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Teej is the third day after the new moon that signifies the arrival of monsoon according to the Hindu calendar. Traditionally, it’s a day when married women pray for the long lives of their husbands. Today, it’s celebrated with much aplomb, with parties starting almost a month before Teej. ApEx spoke to some women to find out how they feel about the way the festival is being celebrated these days.

Sanjita Shakya, 21

I didn’t know about Teej until recently when I got to listen to some music on it and learned what it was all about. Newars don’t celebrate teej. But I like the concept of it now that I know about it. Families get together on this day and find a safe space to express their emotions. It’s quite lovely to think about. What I don’t like is that the celebrations are becoming commercial and people are using it as an excuse to party and do all kinds of random things. I don’t think we should take a serious festival so lightly.

Urmila Bhattarai Baral, 40

It’s an important celebration in our culture. Earlier, it used to be a day for women to get together and talk about their feelings and such. Now people have taken it to another level. There are parties being organized in banquets and hotels and people are drinking and dancing. It’s becoming a rather strange kind of culture. I believe we have to go back to our roots and enjoy it the way it was meant to be—as a religious festival where women came together, danced, and sang religious songs.

Samita Shrestha, 44

It’s one of the biggest festivals for Hindus. Earlier, the Newar community didn’t celebrate Teej but now there are many people who do. There’s a huge difference between how Teej used to be celebrated years ago and how it’s celebrated today. It was once a festival of feasting followed by fasting. Now, it’s become a reason for endless parties. Nevertheless, I think women should enjoy this festival as a day when they can forget all their worries, get together with their loved ones or simply be by themselves.

Sumitra Tamang, 63

I believe Teej is one of the greatest festivals in our culture. I love it that women come together to celebrate. In our village, we have lots of fun during Teej. Women come together and sing and dance. It’s a really vibrant atmosphere. I like how festive it feels and it makes me really happy.

Father’s Day is a joyous moment for both fathers and children alike. For children, it’s a day to give thanks to their dads for all they have done for them. For fathers, it’s when they get to take a moment to bless their children in return. ApEx spoke to three fathers to find out what this day means to them, what being a father entails, and their deepest wishes for their children.

Sudip Bolakhe, 23

As a young father, I faced numerous challenges. Working as a conductor and laborer, I struggled financially and was often unable to afford clothes and medicines for my child. It’s something I will never forget. The day my son was born was the happiest day of my life. My parents started talking to me nicely and I felt loved once again. I want my son to study hard and build a successful future for himself. I don’t want him to fall into bad company. Rather, I wish for him to always be able to tell the difference between good and bad. 

Rajiv Rakyan, 66

Being a father is a huge responsibility. You have to take care of your child till they become adults and even then, you can’t stop worrying. As a father, it’s my responsibility to teach my children everything they need to know—the ways of the world and how to find their footing in it. I want to ensure my sons become good people. I want them to be confident and successful. My father isn’t around anymore and I miss him but I take solace in the fact that my sons are there to celebrate Father’s Day with me.

Makhan Lal Lohala, 91

I have four daughters and I’m happy to say that I have done everything I could for them. All of them are married and have families of their own. They are doing well and I’m proud of them. But I want them to remember to be humble, to treat everybody with kindness, make their families happy, and be friends with everyone around them. I wish no one ever speaks ill of them and that they have no enemies. It’s my deepest wish for them. In the Newar community, special events are given a lot of importance. It brings us together, making us feel special and happy. So, I’m looking forward to Father’s Day.

Rajan Thapa is the proprietor of Diamond Hill Resort, which is situated in Panauti, in the midst of nature. His grandparents, who raised him, instilled in him an appreciation for hard work and dedication and he credits that for all the successes in life.

Thapa was born in 1970 in Kavre. He wanted to continue his studies after school but due to a financial crisis in his family he couldn’t do so. However, he passed the Public Service Commission exam as a non-gazetted second-class officer. He then worked in Pokhara and Kapilvastu for a few years. He used to travel a lot and got into a lot of accidents which eventually compelled him to leave the job.

After that, he got a chance to work with German-Austrian businessperson, Walter Schweiger. Schweiger had a hotel inside the Boudha Stupa premises. Schweiger encouraged him to learn German and pursue a bachelor’s degree in Food and Beverage. Thapa was then further trained and given the role of the food and beverage manager at Schweiger’s hotel.

