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The weather across the country is presently influenced by both monsoon and local winds.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, the weather will remain generally cloudy across the country today, with chances of moderate rainfall in some hilly and Terai regions of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces, as well as in a few places in the hilly and Tarai regions of Madhes Province.

Likewise, heavy rainfall is expected at one or two places in the hilly areas of Karnali and Bagmati provinces, and in the Terai region of Lumbini Province.

Tonight, the weather will also remain generally cloudy across the country. Moderate rainfall is likely in the hilly areas of Koshi, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces, in a few places of the Tarai region, in Madhes Province, and in the remaining provinces.

In view of the forecast for heavy rainfall at one or two places in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Lumbini, and Gandaki provinces, the public have been urged to take necessary precautions against potential risks from the rain.

Greetings from Kathmandu!

Vijaya Dashami, the main day of the Dashain festival, was celebrated across the country with families coming together to offer and receive Tika and blessings from elders. However, Prime Minister Sushila Karki did not participate in the traditional Tika ceremony this year.

Instead, she met with families of the martyrs and emphasized that the government is exploring ways to support them, particularly in education and employment sectors. She remarked, "People in the government did not have enough wisdom," referring to the leadership during the protests. Karki met

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved continued financial assistance to Nepal under the Extended Credit Facility (ECF). The IMF Executive Board endorsed the sixth review of Nepal’s ECF program, signaling confidence in the country’s economic reforms. This approval opens the door for Nepal to access further financial resources under the program.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has issued a travel advisory ahead of a forecast of significant rainfall between Oct 17 and 20. Moderate to heavy rain is expected in the Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini provinces. Authorities have urged people to avoid non-essential travel during this period. In light of the forecast, vehicular movement along the Banepa-Sindhuli highway—severely damaged by last year’s monsoon—has been temporarily banned.

With Dashain festivities coming to a close, political activities are expected to pick up momentum. Major parties are gearing up for internal meetings to outline future strategies. The Election Commission, which has already begun preparations for the upcoming elections, is set to hold consultations with political parties. Additionally, the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML are planning to convene an all-party meeting to develop a common stance on key contemporary issues, including electoral matters.

No negotiations have yet taken place between the government and political parties—a necessary step to create a conducive environment for the upcoming elections. The absence of dialogue is raising concerns about the feasibility and credibility of the electoral process.

Adding to the tension, two major political parties—Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML—have strongly objected to the government’s decision to bar former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak, and other senior officials from traveling abroad. The decision has been criticized as politically motivated.

In contrast, the CPN (Maoist Center) has remained silent on the matter. According to insiders, party Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal views the growing unpopularity of NC and UML as an opportunity to strengthen the Maoist Center's position. Notably, during the GenZ protests, Maoist leaders were not significantly targeted—something Dahal reportedly sees as a strategic advantage in the shifting political landscape.

Kamal Dev Bhattarai

Editor

Dashain is a special festival for all Nepalis, celebrated with family gatherings, blessings of tika and jamara from elders, feasts, and traditional games like ping swings.

In villages across Nepal, swings remain a major attraction and source of entertainment during the festival. Traditionally, two types of swings are set up—linge ping, made from bamboo and ropes, and rote ping, made of wood.

Since these swings are built only during Dashain and Tihar, villagers, especially children and youth, eagerly flock to them for fun. A popular belief also holds that one must leave the ground at least once on a swing during Dashain.

In Gorkha’s Ajirkot Sirandanda, locals were seen enjoying swings as part of their festive celebrations.

Text & Photos: Nepal Photo Library

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Today, on the main day of the Dashain, devotees received red tika, symbolizing auspiciousness, and jamara, representing prosperity, from their elders.

The tika and jamara, offered as blessings after nine days of worship, were applied this morning at the auspicious time of 11:53 am, as determined by the Nepal Panchang Nirnayak Bikas Samiti. However, Professor Shambhu Prasad Dhakal, the committee chair, noted that since Vijayadashami itself is inherently auspicious, ordinary people do not need to follow a auspicious time to receive tika today.

Following Vedic rituals, the tika is applied from the kalash (sacred pot) installed during Ghatasthapana, marking the ceremonial culmination of the festival. On this day of Ashwin Shukla Dashami, families joyfully apply tika and jamara from elders as blessings of Durga Bhawani.

Those unable to participate today can receive tika from elders during Kojagrat Purnima.

Traditionally, tika is applied facing east and received from the west. The person applying the tika faces west, while the receiver faces east. Southward orientation is reserved for ancestral rites, and some follow lunar-based timing to determine direction. The Nepal Panchang Nirnayak Bikas Samiti confirmed that this east–west orientation remains the established practice.