Kathmandu, September 6, 2005

The Teej festival was today observed in the capital without reports of any kind of unsocial activities, according to the Valley Police Office. Considering the safety and security of the devotees, Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) had on Sunday requested thousands of Hindu women visiting Pashupatinath to follow the standards fixed by the trust. The visitors were requested not to wear expensive jewellery, prohibited to take mobile phones, glass and plastic objects on the premises of the temple for security reasons. Thousands of womenvisited Pashupatinath temple today. Streets at and around Tilganga, Gaushala, Boudha, Chabahil and Maharajgunj remained crowded with groups of women dancing and singing on their way to temples, and the street vendors occupied the pavements offering ritual packages. Other Shiva temples in the capital also witnessed the whirling dances and Teej songs from women dressed in different shades of red. Anita Sapkota, an advocate by profession, said the festival means more as a reunion of family members and sisters who had been so busy throughout the year. “This festival strengthens our bonding with the husband and the other members of the family.” Married women took out a fast to please God Shiva to bestow his blessings upon their husbands for their prosperity and longevity while unwed girls observed the day for virtuous husbands.

Govt acting against media, says ex-justice

Retired justice of the Supreme Court Laxman Prasad Aryal today accused the government of curbing the freedom of speech and expression guaranteed by the constitution by cutting the rights of the media in recent times even as an apex court stay order to the government has allowed FM stations to air news. “The government is busy in violating the rights of the people even after the stay order of the apex court,” Aryal, one of the drafters of the 1990 Constitution, said. He also said the government was trying to impose censorship on the media yet again in an unconstitutional manner. Aryal was speaking at a talk programme on Freedom of Expression and the Rights of the FM Stations organised by the Constitutional and Judicial Journalists’ Forum here today. He added the constitution has provided rights to the FM stations to air news to secure the rights of the people and the recent move of the government was against the spirit of the constitution. Aryal claimed the airing of news by the FM stations has helped raise awareness among the people about their rights in the recent years. President of Nepal Bar Association (NBA) Shambhu Thapa accused the government of acting ‘nakedly’ against the FM stations.