6000 meter passes carrying little more than dry tsampa (roasted fine-ground grains) to mix with butter tea, and perhaps some dried cheese (churpi) or meat. If you’re up in the Khumbu, Langtang or Manang/Jomsom areas, be sure to try some tsampa. You can also buy it in Kathmandu’s Asan bazaar. The delicious, nutty flavor and nutritious, high-energy content make it an ideal trekking food. You may have less success in downing a cup of Tibetan butter tea, known to put off most Westerners and even Nepali lowlanders.

Tibetan influences increase the further north you go, although perenial favourites, such as the momo (a stuffed dumpling, fried or steamed), are widely available in the lower regions too. In the trekking regions, you are likely to encounter little other than Nepali food, which some people may find slightly monotonous. The choice is greater in the Terai where you will also find many excellent Indian dishes.

Perhaps, the traditional food in Kathmandu has been monopolized by few of the restaurants creating their own name and fame in giving people a new taste in same old traditional way.

Bhojan Griha is one of the oldest restaurants located in Dillibazar with the taste and feel of ancient days. The property is located in a traditional setting and dates back over 150 years. Originally belonging to the royal priest of the king of Nepal, it’s a historical monument. A renovated history of 4 storey building, it Taste authentic organic Nepalese food then what more can you expect. The food is served with local folk dances and songs with the tradition of Nepali essence. Dining at Bhojan Griha, meaning House of Food, is a unique experience of splurging into the taste of Nepal. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner every day.

Similarly, Bhancha Ghar is yet another destination that highlights the enigmatic presence and essence of Nepali tradition. It has been more than two decades that the Bhancha Ghar has been catering the needs of foreign guests. From 1989 AD, Bhancha Ghar has been promoting Nepalese cuisine with no priority for an entirely Nepalese restaurant. Bhancha Ghar is a total experience that serves not only food but a feeling and essence of Nepali tradition. With spices making the taste the variable meat dishes and vegetarian dishes prepared with Newari style, accompanied by house blends of raksi, gives it the taste of Nepali at its best. Center of focusing the lifestyles of various ethnic groups of Nepal the cultural show gives you the feel of true Nepali taste. Established in a faithfully restored aristocratic household and completely furnished with authentic Nepali craftsmanship, it offers fine traditional food in a relaxed and intimate setting.

Likewise, Nepali Chulo is yet another destination located in Lazimpat Road. The decor and interior highlights the Nepali tradition and culture that gives you the rich taste and flavor of its richness and essence. The building is an ancient Rana palace that is loud and clear about its standing. It offers the supreme traditional Nepali and Newari cuisine with dynamic cultural programs. The menu covers a veg and non-veg set plate, a thali on which will come all your smaller dishes.

Tukuche Thakali Kitchen, of Durbar Marg in Kathmandu, offers excellent food. The name itself Tukuche is an ancestral home of the Thakali people. The Tukuche serves 100% the traditional Thakali food that taste, smells and presents itself with the name and quality. In menu, one can find a wide selection of items that are typically Thakali as well as a smaller collection of items created to cater to customer demand. Usually, people who come here tend to go for the set meals, which are convenient and filling, but the other items on the menu are also worth exploring. With the essence of giving the taste even the meat used here is exclusively of hardy mountain goat or chicken. Among the several Thakali restaurants in town, Tukuche is one of the oldest establishments offering the best in terms of quality taste and presentation. Over their years of service, this place has gained a lot of ground in the local market. It’s certainly a great place to experience authentic Thakali cuisine.

Food in Nepal is not an option it’s a way of life. People have been eating food for many reasons, but in Nepal the food speaks the language of tradition and values. It’s a way to understand the true spirit where one can easy know the nature and presence by knowing the food.

AUTHOR: Shreedeep Rayamajhi
URL: http://www.rayznews.com
E-MAIL: weaker41 [at] gmail.com

Making their way to the streets for the first general convention of the party’s National People’s Volunteer the Mohan Baidhya led fraction of the Communist Party of Nepal – Maoist announced the party military wing to be formed soon here at Basantapur Kathmandu on Wednesday. The announcement was made by Chairman Mohan Baidhya during the inauguration of the general convention of the party’s people’s volunteer bureau.