“I admired Schweiger a lot. He used to treat me like a business partner and sometimes like a family member too,” says Thapa. “But I felt he used to dominate me in front of the other workers. What I also didn’t like was that there used to be a sign at the entrance of his hotel saying Nepalis weren’t allowed inside. Schweiger did that as he used to think Nepalis were uncivilized and not of high class. Some royals, however, were allowed in the hotel.”

But Schweiger sent him to Germany for training and Thapa is still grateful for that as he got a chance to learn about wood carving and design during that trip. He returned from Germany in 1997 but circumstances led to him resigning from his managerial post at Schweiger’s hotel. “It was a conflict of working styles, especially with his wife,” he says.

He then joined an American franchise company, Sterling Catering, whose manager was John Matthew. With Matthew’s team he got a chance to visit Qatar in 1999 and slowly started traveling to places like UAE, Bahrain etc. “Whenever I think of those days, I thank Matthew for trusting me and taking me to different places around the world with his team. He also made me the operations manager of four five-star hotels which had over 2000 workers,” says Thapa.

However, there too, Thapa faced the same issue. A part-time French chef was paid more than him. “I realized that Nepalis were dominated everywhere and I decided that I wouldn’t work for any foreign company from then on.” After he returned to Nepal, he considered doing something in the hospitality business. However, the environment wasn’t favorable for launching a new hospitality venture. As he had the know-how of wood carving and design, he decided to do something with those skills.

After a short stint with a wood-carving business, he turned his focus to hospitality once again. He built the Stupa Hotel and Café Dew Drops in Boudha and let one of his friends run the café. In 2012, he constructed Balthali Mountain Resort which is now run by his relative. In 2020, he started working on the Diamond Hill Resort project.  

The construction of the hotel started during the first phase of the Covid-19 lockdowns. The pandemic led to many difficulties in sourcing materials and made construction difficult. However, despite numerous hurdles, the hotel began operations in 2022.

Today, the resort focuses on meditation classes and free yoga sessions as the environment there is peaceful and beautiful.  Thapa says that Diamond Hill Resort is slightly on the pricier side but tourists love the resort and are always recommending it to their family and friends. “It’s so popular that we have already started taking bookings for 2025 and 2026,” says Thapa.

Thapa adds that the focus of the resort is to provide excellent services. Since it’s situated in a beautiful area, they have managed to use the location to their advantage and promote the hotel. “You can see the mountain ranges as well as many migratory birds from up there. You will also get great views of the sunrise and sunset, making for stunning photo backdrops,” he says.

Thapa says he has been lucky that the hotel has been popular even in the off seasons. They haven’t had a dry spell yet, he says. People from the community say that the place has been doing well business wise ever since the resort opened its doors. Thapa has encouraged his family and friends to start restaurants and other businesses near the resort and even those have been growing steadily, he says.

“I was born there and I wanted to do something special. I wanted the place to flourish and make a difference in the community. So, I choose to put in all my efforts, skills, hard work and experience that I have gathered from many countries and utilize it in my own motherland,” says Thapa.

Diamond Hill Resort has only had a soft opening till date. Before the grand opening, Thapa has plans to add a sauna and build a swimming pool as well. He wants the hotel to be unlike any other five-star hotel in the country. Thapa believes Nepalis can dream big and use their skills to achieve their dreams rather than relying on others to make their wishes come true. “All we need is the will to succeed in life, free from negative or harmful thoughts,” he says.

Being a mom is a full-time job. Raising children is perhaps the hardest thing to do, perhaps even more difficult than giving birth to them. You are constantly on your toes and there are a zillion things to handle. If you happen to be a mother who has a job, it gets even worse. Juggling personal and professional responsibilities and staying on top of them is no easy feat. But mothers make it seem so effortless. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t feel the pressure. ApEx spoke to three working mothers to find out how they deal with it.

Sarita Shrestha, 32

As a working mom, I’m happy about the support that my family has given me. It gives me confidence and the ability to go about my work without worrying about my child. I have seen my female colleagues resign after delivery. Pregnancy and childbirth take a physical and mental toll on the mother’s health and many women suffer from postpartum depression as well.

As a working mom, time management is the biggest challenge for me. You need to be able to balance work and personal life. You have to take care of yourself and give time to your children. It’s not easy to be in the right frame of mind and on top of things and it’s something working moms struggle with all the time.

Arani Shakya, 32

Being a working mom, one of the challenging aspects is scheduling my day-to-day activities. I often find myself rescheduling things I have signed up for because there are personal responsibilities to handle. I don’t get to spend much time with my child and I fear I’m missing many milestones that would make for wonderful memories later on. I feel terrible. It’s almost like I live with constant guilt. Worse, some people think as a working mother I’m not giving my child enough attention. But working moms have a lot to juggle. We rarely have time for ourselves and our mental health.

