15 th National Rice Day celebrated

The 15th National Rice Day was marked throughout the country today, organizing various programs with the theme  ' Increased Rice Production, Prosperous Nation'.

The 15th of Asadh is the day when traditionally Nepali farmers finished planting paddy in their fields and enjoyed in its celebration. National Rice Day in Nepal is celebrated every 15th of Asadh according to Nepalese calendar. This day holds a big importance in the lives of farmers and also of the general people in Nepal. Rice being the staple crop of most of the people living in Nepal, this crop is the major crop and is also considered as good and tasty food. So, in a way rice symbolizes good economy and a well maintained lifestyle in Nepal.

Rice day celebration organised by Devdaha municipality

Generally, National Rice Day in Nepal is celebrated by planting rice in the fields and eating dahi-chiura (beaten rice and curd).

Nepal is the first country to celebrate Rice Day after the UN declared 2004 as the International Year of Rice.

According to the data Nepal export rice to other countries till 1980s but now Nepal import rice in huge amount from India

Data show Nepal export rice valued around NRs 25 billion in 2017

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हराउदै गएको असारे गीत

रोप न रोप रोपारै रानी म पँज्याईदिउँला बीऊ

हलीलाई दिउँला एकराते दही बाउसेलाई दिउँला घीउ

असार मास छिप छिपे हिलो खै लाग्यो फालीमा

बुवालाई भनि भुरुल्ली काटेँ ओइलायो आलिमा

नेपालमा धान रोप्दा गाइने गीतलाई असारे गीत भनिन्छ। नेपालमा खासगरी असार महिनामा धान रोप्ने गरिन्छ। रोपाईंका बेला कृषकहरूलाई कामको भ्याईनभ्याई हुन्छ। तैपनि रोपाईंमा दिनभर थाकेका बाउसे र रोपारहरू एक अर्कामा हिलो छ्यापाछ्याप गरी असारे गीत गाउँदै दुःख कष्ट र थकाई विर्सन खोज्छन।जसले थकाइ, परिश्रम बिर्साउँदै बढी आनन्द प्रदान गरेको हुन्छ। खेतका गह्रा, खोलानाला र खहरेहरूबाट झरेको पानीको छङछङ आवाजसँगै असारे भाका खुल्दछ।

असारे भाकाले भौगोलिक विविधता पनि समेटेको छ। असारेलाई पूर्वी भेगमा 'रसिया' भनिन्छ भनि पश्चिमाञ्चलतिर 'काँठेभाका' भनिन्छ। लेग्रो तानेर गीतको पहिलो फाँकी झिकेपछि बीचमा अनुप्रासका टुक्काहरू मिलाई अनिमात्र अन्तिम फाँकी वा टुप्पो गीत भन्ने चलन छ। यस भाकाका फाँकीहरू १६/१६ अक्षरका हुन्छन् र हरेक पाउका १० अक्षरमा विश्रान्ति लिई लामो स्वरमा लेग्रो तानी यो भाका गाइन्छ। असारे भाकाले थकित वातवारणलाई आनन्ददायी र रोचक बनाइदिन्छ।

पहिला पहिला गाइने यो असारे गीत अचेल सुनिन छाडेका छन l मानो रोपेर मुरी फलौउने समयका रुपमा लिने यो समयमा गाइने असारी गीत हराउदै गएको छ l आधुनिकता संगै हाम्रो अमुल्य संस्कृति हराउदै जादा सस्कृति क्षेत्र नासिदै गएको आभास भएको छ l 

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Administrative division of Nepal

The administrative divisions of Nepal ( are subnational administrative units of Nepal. The first level of country subdivisions of Nepal are the Provinces. Each province is further subdivided into Districts and districts into Municipalities and rural municipalities.

Demarcation of Administrative division of Nepal

Fulfilling the requirement of the new constitution of Nepal in 2015, all old municipalities and villages (which were more than 3900 in number) were restructured into 753 new Municipalities and Villages. The former 75 district development committees (DDC) were also replaced by 77 new District Coordination Committees (DCC) which have much less power than the DDCs. At present there are 6 Metropolitan Cities, 11 Sub-Metropolitan Cities, 276 Municipalities, and 460 Rural Municipalities.

