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Nepalis living abroad have been urged to contribute to Nepal’s Physical Infrastructure Reconstruction Fund, established to rebuild government structures destroyed during the recent GenZ Movement protests.

Nepal’s embassies and missions abroad have appealed to Nepalis overseas to extend financial support to the fund. The protests on Sept 8–9 led to arson and vandalism targeting major government institutions, including Singhadurbar, the Parliament building, the Prime Minister’s residence, the President’s Office, courts, police stations, and several other state structures. Many offices were completely destroyed in the violence.

To address the damage, the Cabinet meeting on Sept 21 issued the Infrastructure Reconstruction Committee (Formation) Order 2082 and established a reconstruction fund under the Ministry of Finance. The ministry has requested both domestic and overseas Nepalis to contribute.

The Nepali Embassy in Qatar has issued a public notice calling for contributions, highlighting that the fund will be used for reconstruction, economic recovery, and relief programs. Nepali missions in Iran, Kuwait, Israel, and Cyprus have made similar appeals through social media and official channels, urging Nepalis and Non-Resident Nepalis (NRNs) to take part in the national rebuilding campaign.

Meanwhile, NRN communities abroad have also begun organizing fundraising programs. The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has stressed that it is both a responsibility and a duty to contribute during the country’s crisis. NRNA President Mahesh Kumar Shrestha, in a statement, noted that the association has consistently supported Nepal during past disasters such as earthquakes and floods, and called on all NRNs worldwide to contribute to the reconstruction campaign.

The contributions, according to the NRNA, will help restore administrative services, ensure security, and support long-term national rebuilding efforts.

Thousands of devotees stood in serpentine lines to get blessings and worship Goddess Taleju Bhawani as the doors to the temple opened just for a day in the year. Devotees stood in line stretching across the Basantapur Durbar Square eves as goats were being sacrificed on the open square in front of Gaddhi Baithak.

Open once a year on the day of Maha Nawami, Taleju Bhawani is regarded as the main goddess of Newa, as well as the savior of children. The Taleju Bhawani temple situated within the Hanumandhoka Durbar area is opened only on the day of Mahanawami or Ashwin Shukla Nawami (the ninth day in the month of Asoj as per lunar calendar) every year.

Meanwhile, the Tulaja Bhawani goddess was taken amidst a ritualistic procession to the Mulchowk area of the Hanumandhoka Durbar Area at an auspicious hour. The statue of the goddess will be kept at Mulchowk where a special puja would be offered at midnight on Mahaastami by sacrificing 54 he-goats and 54 he-buffaloes.

The ancient temple which dates back to Malla-era opens only on the ninth day of the waxing moon in the month of Asoj as per the lunar calendar. Special worship is performed to Durga Bhawani on the occasion of the Mahanawami and the ‘jamara’ which have been germinated is offered to the goddesses at various shrines.

The Durga Saptasati and Devi Strota scriptures are also recited at homes and in temples on this day. As mentioned in the Markandeya Purana, Goddess Chamunda had slain the demon Raktabij on the day of Mahanawami. So, there is special worship of the goddess on this day with the offering of animal sacrifices. On this day, the security forces also perform what is called the ‘kot puja’ or worship of the armories.

The day of Maha Nawami is also considered as the final day to make sacrifices to Goddess Durga and her various incarnations during Dashain. The tenth day of the fortnightly festival of Dashain witnesses people touring round the house of their elders seeking blessings and Tika on the forehead.

It is believed that the sacrifices should be completed before putting on the tika on the forehead on the day of Bijaya Dashami or the tenth day of the festival. Starting from the tenth day, there is an existing culture where the tika on the forehead is offered till the day of Kojagrat Purnima or the 15th day of the festival of Dashain.

The grand statue of the goddess Taleju is placed at Mulchowk and worshipped until the day of Bijaya Dashami. It is taken to the temple sanctum sanctorum on the morning of Bijaya Dashami amidst a religious procession.

Four people died after being buried under a mound of soil in Haripurwa Municipality, located in Sarlahi district.

According to the District Police Office, Sarlahi, the incident occurred on Wednesday morning at Hardi river in Haripurwa-1, when the victims were extracting soil and were buried by a sudden landslide from above.

Police Inspector Balister Singh, spokesperson for the District Police Office, confirmed the deceased as 65-year-old Sayada Khatun, 9-year-old Nargis Khatun, 8-year-old Dillu Mansur, and 6-year-old Sabiba Khatun, all residents of Magarthana, Sonma Rural Municipality-6, Mahottari district.

During Nepal’s biggest festival, Dashain, the streets of Kathmandu Valley have become unusually quiet. With people traveling to their villages to celebrate Dashain and Tihar, and many locals staying indoors, the capital looks deserted.

Normally congested with heavy traffic, the roads of Kathmandu Valley are now empty. From Ghatasthapana to today, around 600,000 people left the Valley through various exit points.