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The annual traditional festival of Ghode Jatra, which is also known as Horse Racing Day, is being celebrated in the country's cultural hub of Kathmandu Valley on Wednesday.

The festival is being celebrated annually as per mythology which relates the genesis of the festival after the death of a demon named Tundi.

Public belief has it that the demon who lived on a meadow, which is now at Tundikhel, used to unleash terror among the Kathmandu denizens, particularly children. After his death people rejoiced by dancing on his body by riding horses. There is also a belief that the parade of horses at Tundikhel keeps the demon’s spirit away.

The faster the horses run, the better Tundi’s spirit is dispelled. As per another legend, the Ghode Jatra is held to mark the start of New Year. The festival is celebrated on the day of Krishna Aunsi, as per the lunar calendar, which is a day before the Chaitra Shukla Pratipada and this day is taken as the start of the New Year.

The horse parade, known religiously known as Aswa Yatra, is organized to welcome the New Year. The day before Ghode Jatra is also known as Pichas Chaturdarshi, as per lunar calendar. On the day, the Nepali Army cavalry team performs different artistic stunts riding on their horses. The Jatra is also being marked in Lalitpur today.

The government has declared public holiday to celebrate the festival. 

The size of public debt in the first eight months of the current fiscal year has increased by over Rs 204 billion, reaching Rs 2,878.29 billion.

According to the Public Debt Management Office, at the beginning of the current fiscal year 2082–83 BS (2025–26), which commenced in mid-July, public debt stood at Rs 2,674.04 billion.

During this period, the government owes Rs 1,348.11 billion in domestic borrowing and Rs 1,530.18 billion in external debt. 

Of the total public debt by the end of Fagun, the share of external debt is 53.16 percent, while domestic debt accounts for 46.84 percent.

So far, the total public debt amounts to 47.13 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

In the current fiscal year, the government aims to mobilize Rs 559 billion in public debt. 

By the end of Fagun (mid-March), Rs 295.19 billion had been raised, which is 50.44 percent of the total target.

Of the domestic borrowing target of Rs 362 billion, Rs 243.66 billion has been collected, accounting for 67.31 percent of the target.

Similarly, of the external borrowing target of Rs 233.66 billion, Rs 56.89 billion has been raised, which is only 24.31 percent of the target.

In the current fiscal year, the government has allocated Rs 411 billion for the repayment of principal and interest on public debt. By mid-March, payments had reached Rs 242.26 billion, which is 58.94 percent of the annual allocation.

The office stated that, based on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the total debt servicing cost up to the end of Magh (mid-February) stands at 3.97 percent.

The Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Bir Hospital have signed an agreement to provide free testing and preliminary treatment for breast and uterine cancers.

The agreement was signed on Monday by Dipak Kumar KC, Chief of the Health Department at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City Office, and Hospital Director Prof Dr Dilip Sharma.

Acting Mayor Sunita Dangol and Chief Administrative Officer Saroj Guragain were present at the event.

The Acting Mayor said that cancer causes many premature deaths among women, emphasizing that regular screening and testing are vital for prevention and timely treatment.

Hospital Director Prof Dr Sharma highlighted that early screening is essential in preventing breast and cervical cancers among women. 

He warned that assuming “I have no symptoms, so I don’t need testing” can worsen the situation later, stressing that screening is important even when a person is asymptomatic.

According to KC, women aged 30–60, those who missed last year’s tests, and individuals showing positive symptoms will be included in the screening and preliminary treatment program.

The cancer screening will begin on March 30, with 100–120 women examined each day. 

Cervical cancer remains one of the most prevalent cancers among women in Nepal.

The 41-kilometer section from Aabukhaireni to Jamune in Tanahun under the Muglin–Pokhara road expansion project has been completed.

The construction company handed over the section to the government on Monday. 

This road is in the market area and it has been expanded to four lanes in rural areas. 

Information Officer of the road expansion project, Bishnu Prasad Pandey, said that as per the agreement the company will carry out road maintenance for the next five years.

This road section has been expanded with a loan of Rs 6. 31  billion  from the Asian Development Bank.