Details of the administrative division in the attached file

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International Music Day...................... If music be the food of love, play on. Shakespear

”Music expresses that which cannot be put into words, and that which cannot remain silent.”
~ Victor Huge

There’s nothing in the world like the sound of your favorite song coming on, it just gets right into your head and your body and makes you move. Or maybe it takes you on a journey to a faraway place and time, where you languish in a memory of times gone by and people who are no longer present. Some of our favorite songs can lift us up out of depression and sorry, and make an otherwise horrible day suddenly seem like it’s not so bad. World Music Day celebrates music in all its forms and the impact it’s had on the world and the human spirit.

History of World Music Day

Music has existed for as long as mankind has found its voice, and quite possibly before. Every culture of the world has it’s own form of music, as distinct and unique to its area as language and cuisine. In the western world, we are familiar only with scale, that known as the diatonic scale which should be familiar to anyone who took music classes or choir in school. But this is not the only or even the first scale that music can use.

There’s the chromatic scale, which has 12 notes instead of the 7, and the octatonic scale, which has 8 notes, but these are just the beginning. In every part of the world, there are different scales and musical formats used, and these create a form of music that has its own signature. Then when you add in the cultural themes, the variety of instruments, and the forms of voice singing that can go along with it, music is a truly endless adventure. World Music Day celebrates this adventure and those that dare to take it.

How to Celebrate World Music Day

The best way to Celebrate World Music Day is to spend the day listening to all your old favorites, and if you’re truly feeling adventurous start exploring YouTube for music from different cultures. You can explore Finnish and Hungarian, Italian and Mongolian, and then start digging into the folk music. With sources like these, it’s easier than ever to explore the panorama of musical experiences the world has to offer, and you can do it all from the comfort of your own home. Of course, you could always pick up an instrument and start adding your own voice to the choir!

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Yoga for Peace

Yoga is an ancient physical, mental and spiritual practice. The word ‘yoga’ derives from Sanskrit and means to join or to unite, symbolizing the union of body and consciousness.

Today it is practiced in various forms around the world and continues to grow in popularity.

Recognizing its universal appeal, on 11 December 2014, the United Nations proclaimed 21 June as the International Day of Yoga by resolution 69/131.

The International Day of Yoga aims to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practicing yoga.

Yoga for Peace

The theme for the 2018 celebration,  is 'Yoga for Peace.'

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Sworgadwari temple - a religious place to feel like in heaven

Sworgadwari (स्वर्गद्वारी) is a hilltop temple complex and pilgrimage site in Pyuthan District, Nepal commemorating the special role of cows in Hinduism. It is said to have been founded by Guru Maharaj Narayan Khatri (Swami Hamsananda) who spent most of his life in the vicinity herding and milking thousands of cows. According to traditional stories, some of his devotees followed him to see where he took the cows, but they never could find him. According to older people of the locality, he came from Rolpa to the present temple site and asked the owner of that land (landlord) to donate the land to him. He dug the land and obtained curd mixed rice and fire. 

He had explained that these things were those buried by pandavas in Dwapar yuga, when they worshipped in this place before departing to heaven. The landlord was astonished . He agreed to handover the land instantly. Thereafter the holy fire is burning continuously till then. Bivut (ash) of the firewoods burnt by the holy fire is believed to cure different physical disorders like headache, stomach ache etc.

Documentary on visit to Swargadwari temple

Before he left physical body the Guru gave some of his powers to a few disciples. On the day he departed his physical body by his own wish, a number of people gathered around him at the place where he habitually meditated. The Guru left his body after bidding goodbye to his disciples and other followers. His favourite cow also died at the same instant, then the rest of the cows miraculously disappeared within a few days. There are also accounts of cows emptying their milk by themselves every day at the same time, at the place where the Guru died. He had done many miracles during his lifetime. Once he asked Rolpali cowherds not to take the cattles in a particular area for grazing warning them of a huge landslide in that area. But they refused and were swept by the landslide. He used to tell fortune of the devotees. He was so much kind that no one returned from the temple without having food. He helped the poors to build their house. He managed to teach vedic scriptures and other religious scriptures to the children's. They may perform vedic worshipping in the temple after study. But, doing this is not a compulsion after study.

Swargadwari is counted among Nepal's top pilgrimage sites and is listed in a national inventory of cultural and historic heritage sites. It is the one of the popular Hindu's religious place. It is located in southern part of pyuthan district. Main visitor of this religious area are Nepalese and Indians. sworgadwari is also popular for the trekking. it takes two days to reach there by foot. The footfall in swargadwari increase dramatically on June–July. Anyone can reach there from two routes; from bhingri, and from Ghorahi. It takes around 4 hours from bhingri to reach swargadwari, and around 8 hour from Ghorahi, dang. but the routes are extremely breath taking. The route from dang is more dangerous in comparison to the bhingri road. This road has been recently rerouted for betterment and safe journey. It lies on the top of the hill, surrounded by pine forest. There are vast number of Rhododendron trees on the way and in swargadwari itself.