Sangita Ramjali Shrestha, 36

I have two children and I believe that all working moms are super women. There’s just so much to do and you can’t afford to let things slide. You must be at the top of your game, both personally and professionally. The concept of a working mom is lovely but I constantly find myself going through a rollercoaster of conflicting emotions. Raising a child can be difficult if you don’t have the support of your family. I live in a joint family so things are easier for me. There’s always someone to take care of my children when I’m inundated with work. Personally, being a working mom takes a toll on me when my children are ill and I find myself unable to take time off from work. It’s when I feel at my lowest.

The protests in Bangladesh have made daily life there challenging and unsafe. Many Nepalis returned home while others chose to stay back because of their circumstances. Shreya Shrestha from ApEx spoke to three undergraduate students in Bangladesh about what is going on in their minds as they study and work in a place where their safety isn’t guaranteed.

Karishma Thapa, 23

At the Asian University for Women in Bangladesh where I study, the situation is quite volatile. Students are feeling several kinds of emotions. They are navigating academic challenges and political uncertainty. We’ve been engaging in various activities to maintain our well-being, such as extracurricular activities, peer support groups, and recreational events.

The university administration is also making efforts to provide the necessary resources and support to ensure that we can continue our education in a safe and conducive environment. Despite the challenges, there’s an underlying sense of hope and solidarity that keeps us going. The Nepal government should provide support to Nepali students, including safety during crises, easing educational expenses, advocating for better degree recognition, and addressing specific concerns faced by Nepali students in Bangladesh.

Khushranjan Mahato, 24

The situation in Sirajganj got out of hand when students set fire to the homes of former and current MPs. People threatened and targeted Hindus on this particular day. There were many fatalities. Right now, things are under control because Dr. Muhammad Yunus is the leader of the interim administration. As a Nepali, I was a little worried about staying here because of the incident. According to the embassy, 400 Nepalis are here in Bangladesh and no one has been targeted or threatened. So, I feel lucky that we are safe here. But we were expecting support from the Nepali embassy. We thought they would facilitate our return to Nepal. We feel helpless.

Dr Aabid Dewan, 25

Compared to the last few weeks, the situation is getting better. Students are really happy right now and they are hopeful of a better future. I can see that people are relieved and happy. Since the very first day of the protests, I didn’t face any kind of difficulties or threat from any political parties or anyone else. I was on my regular medical duties. I don’t really have that many expectations from our government. As a medical student here in Bangladesh, we face a lot of difficulties and all I want is for the Nepal government to reach out to us so these problems and issues can be solved.

The journey of Miss Universe Nepal 2024 began with a Sash Ceremony organized by Global Glamour Venture on Sunday in Kathmandu, featuring 25 contestants. Out of 60 participants selected in the preliminary round, 25 were chosen during auditions to compete in the finale, expected to be held in the first week of September. 

The top 25 contestants are Sampada Ghimire (Contestant 1), Choten Phuntso (Contestant 2), Shriyanka Thapa (Contestant 3), Anushka Wasthi (Contestant 4), Sujal Bam (Contestant 5), Neha Chaudhary (Contestant 6), Manisha Pariyar (Contestant 7), Smriti Singh (Contestant 8), Alina Gurung (Contestant 9), Renata Kattel (Contestant 10), Tulasha Nepal (Contestant 11), Niyukti Arjal (Contestant 12), Hritisha Manandhar (Contestant 13), Puja Bastola (Contestant 14), Khusi Duttraj (Contestant 15), Ayusha Karki (Contestant 16), Asmi Dhakal (Contestant 17), Shivani Karna (Contestant 18), Gajal Karn (Contestant 19), Karren Murray (Contestant 20), Samyukta Malla (Contestant 21), Akshita Chetti (Contestant 22), Nitu Pun (Contestant 23), Tashi Gurung (Contestant 24), and Samriddhi Kc (Contestant 25). National Director of Miss Universe Nepal, Sangita Puri, and Choreographer Dikpal Karki presented sashes to the selected contestants.

This year, the beauty pageant includes mute contestants, transgender individuals, married women, single mothers, non-resident Nepali women, and professionals from fields such as medicine, engineering, and aviation.

The winner of this pageant will go on to compete with contestants from over 100 countries in Mexico this November for the Miss Universe 2024 crown.

Dusit Princess Kathmandu is one of the first five star hotels to offer a blend of Nepali, Asian, and Thai cuisines and cultures. Part of a Thai hotel chain, the Dusit Princess is a cozy and comfortable space, where you can choose to relax both indoors and outdoors.

