<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181144/636be7bc9c7e80680e08781ejpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"/><figcaption>All photos: BIKRAM RAI</figcaption></figure>Devotees lit oil lamps and observed rituals for departed family members at Gauri Ghat on the eve of Bala Chaturdashi in Pashupatinath on Saturday. Families who have lost loved ones throng to Pashupatinath—and of late other temples of Lord Shiva— and stay awake through the night to observe penance, sing, and dance on their behalf.The festival gets its name from the myth of trader Bala Nanda, who turned to the cannibal demon Baalasur after accidentally consuming the flesh of a corpse when it landed on his food as he was eating at the bank of the Bagmati River near a burning pyre.When the demon began terrorising people, Bala’s friend Brisha was recruited to kill the demon, who led Bala to his death through trickery. Riddled with guilt at having played a part in his friend’s demise, Brisha went to lord Pashupatinath and was advised by him to light a lamp and scatter seven different sacred grains on the grounds of the Shlesmantak jungle in Bala’s memory.On the day of the Chaturdashi, worshippers take a dip in the Bagmati River at dawn-break. Also called, saatbij chharne din, worshippers spread seven types of sacred grains in the forest surrounding Pashupatinath and inside its premises to honour deceased family members.This festival dedicated to the dead is more poignant this year due as Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact lives and livelihoods. So far, 1,689 people in Nepal have succumbed to the virus. The country recorded 899 positive coronavirus cases on Sunday, taking the total to 247,593.Pashupati has performed five times more funerals this year- it is unknown how many of them were Covid casualties. But the government has issued guidelines dictating the coronavirus fatalities in the Valley to be cremated at the country’s only electric crematorium.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181144/636be7c09c7e80680e08781fjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181144/636be7c39c7e80680e087820jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181144/636be7c69c7e80680e087821jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181144/636be7c89c7e80680e087822jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181144/636be7cc9c7e80680e087823jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181144/636be7cf9c7e80680e087824jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181148/636be7d39c7e80680e087825jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181148/636be7d69c7e80680e087826jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181148/636be7d99c7e80680e087827jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181148/636be7dc9c7e80680e087828jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181148/636be7df9c7e80680e087829jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181148/636be7e29c7e80680e08782ajpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181148/636be7e59c7e80680e08782bjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181148/636be7e89c7e80680e08782cjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109181148/636be7eb9c7e80680e08782djpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/with-temples-locked-up-nepalis-improvise/">With temples locked up, Nepalis improvise</a>, Madison Wrobley and Rajani Maharjan

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Bala Chaturdashi and Covid

<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beec04b0ad905ca02ef67jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"/><figcaption>All photos: BIKRAM RAI</figcaption></figure>Devotees lit oil lamps and observed rituals for departed family members at Gauri Ghat on the eve of Bala Chaturdashi in Pashupatinath on Saturday. Families who have lost loved ones throng to Pashupatinath—and of late other temples of Lord Shiva— and stay awake through the night to observe penance, sing, and dance on their behalf.The festival gets its name from the myth of trader Bala Nanda, who turned to the cannibal demon Baalasur after accidentally consuming the flesh of a corpse when it landed on his food as he was eating at the bank of the Bagmati River near a burning pyre.When the demon began terrorising people, Bala’s friend Brisha was recruited to kill the demon, who led Bala to his death through trickery. Riddled with guilt at having played a part in his friend’s demise, Brisha went to lord Pashupatinath and was advised by him to light a lamp and scatter seven different sacred grains on the grounds of the Shlesmantak jungle in Bala’s memory.On the day of the Chaturdashi, worshippers take a dip in the Bagmati River at dawn-break. Also called, saatbij chharne din, worshippers spread seven types of sacred grains in the forest surrounding Pashupatinath and inside its premises to honour deceased family members.This festival dedicated to the dead is more poignant this year due as Covid-19 pandemic continues to impact lives and livelihoods. So far, 1,689 people in Nepal have succumbed to the virus. The country recorded 899 positive coronavirus cases on Sunday, taking the total to 247,593.Pashupati has performed five times more funerals this year- it is unknown how many of them were Covid casualties. But the government has issued guidelines dictating the coronavirus fatalities in the Valley to be cremated at the country’s only electric crematorium.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beec34b0ad905ca02ef68jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beec64b0ad905ca02ef69jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beec84b0ad905ca02ef6ajpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beecb4b0ad905ca02ef6bjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beece4b0ad905ca02ef6cjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beed14b0ad905ca02ef6djpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beed44b0ad905ca02ef6ejpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beed74b0ad905ca02ef6fjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beed94b0ad905ca02ef70jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beedc4b0ad905ca02ef71jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beedf4b0ad905ca02ef72jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beee24b0ad905ca02ef73jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beee54b0ad905ca02ef74jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beee74b0ad905ca02ef75jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109191116/636beeea4b0ad905ca02ef76jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1250" height="834"><a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/with-temples-locked-up-nepalis-improvise/">With temples locked up, Nepalis improvise</a>, Madison Wrobley and Rajani Maharjan