During the program the Netra Bikram Chand sectary of the fraction party said, “We are not here to be ignored, we will fight for our rights where we will not let the sacrifice of 16000 Nepalese go in vain. The current government and its leaders have forgotten their values. We declare a new war against that ideology which is corrupt and lack to understand people’s voices and sentiments.”

AUTHOR: Shreedeep Rayamajhi
URL: http://www.rayznews.com
E-MAIL: weaker41 [at] gmail.com

Mr. Bijaya Kumar Gacchedar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, Singha Darbar, Kathmandu, Nepal, gunaso@moha.gov.np

Dear Mr. Bijaya Kumar Gacchedar,

I am William Nicholas Gomes, Human Rights Ambassador for Salem-News.com.

I came to know about the situation from International Secretariat of OMCT that they have been informed by Advocacy Forum (AF), a member organisation of OMCT SOS-Torture Network, about the alleged torture and ill-treatment inflicted by the police on Mr. Khimlal Rijal, a 22-year-old permanent resident of Pwang VDC-6, Rukum district.

According to the information received, Mr. Khimlal Rijal was arrested on 9 September 2012 on charges of snatching a gold chain and taken to the litigation section at Kaksi District Police Office (DPO). At the police office, he was allegedly beaten with plastic pipes on his thighs, back and soles for about five minutes by about six policemen. After being forced to lay down on a table, the policemen rolled an about three meter diameter iron rod on his thighs for about 30 minutes. Afterwards, he was asked to stand up and one policeman grabbed him by his hair and made him rotated for about ten minutes. Mr. Khimlal Rijal was allegedly tortured for about two hours while being interrogated on his alleged invovlement in various theft cases. At about midnight, he was taken to Paschimanchal Zonal Hospital in Kaski district for a medical check up. However, according to Mr. Rijal, the doctor did not ask him questions about the marks on his body.

According to the same information received, on 10 September 2012, four unidentified policemen took Mr. Khimlal Rijal to an under construction building behind the office building of Kaksi DPO. The policemen inserted a stick through his bents knees and handcuffed hands and hanged him in the air. He was then beaten with plastic pipes on his soles, punched and kicked on his body parts for about two hours while again being interrogated. He was later taken to Kaski Distric Court. Although Mr. Rijal reportedly informed the judge of the torture suffered, the judge did not order a medical checkup. He was remanded for seven days.

I share my deep concern about the safety and physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Khimlal Rijal. I urge the competent authorities to carry out a prompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the allegations of torture and ill-treatment, in accordance with international human rights standards, the result of which must be made public, in order to bring those responsible before a competent, independent and impartial tribunal and apply penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law.

I recall that the authorities have to fulfil their obligations under international human rights law to protect the right not to be subjected to torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment and to bringing to justice those responsible for violating this right.

I recall that Article 11 of the Convention against Torture stipulates that “Each State Party shall keep under systematic review interrogation rules, instructions, methods and practices as well as arrangements for the custody and treatment of persons subjected to any form of arrest, detention or imprisonment in any territory under its jurisdiction, with a view to preventing any cases of torture” and article 15 of the said Convention, “Each State Party shall ensure that any statement which is established to have been made as a result of torture shall not be invoked as evidence in any proceedings (…)”.

I am urging to the Nepali authorities to:

i.   Guarantee, in all circumstances, the physical and psychological integrity of Mr. Khimlal Rijal;

ii.              Carry out a prompt, effective, thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the allegations of torture and ill-treatment, in accordance with international human rights standards, the result of which must be made public, in order to bring those responsible before a competent, independent and impartial tribunal and apply penal, civil and/or administrative sanctions as provided by law;

iii.            Guarantee that no evidence obtained under torture and ill-treatment, or threats thereof, be used in court proceedings against Mr. Khimlal Rijal as stipulated in Article 15 of the UN Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment;

iv.            Order his immediate release in the absence of valid legal charges that are consistent with international law and standards, or, if such charges exist, bring him promptly before an impartial, independent and competent tribunal and guarantee his procedural rights at all times;

v.              Ensure that adequate, effective and prompt reparation, including adequate compensation and rehabilitation, is granted to Mr. Khimlal Rijal;

vi.            Ensure the respect of human rights and fundamental freedoms throughout the country in accordance with national laws and international human rights standards, in particular ensure that all acts of torture and cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment and punishment are clearly defined in law as offences in accordance with the provisions set out in Articles 1, 4 and 16 of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment and that they be made punishable with appropriate penalties which take into account the grave nature of the crimes as required (which is not the case under the 1996 Torture Compensation Act).

