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Kushe Aunshi, a Hindu religious festival, is being observed across the country on Saturday by bringing kush, a holy grass used in the performance of various religious rituals, into their homes.

There is a religious belief that keeping kush cut by the priests and anointed with sacred verses or mantras in the house brings wellbeing to the household.

The Hindu community regards kush, Tulashi (basil plant), peepal and shaligram (ammonite stone) as the symbols of Lord Bishnu.

The day is also celebrated as Father's Day or Gorkarna Aunsi.

People across the country celebrate this day by showing respect and reverence to fathers. On this day, children feed their fathers delicious food items including sweets and show respect to them.

Those who have lost their fathers take an early bath and visit nearby temples to perform shraddha (annual death rituals) in honor of the departed souls. Children also take blessings from their living fathers.

Meanwhile, people have thronged the Gokarneshwor Temple in the capital and other various Hindu temples across the country since this morning to perform the shraddha in memory of their late fathers.

A few months ago, a shocking incident unfolded in Balkot. A seemingly ordinary family was devastated when Milan Acharya murdered his father and brother in their sleep. He later admitted to the killings, attributing his action to stress and depression. Acharya claimed he did it to “free them,” revealing a deeply troubled state of mind.

Some months later, Lila Raj Giri murdered his seven-year-old daughter and five-year-old nephew in Bharatpur. He attacked the two children with a sickle before turning the weapon on himself. Giri was found in a critical condition and rushed to the hospital. A former soldier, authorities suspect Giri committed the murder due to a mental health crisis.

Similar tragedies continue to emerge across the country. In one recent case, a woman named Durbi from Morang district died after her husband, Babudhan Satar, attacked her in a domestic dispute. A neighbor who tried to intervene was also injured.
Not long after, Rajendra Rai murdered his wife Manisha and her four family members at Dhodlekhani village of Bhojpur. The incident followed months of conflict between Rai and his in-laws, who didn’t approve of marriage between him and their daughter. 

The above- mentioned cases are not random or isolated. In recent months, Nepal has witnessed a disturbing rise in violent crimes committed within families. These chilling cases reveal more than just crime; they point toward a larger, more complex social and psychological crisis.

As Lawrence R Samuel notes in The Psychology of Murder: “The taking of another person’s life was often the outcome of a strong emotion linked to a particular event and a close relationship.” Mental health struggles, unresolved conflicts, societal pressure, caste discrimination, and a lack of support systems may all be contributing factors. Yet the big question remains: Why are people committing these acts—and why do they seem unafraid of the legal consequences?

Is it a failure of the legal system? Or are we neglecting the mental health crisis quietly growing inside homes? The normalization—or even the increasing frequency—of such domestic tragedies demands more than just punishment.

Looking in the traditional Nepali society, it places a strong emphasis on family honor, obedience to elders, rigid gender roles, and social hierarchy. While these norms have historically maintained social cohesion, they often suppress individual emotions and discourage open conversations about mental health. The stigma around seeking help—especially for men or those facing emotional distress—can lead to bottled-up anger, isolation, and unresolved conflict within families. In cases where individuals challenge these norms (such as through love marriages or defying parental authority), tensions can escalate, sometimes with tragic consequences.

Psychiatrist Dr Rika Rijal explains, “In psychiatry, extreme domestic violence within families often emerges from severe depression with psychotic features, psychotic illnesses, unresolved trauma, or overwhelming stress. Individuals in such states may not perceive reality accurately. They might experience overwhelming guilt, or distorted beliefs that drive them toward harming loved ones.” Emotional isolation, personality issues, or long-standing family tensions can further compound the risk.

According to Dr Rijal, depression is not always quiet sadness— it can appear as anger, agitation, and irritability. “In some cases, unresolved trauma or feelings of helplessness may become so unbearable that the person externalizes their inner turmoil in destructive ways.” 

Within homes, this can tragically manifest as violence against family members—those closest and most vulnerable.

In the case of Acharya, the statement to “free” his family reflects a possible altruistic delusion, says Dr Rijal. “In such a state, the person falsely believes they are protecting loved ones. Sometimes, individuals extend their suicidal ideation outward, thinking that death is a form of relief not just for themselves but also for their family.” 

Such a thought process does not arise from cruelty but from a profoundly disordered perception of reality. Psychiatrists suggest that families and communities may also help and examine them carefully. There are different warning signs that includes withdrawal and social isolation, expressions of hopelessness or being a burden, sudden aggression, irritability, or erratic behaviour, talking about “ending suffering” or showing preoccupation with death, noticeable decline in daily functioning, such as neglecting hygiene, school, or work, use of substance etc. Recognizing these signs early can provide families and communities with a chance to intervene before crises escalate.

