Gaijatra being marked today

Gai Jatra, the ‘festival of cows’ is being observed amidst festivities and disguises on Friday.

Families who have lost their members and relatives during the year are parading the streets, especially in the Capital, disguised as cows or with actual decorated cows, in memoriam of the deceased.

Different comical shows have been organised throughout the country, most of them passing satires at the current leadership vacuum in the nation.

The trend of laughing and making others laugh is not a new one. The festival of humour and satire has been celebrated, especially in the capital, since the medieval period.

It is believed that the culture of celebrating Gai Jatra started when King Pratap Malla lost his son and his wife was struck dumb by the tragedy.

When the king failed to bring a smile back on the face of his beloved queen, it was decided that everyone in the country should try to make her laugh. A lot of people came and tried their best. Ultimately, some of them succeeded in making her laugh.

Dhital sets new national record

LONDON, AUG 02 -

National swimmer Shreya Dhital lived upto her words in the London Olympics as she set a new national record in the 100m freestyle at the Aquatic Centre on Wednesday.

Typhoons shut down most of Taiwan, China on alert

TAIPEI, AUG 02 - Torrential rain and strong winds triggered landslides and flooding, forcing financial markets to shut and disrupting transport, after Typhoon Saola made landfall in eastern Taiwan on Thursday, authorities said.

Laborer dies falling off roof

A Bhutanese refugee who worked as a laborer died after falling off the roof of an under-construction house in Damak.

The deceased is identified as 35-year-old Purna Magar who lived in hut number-32 at Sector H-3 in the Beldangi refugee camp in Jhapa district.