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Rice planting season commenced in Nepal

Nepalese farmers rice planting, monsoon season started in Nepal. The monsoon season in Nepal is supposed to be begin from June 10 to September 23 which accounts about 80% of total rainfall in Nepal.  Nepal  celebrate National Paddy Day on Ashadh 15 every year. 

On this day, known as Asar Pandra, farmers begin the annual rice planting season and mark the day with various festivities such as preparing rice meals with muddy water, mud being a symbol for a prosperous season. The agricultural sector contributes about one third of total Nepal’s gross domestic product.

A special cultural song Known as Asare geet

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Muddy Rains In Nepal

Different parts of the country experienced brief rain containing a noticeable concentration of particles of sand and dust these days. 

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division’s special weather report, the strong dust storm blowing across the desert in the Indian state of Rajasthan for the past few days gradually travelled over the Indo-Gangetic plains to enter the atmosphere of Nepal due to the westerly winds, resulting in mud rain. 

“The shift in direction of dust storm with rain carrying clouds caused higher concentration of dust in the rain. The precipitation mixed with dust and dirt particles makes raindrops muddy,” adds the report. The MFD has forecast more mud rain in parts of the country for a few days, as dust storm continues to blow across Rajasthan desert and is advancing towards the eastern region of Nepal. Weathermen said dirty rain was neither a rare event nor a dangerous weather phenomenon. “Dust particles are likely to affect the atmosphere of Nepal and cause mud showers until the monsoon gets active and spreads to the western region,” the report adds.

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Commercial Ostrich Farm In Nepal

Ostrich in Madhawaliya, Rupandehi

Commercial Ostrich Farm In Nepal

Which is the largest bird in the World? Name the biggest egg laying bird? Which is the fastest running bird on the land? All these common GK questions have same answer and its Ostrich.

Ostrich Nepal Pvt. Ltd is first and only farm in Nepal located in Gangoliya-1, Rupandehi between Butwal and Bhairahawa in 20 bigha (unit of land area) land which is biggest Ostrich farm of Asia.  They started the ostrich farming with 1000 chicks with the initial investment of 13 crore. The main aim to establish farm is to meet high demand of ostrich products (skin, feather, meat) in international market which are expensive. The farm also sells ostrich products in some hotel of Nepal.

Ostrich is the largest bird known and native of Africa which is distinctive in its appearance with a long neck and legs. It has capability to run with speed of 70 km/hr. It weighs from 60-140 kg. We can distinguish male and female via feather, adult male have black and female have greyis- brown and white color feather. Ostrich matures sexually at 2-4 yrs old where female mature 6 months earlier than male.

Ostrich is mainly farmed for meat, feather (decorative) and skin (leather products) which are marketed commercially. The price of Ostrich meat in the            international market is US$90 and in Nepal 2000 per kg.

The diet of Ostrich consists of mainly plant matters such as seeds, shrubs, grasss, etc. It also eats invetebrates like insects.

Ostrich has red meat low in fat with great taste similar to beef meat in taste and colour which is considered very well for health. Ostrich have fat but collected outside muscles which can easily be removed during processing, so this meat is famous with people who love red meat but think of body weight too.

Ostrich farm have many advantages which can be enlisted as below,

·     Donot require more land to graze as of livestock

·     Give products earlier than livestock

·     When Ostrich is slaughter only a little is wasted. Meat is sold in market, feathers and skin for leather products.

Ostrich Nepal Pvt. Ltd has started a new farm in Bijauri, Dang in 80 bighas besides Rupandehi with popularity of Ostrich meat and products inside the nation and abroad.

The world second largest bird Emu are also in the farm of Gangoliya which are about 300 in number. There are about 7000 ostriches in Gangoliya and 700 in Dang. This farm provide an employment opportunity to many people along with its famous in international market. Government need to promote such farm in Nepal with experts and researchers in this field. Then we can introduce Nepal from Ostrich in worldwide along with our pride Buddha, Mt. Everest and many beautiful natural scenario.

Upakar Bhandari

Department of Agriculture Extension

Agriculture and Forestry University

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