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Nepalaya publication has released a five-volume compilation ‘Kabi Shiromani Rachanawali’ which includes all the published and unpublished literary works of Kabi Shiromani Lekhnath Paudel, on February 19, Paudel’s memorial day.

Who is who of Nepal’s literature attended the program held in the ‘R’ Shala of Nepalaya. Rama Sharma, General Secretary of Nepali Educa­tion Council, Prativa Pandey, the granddaughter of Shiromani Paudel and Professor Sanat Kumar Wasti, the book’s editor, jointly launched the book.

“I recall writer Jagdish Ghimire saying he wanted to see Baba’s works widely distributed, such that each and every Nepali family could get to read them,” said Pandey. “His desire, Professor Wasti’s enthusiasm and support from Lekhnath Founda­tion made this possible.”

The limited-edition set of five hardcover books is available for Rs 6,975. APEX BUREAU

The Center for Research and Sustainable Development Nepal (CREASION) last week conducted the Tree of the Year Nepal (TOYN) award ceremony and photo exhibition at Taragaon Museum, Hyatt Regency. Affiliated to Asian Tree of the Year awards initiated in Sri Lanka in 2016, the second edition of the annual TOYN saw a total of 30 participants, of whom Uddhav Dangal, Mohan Jaishi and Ashin Poudel won the first, second and third place respectively. The winners were selected by the judge panel of Dr Chudamani Joshi, Landscape Ecologist and special advisor to Embassy of Finland, Kath­mandu; Ranjit Acharya, CEO, Prisma Advertising; and Bikash Karki, Presi­dent, Photojournalist club.

TOYN is an initiation of Volun­teer for Change (VFC) program of CREASION, a non-profit, non-gov­ernmental organization. The pho­tographs entries were sent from different districts of Nepal along with their unique stories of trees which emphasized the importance of pro­tection and preservation of Nepali tree biodiversity.

TOYN is a photo competition open to every Nepali citizen. The main focus of this competition is on starting a conversation on the importance of protecting trees and preserving biodiversity.

 There are 78 households in Thaprang village of Chitwan district. Only one house—that of Bhadra Bahadur Chepang, a member of the local gov­ernment—has a proper toilet.

“I built the toilet so that others would see it and be inspired to build toilets in their own homes,” says Bhadra Bahadur. “But so far no one else has done it.”

It is not that villagers are unaware of the impor­tance of toilets. Raj Bahadur Chepang, now 70, has long wanted to build one at his house. But he says he does not have the money and so he and his family continue to defecate inside a nearby forest.

“If the government gives me building materials,I too will be able to have a toilet at my house,” says Raj Bahadur.

As the residents of this predominantly-Chepang vil­lage defecate in the open, often out of compulsion, the nearby forest and open spac­es have become extremely dirty. The situation is no different in other villages around Thaprang.

Chamre Chepang, another local, says that he too desperately wants a toilet but has no money for it. “When nature calls we have no option but to run to the nearest gully or forest,” he says.

By ANIL DHAKAL | CHITWAN

A half-hour early morning drive from the city center to Danda Gaun in the Shivapuri Hills—the northern fringe of Kathmandu—followed by a 15-minute flight 4,380 meters above sea level takes you to Gosainkunda, a heavenly abode of Hindu Gods and one of the most visited tourist destinations in Nepal. Located in the lap of the Himala­yas, the pristine lake of Gosainkunda in Rasuwa district is a Ramsar site. It takes a round-trip of 7 to 8 days to trek up to the lake. But walking 7-8 hours every day in high altitude is not for everyone, especially not for the elderly, the physically-chal­lenged and pilgrims who value the site more than the journey.

But private airline companies have cut short the Gosainkunda trip and made the exhilarating experience of a helicopter ride affordable for many Nepalis. For just Rs 20,000 ($200) per person, one can take a half-day leave and travel to one of the highest lakes in the world, which remains frozen for nearly six months every year.

With the chopper service, the sacred lake has been made accessible to children, retired government employees, working professionals, tourists on short visits and people from all walks of lives—you meet them all up there.

Following the 15-minute flight, visitors get half an hour to marvel at the beauty of the place. They are accompanied by a crew of profes­sionals, including a doctor, who ensure that the whole trip is both safe and comfortable. They also give pilgrims a rare opportunity to be close to the Gods.