<figure><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/20221109101152/636b789a9c7e80680e0646adjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="900" height="600"/><figcaption>Visitors arriving at Tribhuvan International Airport. Photo: BIKRAM RAI</figcaption></figure>The <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/why-nepal-must-watch-about-coronavirus-but-not-panic/">COVID-19 epidemic</a> is subsiding in China where it originated, and is now erupting in outbreak clusters across the world. First carried by international travellers (mainly new year holiday makers from China in January-February), it spread through public places. Interestingly, pilgrimage sites like Qom in Iran, a little known evangelical sect in Daegu in Korea, churches in northern Italy, and a synagogue New York were cluster epicentres.A virus is a strand of genetic material that can infiltrate cell nuclei, splicing itself into the DNA of the host and commanding the organism to be its vehicle for transmission. Being a mutant, the COVID-19 is one step ahead of genetically engineered vaccines, and is so smart it piggy-backs on the mobility of human beings to go around the world.The virus has figured out that it does not make much sense to make the humans it infects so sick that they cannot travel – defeating the purpose of maximum infection. COVID-19 patients can be carriers even though they do not show any outward signs of being infected. Even if they have a sore throat or a cough, they are not bed-ridden and commute to work or travel on business, spreading the virus along the way.This mode of transmission is also designed for maximum effect. After leaping the animal-human barrier, it took the easiest path for human-to-human infection by entering the respiratory tract through touch or cough droplets. The virus likes the cold, which is why it spread so quickly during the northern hemisphere winter.Now that the epidemic has gone global, nationality profiling at airports is absurd. On Monday, police at Nagdhunga stopped buses and asked if there were any Chinese on board.  Removing visa on arrival for travelers from ‘infected countries’ does not make sense anymore – you either go whole hog and stop all outsider travel altogether like Bhutan has done, or you let everyone in after screening.In fact, for all we know Nepal is already an ‘infected country’ we just have not bothered to diagnose anyone. Nepal’s officials appear to believe in a vaccine called ‘Pashupatinath’, and expect the protector deity to see us through this crisis. Who knows, it may be our lackadaisical attitude towards personal hygiene, sanitation or waste management that has given Nepalis a certain immunity against viral infections.Scientist <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/why-nepal-must-watch-about-coronavirus-but-not-panic/">Sameer Mani Dixit at the Central for Molecular Dynamics</a> calls this the ‘hygiene hypothesis’ – by allowing germs to thrive we develop an immunity to viral and bacterial infections just like a vaccine would. Dixit says it was “pure miracle” that the 2012 MERS epidemic did not affect Nepal in a big way.The coronavirus epidemic adds to the burden of older existing infections that afflict  Nepalis, and takes attention away from bigger bacterial killers like <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/tb/">TB</a>, <a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=12158">typhoid</a> and <a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=16988">diarrhoea</a>, vector-borne eukaryote parasites like <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/mosquitoes-move-up-mountains-as-the-earth-warms/">malaria</a>, or other insect-borne virus like <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/here-now/nepal-is-a-microcosm-of-all-of-the-changes-in-world-health/">dengue</a> and encephalitis. A public health system already overstretched to deal with these chronic epidemics is not at all prepared for yet another virulent onslaught.However, we cannot expect superstition or lack of sanitation to save us. Nepal is now linked to the global economy, and as such this worldwide epidemic has hit two of the mainstays of our economy: migration and tourism, which together account for nearly 40% of the GDP.As <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/opinion/labour-mobility/crossborder-virus-and-nepali-migrant-workers/">Upasana Khadka shows in her column</a>, Nepal is paying a price for such an overwhelming reliance on migration. The moratorium on migrant workers flying to Korea and Qatar is a gut punch to Nepal’s economy. Nepali workers in the Gulf, Malaysia and Korea-Japan are already affected by the slowdown in the global economy.And the COVID-19 scare hit Nepal right at the start of the <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/latest/lets-call-off-visit-nepal-year-2020/">Visit Nepal 2020</a>, which means the country will not meet the already unrealistic target of bringing 2 million tourists this year with an ill-planned campaign. March arrivals, except Chinese tourists, were still all right, but there have been massive cancellations of treks and expeditions for April. As our report shows, the impact on employment and income for service providers in hospitality and farmers dependent on selling produce to hotels is huge. VNY2020 has already been put off, and the government has taken the welcome step of using the budget to improve tourism infrastructure.Despite fear going more viral than the epidemic itself, there are some positive outcomes from COVID-19. Nepal’s hospitality industry has once more recognised the importance of domestic tourism. China’s recognition of the animal-transmission route may actually help <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/banner/coronavirus-outbreak-may-curb-wildlife-trafficking/">save endangered species like pangolins</a> from extinction. Oil prices have come down, and global economic downturn has reduced air pollution and carbon emissions.Read also: <a href="https://www.nepalitimes.com/editorial/when-panic-goes-viral/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">When panic goes viral</a>, Editorial

