Id-ul-Zuha was celebrated on December 28.
The festival commemorates the spirit of supreme sacrifice of Prophet Hazrat Ibrahim. The selfless sacrifice is an inspiring example of subordinating self-interest to the greater good of humanity. Such festival of sacrifice would strengthen cultural bonds and usher in joy and prosperity for all.

Id-ul-Zuha, being is celebrated on Friday, commemorating the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim, who willingly agreed to kill his son at the behest of god.
This festival coincides with the Haj pilgrimage in Makkah.

My 2 Innings, a memoir of a paediatrician-cum-author who writes under a pen name Mani Dixit, has some pleasant and some not so pleasant memories over the years from his life.

Dixit takes us back to the Nepal of 40s and 50s that is more pleasant and forth, the stark realities of present that is not so pleasant. However, My 2 Innings is a pleasant read because it not only tells us about the author and his growing years in serene Kathmandu, but also gives us the vivid picture of the then Kathmandu, its people and practises.

The septuagenarian author, in his book, recalls his childhood and planting of a copper coin so that it will grow into a money plant one day; the then Kathmandu and the snow fall in Kathmandu, a rare phenomenon that has again occurred after 62 years on February 7 this year. He also recalls many of his friends, seniors and juniors like Pashupati SJB Rana and Ruskin Bond during his school days.

The author, who gave life to many as a practising doctor, survived a murder attempt on himself in Kathmandu, the capital city in 2006. The readers will definitely be compelled to ask, after going through the last chapters, why were KMC — a professional organisation and its board members hunted and what was their fault. Though sad these chapters tell us a lot about our corrupt system and its ineffectiveness that is counting its last days. It should be an eye-opener for the state mechanism, if it wants to boost its citizens’ confidence.

The book also has some of the rare pictures like snow-covered lawns of Singh Durbar some 62 years back, car being brought to Kathmandu in the forties and many more.

It seems that the author in his second innings will score a century.

IN SET

Book: My 2 Innings

Author: Dr Hemang Dixit

Publisher: Makalu Publication House

Pages: 169

Price: Rs 150

Samjhanaka Kuenetaharu is a collection of memoirs — of Khagendra Sangraula, one of the most read columnists — which are written in different time and spaced during the last decade.

In the book, a reader can encounter different people — from Bhawani Ghimire to Basant Thapa to Nirmal Lama to even earlier British envoy Bloomfield, to contemporary literary figures. Some of them are the author’s teachers, some are his friends, philosophers and guides, and yet others are the common characters from among us. But they are not redundant as the readers get to know them more, of course from the author’s eye. In some of his memoirs, the central character is even a radio, a cap or a telephone. But they are some of the metaphors of his life and our society at present.

There are 26 memoirs in Samjhanaka Kuenetaharu that helps us peep into not only the author’s life but also into the time he has lived and we have lived as well. A lot of people love him and equal number of people hate him, at the same time. The reason: his aggressive writing style. “He is a daring writer,” Narayan Wagle, writes of him. But sometimes, somewhere he seems childish in arguments, not daring rather a stubborn child. But it’s a difficult thing to be a child also. That’s why his literary work is the most controversial and at the same time contemporary.

As it happens though rarely, memoirs are always not true and authors are famous for lying to the readers. But his love-hate relationship with Nirmal Lama, honour and respect for Bhawani Ghimire seem true to his heart.

In many ways, Samjhanaka Kuenetaharu is a collection of contemporary essays that brings some rich and some poor memoirs of the author’s life. In many ways the essays seem familiar, at least to the readers of his column.

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Book: Samjhanaka Kuenetaharu

Author: Khagendra Sangraula

Publisher: FinePrint

Price: Rs 250

Pages: 209

The music plays important role in the  whole dance process. The musical instruments are Khie, Jhyali and Ponga.

Sama Chakewa idols are made of clay and the festival is also regarded as the medium to exhibit the art of sculpting of the Maithil women.

The sun represented the power of justice in the Sumerian civilisation. But in Nepal especially in the Terai region, the sixth day of bright half of Kartik, Kartik Sukla Sasthi is celebrated as Chhat worshipping sun.

