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Dubai: The 28th global climate conference (COP28) is currently underway in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and will go on till Dec 12. It’s being held at Expo City—a cutting-edge venue designed to champion sustainability and circularity principles. This purpose-built city spans 4.38 sq km and offers an enhanced quality of life for its visitors, featuring top-tier events.

Expo City in Dubai is segregated into two zones for COP28—the Blue Zone, accessible to accredited party and observer delegates conducting formal negotiations—and the Green Zone, serving as a platform for activists to share their climate projects and stories on a global scale.

With a record-breaking 84,000 registered attendees, this year’s COP marks a significant contrast from its modest beginnings in Berlin in 1995, which had fewer than 4,000 delegates. Last year’s COP27 in Egypt attracted around 50,000 visitors, further highlighting the growth and importance of this global event.

During COP28, Nepal, chair of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), emphasized the urgent need for dialogue on mountain and climate change issues. They advocated for fair grants to address the climate crisis and stressed the necessity for a predictable, simplified, and sufficient Loss and Damage Fund tailored to LDCs and mountainous countries.

The Nepali Pavilion has been actively engaged in hosting at least five sideline events daily, with an estimated 250 Nepali delegates participating in the conference.

The conference commenced with a landmark agreement on establishing a loss and damage fund, aimed at assisting developing countries in managing the repercussions of climate change—an agreement reached on the inaugural day of the event. 

The preparations for the Chhath festival in Kathmandu are nearing completion, with the banks of the Bagmati River and the city's ponds adorned in vibrant decorations for the upcoming celebration.

This revered festival, deeply entrenched in Nepali tradition, venerates the Sun God, Surya, and Chhathi Maiya, the Goddess of Purity, Fertility, and Power. Its observance involves meticulous rituals and offerings, symbolizing gratitude, penance, and the pursuit of blessings for well-being and prosperity.

Nepal, renowned for its rich cultural diversity, embraces Chhath with profound enthusiasm and reverence. The festival holds significant importance in the hearts of Nepalis, particularly those dwelling in the Terai region. Rivers and ponds across Kathmandu transform into lively hubs of colorful decorations and communal gatherings during this auspicious occasion.

The detailed preparations for Chhath encompass a multitude of activities, from diligently cleaning the riverbanks and ponds to embellishing them with vibrant ornamentation. Elaborate makeshift stages, referred to as 'ghats,' are meticulously constructed along the riverbanks, where devotees will partake in various rituals and offer prayers to the rising and setting sun.

The country’s first bus rapid transit lane, between Bhaktpur’s Suryabinayak and Kathmandu’s Ratnapark, was inaugurated on Sept 20. It was introduced with an aim of providing express passenger transfer service during office-time rush hour, from 9–11 am and 4–6 pm.

Authorities claim with the BRT, the 13.5 km commute between Suryabinayak and Ratnapark, which usually takes up to two hours under normal traffic conditions, will take just 45 minutes.   

During the service hour, vehicles other than designated buses, ambulances, fire brigade, and emergency vehicles are not allowed to drive on the lane, marked with red paint. 

The Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport has planned to deploy 25 buses on the BRT lane, and they will depart at an interval of every five minutes.

I recently decided to hop on one of the express buses and experience the service, and I was surprised to see that many motorists are still unaware of the BRT. Non-designated vehicles were still traveling on the lane during the service hours. 

I asked my bus driver if he had noticed any changes with the BRT service. “Barely,” he told me. “In the initial days traffic, police personnel were deployed to clear the lane, but they have stopped doing so.”

The problem of traffic congestion remains unchanged.“What’s the point of introducing this service if it cannot be implemented,” the driver said. I wondered the same thing after getting off on my stop. 

Preparations for the Indra Jatra are a vibrant and culturally rich affair that begins well in advance of the main event. The annual traditional festival begins on Bhadra Shukla Chaturdashi, according to the Nepali calendar. The main festival of Indra Jatra falls on September 28 this year.

The festival involves colorful masks and costumes. Tej Bahadur Chitrakar and Narendra Chitrakar seem busy painting the masks of deities including the ‘Halchok Bhairav’ and ‘Dee: Pyakhan’ dance mask, as well as ‘Pulukisi’ (white elephant). These masks are an essential part of the festival’s cultural performances, including the famous Lakhe.

Temples, shrines, and historic sites around the Kathmandu Valley are being given a makeover with repainting, and adorned with colorful decorations to create a festive atmosphere.

The neo-classical palace also known as Gaddi Baithak is also being given a facelift. Gigantic chariots, each dedicated to a specific deity like Kumari, Bhairav, and Ganesha, are kept outside the Gaddi Baithk ahead of the festival.

The performers, often from the local communities, have started practicing the traditional dances associated with different gods, goddesses, and demons for the festival.

Indra Jatra was started by King Gunakamadeva to commemorate the founding of Kathmandu city in the 10th century. The celebrations are held according to the lunar calendar.

As Indra Jatra approaches, the enthusiasm and excitement become palpable. The festival not only celebrates Nepal’s rich cultural heritage but also brings the community together in a spirit of unity and devotion.

It’s a time when locals and visitors can immerse themselves in the vibrant colors, rituals, and traditions that define Nepal’s unique cultural identity.