Nepal does have mental health resources, though they remain limited and underutilized. While psychiatric services at any hospital and NGOs like Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO), KOSHISH, and CMC Nepal offer community-based psychosocial support, they are not widely accessible to those in need.

Dr Rijal says, stigma around mental illness, lack of mental health literacy, and geographical barriers prevent many at-risk individuals from accessing these services. She stresses strengthening community awareness and creating accessible mental health support could prevent such tragedies in the future.

According to Nepal Police, property and financial disputes, such as the division of family property or disagreements over land ownership, often spark deep-rooted tensions within households. These conflicts can escalate into family feuds, leading to strained relationships between spouses and even incidents of domestic violence. Officials say that in many cases, individuals involved may suffer from mental health issues like depression or more severe conditions such as psychosis, which further complicate the situation. 

Additionally, societal pressures—especially the emphasis on family honor—can intensify these challenges, with love affairs or inter-caste marriages often viewed as a threat to social respect. The situation is frequently worsened by the use of drugs and alcohol, which can fuel aggressive behavior and impair judgment, making peaceful resolution even more difficult. Lack of education and awareness also lead to these incidents and violence against women and dowry are some of the reasons behind these.

The Beni-Jomsom road linking Mustang district with national highway and Beni-Darbang road connecting three local levels of Myagdi district with its district headquarters have been disrupted since this morning due to landslides in various places.

Vehicular movement along the Beni-Jomson road has come to a grinding halt following a landslide at Majhkharja in Raghuganga Rural Municipality-2, Sukebahar IN Annapurna Rural Municipality-3 and at Mahabhir, according to the District Traffic Police Office, Myagdi.

Chief of the District Traffic Police Office, Bishal Darji, shared that the Beni-Darbang road has been obstructed due to landslides at Beni Municipality-4 and Phaparkhet in Mangala Rural Municipality-2.

Locals have been facing problems due to obstruction of vehicular movement following the landslides.

Efforts are underway to clear the landslide debris, police said.

Cases of tourist deaths are increasing in the high Himalayan region due to avalanches during trekking.

Several fatalities have been reported in the Manang area, where trekkers ascend rapidly from low-altitude cities such as Kathmandu and Pokhara.

The traditional 21-day Annapurna Circuit trek has been shortened to about a week because of the road network.

However, this rapid ascent has increased the risk of avalanches and related deaths. Rabin Kadariya, head of the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP), advised against moving directly from low to high altitudes, stressing that ACAP has been issuing notices and alerts to raise awareness among trekkers.

According to ACAP, 18 tourists died in the region during the fiscal year 2025/26, including six Nepalis, eight Indians, one American, one Korean, one German, and one Swiss. In 2023/24, 20 tourists lost their lives, including five Nepalis, 11 Indians, one British, two Malaysians, and one Ukrainian. Data shows Indian tourists have accounted for the highest number of fatalities.

Experts point out that Indian pilgrims, in particular, face health risks as they climb directly to altitudes of around 3,700 meters for religious purposes. Gandaki Provincial Assembly member Bikal Sherchan said he would raise the issue at the policy level, adding that awareness materials should be placed along the Annapurna Circuit to inform trekkers of the risks.

On Wednesday, a discussion was held in Pokhara on ensuring tourist safety in high-altitude areas, particularly against altitude sickness. The program was organized by Mustang-based Gharpajhong Rural Municipality in coordination with the Hotel Association Pokhara Nepal.

Tourism entrepreneurs highlighted growing concerns as tourists from Nepal’s Tarai and neighboring Indian cities increasingly travel directly to Muktinath in a single day, often returning without staying overnight. They warned that this practice not only increases health and safety risks but also reduces the duration of tourist stays.

Mohan Singh Lalchan, chairperson of Gharpajhong Rural Municipality, emphasized the dangers of ascending rapidly to altitudes above 2,800 meters. He urged tourists to acclimatize properly, take rest breaks, and wear warm clothing.

Similarly, Maniraj Lamichhane, head of Nepal Tourism Board Gandaki, recommended distributing informational booklets and placing safety boards at key locations. Krishna Prasad Acharya, chairperson of TAAN Gandaki, stressed that the mandatory use of Tourist Information Management System (TIMS) cards would enhance tourist safety.