FEAR GOES VIRAL

<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110811110/636a28e29c7e80680e045897jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"/>As every year, Hindu devotees from all over the country and neighboring India have gathered to the sacred Pashupatinath Temple for the annual <a href="https://nepalitimesnt.exposure.co/maha-shivaratri" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maha Shivaratri festival</a>. Observed on a new moon day on the 11th month of the Nepali lunar calendar, the festival marks the convergence of Shiva and Shakti and is the celebration of the god of destruction.Devotees primarily celebrate <a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/blogs/mycity/2018/02/14/maha-shivaratri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shivaratri</a> at night, as its name suggests, by maintaining an all night vigil, offering prayers and enjoying with music and dances, along with bonfire. Pilgrims wait in queues long before daybreak to pay homage to Lord Shiva.Also:<a href="https://nepalitimesnt.exposure.co/maha-shivaratri" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maha Shivaratri</a><a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/blogs/mycity/2018/02/14/maha-shivaratri/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maha Shivaratri</a><a style="background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 15px; letter-spacing: 0.01em;" href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=10966#.XHzx4sAzaUk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In the name of the lord</a>, Alok TumbahangpheyDuring the day, Sadhus with their faces painted and bodies smeared with ash are seen meditating, fasting and smoking cannabis. They also offer ganja and bhang to people around them as Shiva's prasad.While the authorities have often overlooked the use of <a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/nation/undo-hash-ban,3657" target="_blank" rel="noopener">marijuana</a> on Shivaratri because of its religious significance, Pashupati Area Development Trust last year enforced a restriction that allowed authorities to arrest visitors caught smoking or in possession of the intoxicant. Only the men in saffron were exempt from the ban. This year, however, there is a complete ban. Many have also shifted base and moved to Doleshwor Mahadev in Bhaktapur that provides better lodging and fooding for the devotees.Photojournalist Bikram Rai and Monika Deupala were in Pashupatinath and Doleshwor Mahadev this week to capture the essence of the lively festival.<img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110811110/636a28e69c7e80680e045898jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="999"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110811110/636a28e99c7e80680e045899jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110811110/636a28ec9c7e80680e04589ajpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="800"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110811110/636a28ef9c7e80680e04589bjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110811110/636a28f29c7e80680e04589cjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110811110/636a28f69c7e80680e04589djpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110811110/636a28f99c7e80680e04589ejpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1037"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110811110/636a28fc9c7e80680e04589fjpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="992"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110811110/636a28ff9c7e80680e0458a0jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110811110/636a29039c7e80680e0458a1jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="997"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110811110/636a29059c7e80680e0458a2jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1000"><img src="https://superdesk-pro-c.s3.amazonaws.com/sd-nepalitimes/2022110811110/636a29099c7e80680e0458a3jpeg.jpg" alt="" width="1500" height="1010">Read also:<a href="https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/In-the-name-of-the-destroyer,1144" target="_blank" rel="noopener">In the name of the destroyer</a><a href="http://archive.nepalitimes.com/news.php?id=15693#.XHzw4sAzaUk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jammin' in the ratri</a>, Paavan Mathema

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Bala Chaturdashi and Covid

Bala Chaturdashi and Covid

FEAR GOES VIRAL

Maha Shivaratri