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Dashain this year comes with a spark of hope for all hospitals, health workers, and the people at large, especially with the availability of vaccines against Covid-19. We are going through a major health crisis, but more and more people are getting vaccinated as well. People finally feel like celebrating and meeting their friends and family this Dashain.

However, the pandemic is still active, and although the number of cases is decreasing, we still need to take precautions and try not to spread the virus. Until now, nearly 70-75 percent of people living in city areas have been vaccinated. But most of them in rural and remote areas are still unvaccinated.

We need to be mindful that no vaccine is cent-percent effective and there are still breakthrough cases where fully vaccinated people get infected. It prevents them from getting a severe disease in most cases, but they can still spread the virus. During Dashain, with people returning to their hometowns and villages, there is a chance that they might take along the virus and the number of infections will pick up again among the unvaccinated.

As we step into the new normal, we can work together to take control of the situation while also celebrating festivals. We still have to take precautions to keep ourselves and those around us safe.

Also read: Music and Dashain are synonymous

More institutions, from schools and colleges to cinema halls, are reopening, and the scenario now will be different to the past couple of months. This Dashain is not just about celebration, it’s about transitioning to a new normal and adapting to the virus, and finding more ways to remain safe while going about our daily lives.

The pandemic has changed our lives in the past one and a half years, and I have faith that the festivals shall make us realize how important it is to control the virus from spreading by acting responsibly. We still have much left to do, and I am hopeful that in the next couple of months we will make rapid progress in corona-control, one step at a time.

The government is discussing vaccinating children above the age of 12, and if things go as planned, those school-going children would be at less risk. The schools as well need to make sure that all the teachers and staff are vaccinated.

I believe even if a new variant starts spreading, we can respond better to control its spread. It will be less life-threatening compared to the one that started the second wave, as more and more people get vaccinated.

Yet, again, the pandemic is not over and safety measures should still be in place and every individual should be conscious about protecting themselves and the people around them while celebrating the festivals.

Right now I am collaborating with an Indian rapper, and our music video is releasing close to Dashain.

Many artists wait for Dashain for the release of their project. It could be a trend, superstition, or a business decision, but my decision to release the new video now is just a coincidence.

I never have plans for any Dashain, but the music industry owes a lot to this grand festival and vice-versa.

After Dashain, Nepali hip-hop will have three reality shows. Aspiring rappers can relax and prepare in this period. This festival always gives us positive vibes, which is a must for any artist. Good vibes in turn help us prepare beautiful lyrics. 

Dashain has given us a handful of iconic and evergreen songs. This time too, hopefully, we will see something similar.

Covid-19 has affected all sectors, and the music industry is no exception. Yet we have seen plenty of songs and music videos released during the pandemic. Even during the lockdown, our industry was progressing. Dashain will of course give birth to several great works of music.

Technically, the Nepali music industry has grown a lot in the past few years. Many solo artists have their personal recording studios, which helps them create music on their own. Because of this, we have seen a handful of songs released during the pandemic too. Yet it was difficult to record music videos as shooting had to a virtual standstill. Now, with the Dashain’s arrival, I expect a boom in music videos, which will be good news for everyone.  

Also read: Pandemic made many businesses more resilient

People need to relax and there is no quicker way to do so than through music. For every situation we find ourselves in, we can find a related song and it helps us cope a lot. The main vibe of Dashain comes from the festive songs. Rap music also has plenty of Dashain-Tihar songs with a decent fan base. Moreover, rap is regarded as a genre that encompasses contemporary stuff, so in this Dashain also, we will get the music in keeping with our new reality.

The society has all kinds of people, including those who try to spread misinformation during these festive times. Music has also been used for those purposes: to create mistrust and disturb social harmony. As most artists like to spend time with their family during Dashain, we hope they will all come up with inspiring and socially acceptable songs.

Lastly, I wish kids and teenagers get to perform more music during Deusi and Bhailo. I will be happier if they rap, for these initiatives will greatly help with the development of our future stars. They can take Dashain and Tihar as an opportunity to learn and shine.

The price of chyangra goats whose meat is considered a delicacy, especially during Dashain, has gone up in Mustang due to the closure of the Nepal-China border.

According to locals, the price of goats that have been brought to Mustang district headquarters this year from Upper Mustang and Dolpa is around 25 percent over the quoted price in the past few years.

During the pre-corona days, around 25,000 chyangra goats were brought to Josmsom to be sent to different parts of the country for their meat. But now only 13,000 goats have come to Jomsom, locals say.

“We couldn’t bring goats from Tibet due to Covid-19,” says Lopsang Chhomphel Bista, chair of Lo-ghekar Damodar Kunda Rural Municipality. Bista says that around 7,000 goats came from his area, and 2,000 from Baragung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality. Likewise, around 3,000 goats came from Dolpa.

With the price hike, the price of chyangra goat meat is expected to go up in cities like Kathmandu.

A research project that was to excavate some areas in Mustang district to look for human remains has been halted due to protests from residents.

The research team has decided to halt the excavation, mapping, photography, and documentation work in Lomanthang for now, says Subhadra Bhattarai, undersecretary at the Department of Archaeology.

The decision comes after a meeting between the officials, local representatives and the residents of the area failed to make headway on the issue, says Bhattarai. The residents believe that their gods will get angry if the area is excavated and for this reason, they don’t want us to continue the project, she adds. The official says whatever materials were recovered from the area have been handed over to the local government and all the dug pits have been refilled.

During the meeting, local residents said that the mound that was being excavated was home to their gods and if the gods became angry, the area could face hailstorms that in turn could damage crops.

A team of local and international experts arrived in Lomanthang earlier this month after receiving the necessary permits from the department, the Ministry of Home Affairs and local police. They dug the area for 10 days.

But the local government representatives say that they weren’t informed about the excavation work.