AUTHOR: William Nicholas Gomes
URL: www.williamgomes.org
E-MAIL: williamgomes.org [at] gmail.com

Manish Harijan, said, “People have misunderstood my art. With every painting there is a caption symbolizing a certain meaning and if it’s read then you will know the true meaning of the art and I have not made fun of the culture or tradition. I have just tried to express and adapted the art to a newer level or the new generation style. As currently the new generations are overlooking the values and tradition so this was just an effort to bring it in their notice, other than that I have no other objective. ”

According to the Hindu Federation, “This is a mockery of our culture; there is a thin line in between expression and making fun of something. This is ridiculous in comparing our gods and cultural values in the name of modernism. Our culture is our respect and it cannot be made fun of or compared to westernization.”

AUTHOR: Shreedeep Rayamajhi
URL: http://www.rayznews.com
E-MAIL: weaker41 [at] gmail.com

Ncell an international telecom organization partner of Teliasonera has been proved guilty of fraud billing and scamming by Revenue law court of Nepal. According to the court on Mar 1 2012, Ncell paid the tax of only $168,000 through invoice number 7208319068 instead of $721,543 producing the back dated invoice during the tax clearance through invoice number 7208409778. The international partner scammed $552,710 on imported goods where time and again the organization has been in controversy.

With the fraud case proven the Tribhuvan International custom office has charge 200% fine which was NRs 5.5 million. Ncell has been defending the case to be human error but Ncell being the top most company and making public believe of its quality is now highly questionable.

AUTHOR: Shreedeep Rayamajhi
URL: http://www.rayznews.com
E-MAIL: weaker41 [at] gmail.com

Pathibhara

If you believe that wishes come true with mere prayers then there is a thin line in between reality and beliefs. Reality that portraits and follows logic, where as beliefs that are accustomed to values and culture. Like such, Pathibahar has been one of the most enchanting and enigmatic pilgrim that has the spectacle beliefs of magical powers. The Temple is famous around the country for its magical and spiritual power that highlights different beliefs and stories. Hindus as well as the Buddhist worshipers from all over Nepal and India flock to this pilgrimage with the sole belief of the goddess.

Regarding the origin of the temple, it is believed to have started years back where the story has been passed on from generation to generation, transcending belief to a stronger form of reality.

The story is related to shepherds, and it is believed that the temple which is established now was founded by shepherds who had led their flock to the place where the temple lies today and magically the sheeps vanished. Later the shepherds had a dream in which they were instructed by the Goddess to make a ritualistic sacrifice and when the sacrifice was offered the sheeps were returned. The shepherds then constructed the temple and set up the statue of Devi.  The goddess was believed to accept animal sacrifices, which later gave her the name of Raktakali.

Later in time Pathibhara Devi was considered as one of the Shakti Peeths where the pilgrims sacrificed animals and offered gold and silver to the goddess.  Worshippers from different part of Nepal and India flocked the temple during special occasions, as it is believed that a pilgrimage to the temple ensures fulfillment of wishes.

“You just have to say it with a pure heart and the goddess makes it true that’s the local belief, but it’s your will and power to make it possible.  The goddess calls on those whom she believes and you have to come with your heart open. She hears all your prayers and magically everything comes true,” Prakash   Acharya, a devotee said.

Located within the laps of the Himalayas syncing the echoes of the valleys, Pathibhara is located in alpine grassland.  It is located in the northeast side of the country on a mountain at 3794 meters in Taplejung District. The Pathibhara district lies in the junction of three VDCs: Tapethok, Limkhim and PhawaKhola VDCs at a 19 kilometeres distance from Taplejung Bazaar (Phungling).

The trek to Pathibhara Devi (3794 m) is combined with the natural and cultural experiences of the region that makes the visit a unique exhilarating experience. It’s a one in a world experience where you can see the main route of the Kanchanjunga trek, and highlights the Limbu culture.  A week-long Limbu Cultural Trek, passing through traditional villages like Phurunga (or Phurumbu), Limkhim, Khewang, Tellok, PhawaKhola and Mamankhe is a learning and adding factor of the trip.  Other major attractions of the journey can also be Olangchung Gola and Lungchung monasteries. The waterfall at Sawa and the pond of Timbung, especially during autumn and spring are worth visiting every year.

