Kathmandu, June 19

The Newar community in Kathmandu valley today celebrated Sithi Nakha, a festival which marks the beginning of the rainy season, by cleaning water sources such as ponds, wells and stone spouts in their areas.

Historically, water sources were cleaned before the start of the rainy season as farming communities got busy planting rice after monsoon began. Historians believe that the festival started in Licchavi era between 400 and 750 AD. Cleaning of water sources also helped control water-borne diseases such as typhoid, dysentery and cholera.

According to historian Kasi Nath Tamot, “Stone inscriptions dating back to the reign of Yakshay Malla in Bhaktapur shows that it was made mandatory for local communities to clean water sources, roads, temples and sidewalks on Sithi Nakha.”

Sithi Nakha also marks the ending of festivities until end of monsoon season. People from the Newar community also offer prayers to their ancestral god on the day.

Sithi Nakha is celebrated on the sixth day of the waxing moon in the month of Jestha, as per the lunar calendar. The day is also marked to commemorate the birth of Kumar Kartikeya, son of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati.

Locals clean Ranipokhari

KATHMANDU: Local activists on Tuesday volunteered to clean Rani pokhari in a symbolic gesture to pile pressure on the government to start its reconstruction without further delay. Around 200 people  participated in the cleaning programme.

Naya Shakti Party-Nepal leader Hisila Yami also joined the programme.Nepali Army and Nepal Police personnel also participated in the programme.  The campaigners later met Kathmandu Metropolitan City Deputy Mayor Hari Prabha Khadgi.

A campaigner handed over a bundle of grass collected from Ranipokhari to Khadgi. Receiving the grass bundle Khadgi said she would make efforts to ensure that the reconstruction process started on time.  — HNS