The hotel, which won the Best Interior Design Award in Nepal, features various affordable rooms that offer a mix of Asian hospitality with numerous modern facilities. The dining and function rooms provide amazing views. There are separate barbecue and bar areas where delicious, mouth-watering food and drinks are served. These are prepared by highly skilled international chefs and bartenders, adding to the hotel’s value and prestige.

The dishes served here focus on Thai cuisine, specially prepared by Chef Subin Phankarasin from Thailand. Chef Phankarasin, currently the head chef at Dusit Princess Kathmandu, has over 16 years of experience in the culinary industry. He started his career in Thailand and has worked in renowned hotels such as Le Meridien Dubai, The Westin Doha, and The Kempinski Hotel Muscat. He specializes in culinary carving, menu creation, and Thai cuisine.

We sampled their famous Prawn Roll, Vegetarian Spring Roll, and Maize Pakoda with Sweet Chili Thai Sauce for starters. The dishes were crunchy and had the right balance of flavors, with the sauces perfectly complementing the food. For the main course, we enjoyed Fried Rice, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Pad Thai Prawn, Black Pepper Prawn, and Ginger Chicken. Each dish had a unique taste and flavor that had us craving for more.

For dessert, we had Baked Juju Dhau, Baked Gulab Jamun with Rabri Jugalbandi, Khao Neow Ma Muang (Thai Mango Sticky Rice), and Vanilla Ice-cream. The desserts were drool-worthy. Every ingredient was fresh and flavorsome. Prarthana Sen, PR and marketing manager, says, “We have focused on offering fine dining with Nepali, Indian, and more international flavors.”

All in all, the hotel is an excellent place to indulge in some quality time with your family and friends. They have ample parking space too.

Their specials:

• Pad Thai (a Thai noodle stir fry with a sweet-savory-sour sauce topped with crushed peanuts)
• Khao Pad (made of jasmine rice, fish sauce, oyster sauce, and veggies)
• Curries like Geeng Kiew Wan (a sweet green curry)
• Geeng Massaman with rice (a curry from South Thailand with rice)
• Mango Sticky Rice

With the increasing frequency of road accidents in Nepal, travel becomes particularly perilous after the monsoon season. The recent incident in Simatal, Chitwan, where two buses went missing, taking 62 lives, underscores the hazards. Nepal experiences frequent accidents throughout the year, with a significant spike during the monsoon season due to natural calamities, damaged roads, slippery surfaces, and reduced tire grip during rainy days.

“Infrastructure expert Ashish Gajurel notes that the monsoon season is a significant contributor to accidents, with half of the 30,000 annual accidents occurring during this period, resulting in 15,000 accidents. The Prithvi Highway and Kathmandu Highway are experiencing higher accident rates due to the heavy traffic.

Increasing awareness programs for both travelers and non-travelers is a crucial first step. Gajurel added, “Buses can fall from heights of 100-500 meters, leading to devastating accidents. We are urging the government to construct road safety barriers in high-risk areas.”

Despite the rising number of incidents, Nepal Police spokesperson DIG Dan Bahadur Karki commented, “Nepal experiences numerous accidents, including the recent Simatal incident, but it’s uncertain if more accidents occur during the monsoon season.” He added, “The Kathmandu-Narayanghat, Muglin-Pokhara, Kathmandu-Hetauda, and Karnali highways are particularly affected during this season.”

Nepal’s geographical challenges, damaged roads, aging infrastructure, and poor timing in road construction contribute to increased destruction and disruption in areas affected by calamities. Karki cautioned, “Bus travelers should be aware of weather and highway conditions, avoid night travel, and stay informed about post-accident road conditions.” Both drivers and passengers should be vigilant and gather information regularly to stay updated.

Spokesperson Karki said, “We are preparing safety precautions in areas where accidents frequently occur.” He recommended timely checks of buses, careful consideration of geographical features during road construction, regular inspection of mechanical systems, and ensuring that only drivers with recent bus maintenance passes are allowed to operate.

According to the data, Provinces with higher population density and more vehicle use, such as Kathmandu Valley and Koshi Province, reported the highest number of accidents, while less populated or less densely trafficked areas like Sudurpaschim Province had fewer incidents.

Data suggests that the highest numbers of deaths and severe injuries were reported in Madhes Province and Gandaki Province reported the lowest numbers in these categories. Overall, the data highlights a serious issue with road safety in various provinces, with a particular need for improved safety measures.