The best time to visit Pathibhara is from March to June and September to November. The trek to Pathibhara Devi (3794 m) is combined with natural and cultural experiences of the region that makes the journey a unique exhilarating experience.

Travel Itinerary from Kathmandu to Pathibhara

Day First: Kathmandu-Suketar-Deurali

Activities:

• Flight from Kathmandu-Suketar (1hr) or Kathmandu-Biratnagar-Suketar (2hrs).
• Trekking from Suketar to Deurali
• Night stay in Deurali

Day Second: Deurali -Phedi

Activities:

• Trek of 4-5 hrs trek from Deurali to Phedi. On the way one can enjoy birds watching scenic views of the valleys
• Night stay in Phedi

Day Third: Phedi-Pathibhara district

Activities:

• Around 3 hours of trekking takes you to Pathibhara district. During this one can enjoy the panoramic views of the Himalayas mountain view from Pathibhara.

Travel Facilities to Taplejung:

• Air ways: Kathmandu – Taplejung (Suketar)-Biratnagar – Taplejung (Suketar)
• Road ways: Birtamod(Jhapa) – Taplejung (Phungling Bazaar)-Mechi National Highway 236KM
• Trekking: Basantapur- Gufa Pokhari – Taplejung (Phungling Bazaar) – 2 Days

AUTHOR: Shreedeep Rayamajhi
URL: http://www.rayznews.com
E-MAIL: weaker41 [at] gmail.com

AUTHOR: Shreedeep Rayamajhi
URL: http://www.rayznews.com
E-MAIL: weaker41 [at] gmail.com

The health condition of Dr. KC is deteriorating where doctors related to his treatment are scared of his condition. With the protest, all services at the TUTH have been closed for the past four days except for the emergency service.

Dr. KC had staged a 3 days fast-unto-death from July 4-7 2012, against the appointment of Dr. Dharma Kanta Baskota as dean by Vice-Chancellor Hira Bahadur Maharjan at the Tribhuvan University (TU).

Dr. KC has been demanding appoints to be made on the basis of honesty, sincerity and seniority instead on the basis of political affiliation and approaches.

Dr. KC is well known for his clean and protagonist image among his associates and upcoming new doctors. It is said that every day he starts his work from 7AM in the morning till late 8PM in the evening and he is found 24/7 in the hospital premises. With his salary he uses some portion for his daily fooding and saves a substantial amount of money to donate for medical purpose to be used in the remote areas including organizing awareness program to the health assistant or buying medical supplies or financially helping patients of remote areas.

Even the office of President of Nepal has issued a press release showing concerns about Dr. KC health condition and has strongly recommended the Prime ministers to look into the case.

AUTHOR: Shreedeep Rayamajhi
URL: http://www.rayznews.com
E-MAIL: weaker41 [at] gmail.com

Baburam Aryal president of ISOC Nepal and a law expert said, “Freedom of expression is a constitutional right. It has many technical aspect of judgment but it should not be a means any legal action. It should not be criminalized but it should have a legitimate restriction. Our system is ridged and it holds many loop holes which needs to be timely updated and addressed.”

Speaking on the issue, Om Sharma General Secretary of FNJ said, “The federation has been working towards making the journalists aware about their rights. Freedom of expression and the use of Internet is very dynamic in every sense of its operation and use where we all are aware and we are working towards making it a powerful tool.”

“Today internet has evolved as a concept of multi stakeholders where its reach and definition is changing accordingly. In saying this, the reach and concept of internet has been dynamic to its use, where DMC is working raising awareness of its use in journalists and are further planning to expand the horizon. We believe that internet is a tool and it should be use more effective and efficiently in facilitating a journalist,” said Ujjwal Acharya, Committee Leader DMC.

AUTHOR: Shreedeep Rayamajhi
URL: http://www.rayznews.com
E-MAIL: weaker41 [at] gmail.com

In a recently update it has been reported that thousands of women are stranded in Nepal Embassy in Kuwait with no options except to be deported due to different forms of exploitations and harassments. In this outcry the Nepal government has restricted women bellow 30 years of age from working as housemaids in gulf countries.