In some parts of India and even in plains of Nepal people worship sun as a god and fast for the health of one’s son.
The mother’s observing fast offer Argha, water to the sun wishing for the healthy life for the child. The worship takes place at the bank of river or the pond. Pond or the river represents the water element and the sun represents the fire element. The philosophy behind this seems is to balance the fire element and the water element for the life.
The songs and dances are the part of Hindu rituals and Chhat is no exception to that. The women enjoy the ritual with different songs while keeping vigil throughout the night on the sixth day.
On the seventh day devotees throng the riverbank, worship and offer Argha to the sun before the sunrise. These two days are the most important days of the six-day celebration of Chhat. With the changing time, most of the people celebrate only these two days.
Devotees offer bananas, sugar cane, Dhekuwa, a sweet made of flour and is hard and Kasar, a sweet like small balls made of flour to the sun god.
The Greeks myths have called Sun helious. The ancient drawing depicting sun can be seen in the altamira cave of northern Spain and in the Lasko cave of southern France . Not only in Europe but also in Karnatak the tradition of sun worshipping existed.
In the beginnig sun was the only god and friend of the human civilisations. But scientifically also, the sun represents creation.
According to the Veda, Shambha, a son of Lord Shree Krishna started the worshipping of sun. He called the Maga, an ancient tribal Brahmins of the Sakadwip, island and told them to worship the sun for their prosperity.
The significance of the festival can be acknowledged by the fact that it is the only festival also celebrated by Muslim communities in the region.
Similarly, the devotees are also seen celebrating Chhath in the major river banks and at the Ranipokhari in Kathmandu .
The devotees also observe a day-long fast. This festival is considered a symbol of cleanliness, devotion and cordial relationship and goodwill among people.
According to other scripture, the celebration is believed to have begun from the time of Dwapar Yuga (era), when the five Pandavs, while in exile in the forests, had worshipped the sun, asking for victory in the Mahabharat war.
Singing folk and devotional songs and offering prayers to the sun god also marks the day. The third day is especially significant for married women as they observe a two-day fast and offer prayers while keeping almost three-quarters of their body immersed in water for two hours.
The fourth day of the festival is called Paran or Parwan. The first day of the festival is called Arba Arbain or Nahan Khan. The second day is called the Kharana (meaning the reduction of sin).

YamaRaj - the God of Death is praised:

O brother of yamuna, Dharmaraj I bow to you. Oh son of the sun! Protect me. You are kind to the honest and feared by the dishonest. You diminish the proud. You’re the death of death. I bow to thee!

Though I have committed many sins I am your devotee. So, forgive me.

The Kartik sukla Dwitiya is celebrated as the auspicious day of Bhai Tika wishing all the brothers a happy, healthy and prosperous life.

The worshipping of crows, Dogs, Cow, Yamaraj and Laxmi in Tihar is a metaphorical representation but the worshipping Brothers is one of the practical aspect of social harmony preached by the Hindu philosophy.

On this day sisters worship their brothers by putting five-colour Tika on their forehead and garlanding them with velvet flowers, wishing them longevity and good health.

Once a sister was worshipping her brother. But yamaraj came to take him cause his life was at the end. The sister prayed Yamaraj and asked him for a boon to grant the life of her brother till the oil on the ground of the puja Mandap the velvet garland and the pimple – a fruit dries and the water washes walnut. Yamaraj granted all the wishes and the brother got the longevity.

Till date velvet flower garland, pimple fruit, and walnuts are offered to the brothers along with various fruits and delicious sweets and Sel – a special sweet made for Tihar. Brothers offer presents in return.

Brothers, who have no sister and sisters, who have no brothers visit the Mahadev temple in the middle of Ranipokhari pond, in Kathmandu this day.

The worshipping of yamaraj – the God of death reminds all that one who is born has to die. One should not forget invincible death.

People worship Laxmi cause without money one cannot live a comfortable life.

And Mha-puja - the Self is worshipped as God - Aham Brahmhasmi.

In the social interpretation Bhai Tika symbolises sister and brotherhood.

Practical and the spiritual blends are deeply rooted in our society. Each of our festivals has spiritul, traditional and culture values.