One of the research of the UNIFEM quotes, “Labour migration is now perceived as the most important economic growth factor for Nepal in the next 10 to 15 years. As the numbers of Nepalese leaving the country increases each year, Nepal has also increased its reliance on remittances from migrant labourers to keep the economy afloat. An estimated remittance income of NR70 billion (approximately US$927 million) in remittances are poured into the economy by the migrant labour force annually.”

Especially migrant women workers face increasing challenges and concerns in both their home and host countries. As due to the current mobility rights they can travel to specified countries through different channels and are vulnerable to exploitation. Despite legislation and international agreements on human rights, the rights of migrant female workers are daily violated and exploited in one or the other form.

According to a report published by My Republica, “There are more than 300 Nepali brokers who are involved in trafficking of undocumented Nepali female workers to Kuwait and their non-cooperation has impeded the efforts of Nepali mission there to make the workplaces safer and systematize the recruiting process.”

Reality is the mobility rights of Migrant women workers has helped boost the women exploitation and harassment cases as women migrant workers would go through different agent channels where they were vulnerable with no mechanism to check and balance their rights or identity. Such policies have implicated the rates and number of cases in exploitation where in most case women aboard have no voice.

“UN Women coordinating inter-agency efforts with relevant ministries, and, with Pourakhi, had lobbied with the Foreign Minister and the media for an Embassy in Kuwait to support its 40,000 Nepali workers of which 80% are women. Moreover, UN Women sits on government committees including the committee to establish safe homes, which have enabled support to the embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and U.A.E to establish temporary safe houses for women,” Source Migration.com

Looking at the past, a ban on migration of women to the Gulf countries was imposed by the Nepali government in 1998 after increase in cases of sexual abuse and harassment, but was partially lifted in 2003.From then destination countries, including Israel, and most notably, Hong Kong, have imposed strict visa requirements and restrictions for Nepali workers. With the recent lobbying of UN women and Pourakhi Kuwait was opened in last November under the Mobility rights of migrant women.

According to the Department of Foreign Employment, about 70,000 Nepali women have reached Kuwait in the last two decades. Currently, 65,000 Nepalese are believed to be working in the Gulf nation and among them 90 per cent are domestic workers.

Likewise, the US State Department Report on Trafficking in Person has placed Kuwait as a high-risk country for the sixth consecutive year and still the country was open with respect to no counter mechanism.

The Himalayan times quotes, “Government sources said the new age bar will apply only to those women who want to work in informal sectors that are not covered by the host countries’ labour laws. The job of housemaid falls under Kafala system prevalent in gulf countries which allow the employers to hold their employees’ travel documents, restrict them from changing jobs and returning to their home countries at their will. Most of the Gulf countries have not signed ILO conventions.”

The current tendency of the Human resource outsourcing practices lacks a system that checks and balances the rights of these workers. During the recruitment process most of the outsourcing companies fails to provide pre-departure training and focuses less on updating the migrant workers about the rights where the migrant workers are stranded in the country once they are place in their jobs.

Ground level Channel

Recruiting Organization ——Agents ——Migrants Workers

Similarly, in the policy level the international government agencies with support from the local non government agencies lobbies policies that are impractical and lacks future prospects. The Mobility rights to migrant women worker has proven to be one of the cases where in due respect to the above listed information Kuwait was opened as a free destination for worker which was listed as one of the most high-risk country.
Policy level Channel

Regulator ——INGOs ——NGOs

Reality is most of these women who try abroad lack access to formal recruitment process and have no formal working contracts hence end up with poor working conditions, lower wages and high discrimination, but have little recourse for action. Basically lack of effective monitoring mechanism,

Lack of access to social services and low literacy levels are the major hindrances in this industry. The Foreign Employment Act of 2007 has removed gender-discriminatory provisions, and has added social protections for women migrant workers, including reimbursement of pre-departure orientation fees, establishment of safe homes in countries of employment, government –issued insurance, free legal aid, and scholarships and child-care centers for migrant workers’ children.

Thousands of women had gone to work in Gulf countries, and half of whom were for informal sector jobs. Now the question is who is to be blame for the INGOs or NGOs that lobbied the policies or the government that approved such polices without evaluating future consequences.

AUTHOR: Shreedeep Rayamajhi
URL: http://www.rayznews.com
E-MAIL: weaker41 [at] gmail.com