A Spooktacular

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| ISSUE 193 | RS. 20
6 NOVEMBER 2013
ISSN 2091-1092
9 772091 109009
|
@) sflt{s @)&)
Happy
Tihar
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Halloween
It’s that time of the year when ghouls emerge, scares are
celebrated, and screams are loud! It’s time to relish your dark
side, revel in a night of wicked debauchery and discover that
every single legend of Halloween is true.
Continued on page 2
Models: Ayushman Joshi and Paramita RL Rana
A Spooktacular
getstarted
start off with our picks
A Spooktacular Halloween
Sujan G. Amatya
T
“
here will be no cop
interference,” begins
Buddha Lama, organizer of
Party Transylvania, the most
awaited party this Halloween.
Invitations have already been
sent to 500 of the who’s who
of Nepali socialites which
includes top designers, models,
beauty pageant winners and
actors. “With the intention of
entertaining the professional
community on the eve of
Halloween, Party Transylvania
is without a doubt one of the
most remarkable events anyone
will experience in Kathmandu.
Everyone will meet their fate!”
he exclaims.
The gathering, an
evil brainchild of Angels
Entertainment, a sister company
of Platform 977, is a guaranteed
entertainer with events such as
a grand costume competition, a
unique “Howling at the Moon”
contest at midnight, traditional
Halloween drinks, exquisite
Transylvanian cuisine and a
special Transylvanian Belly
Dance, all of which are more
than enough to glamour the
crowd. A stimulating event such
as this demands a venue that
matches up to the atmosphere,
which is why Moods Lounge
at Tripureshwor is all set for
a charged ambience and ready
with ample parking space and
good security.
“We were very inspired by
the movie Hotel Transylvania,”
continues Lama, “That’s how
the idea originated. Plus, I love
organizing themed parties, and
since Halloween is a crazy day,
the party should be crazy as
well.”
The food and beverages
being delivered by Organizer
will satisfy all demonic appetites.
Invitees will be welcomed with
a traditional Halloween drink,
the enigmatic “Water of Fire”
by the Master of Ceremonies,
The Dracula, who will then
introduce the guests forthe
At a glance
What
Party Transylvania
Who
Angels Entertainment
When
31October, 2013
Time
6:00 pm (for the regulars), 11:00 pm (for the VIPs)
Where
Moods Studio Lounge, Tripureshwor
Ticket Price
Rs. 500
evening. Traditional Halloween
drinks will be catered later
alongside a magnificent threetier Halloween cake to celebrate
the fictional 118th birthday of
Dracula’s daughter, just like in
the movie.
The event devilishly gives
the participants an opportunity
to showcase the creativity of
their Halloween costumes. After
being judged by the guests of
honor and a group of celebs,
the winner will get a free zipline ride coupon or a 3-month
subscription of ECS Fr!day
or a bottle of wine. Another
bottle of the most exquisite
and delicious wine will also be
awarded to the winner of the
unique and exciting “Howling
at the Moon” contest.
The Transylvanian Belly
Dance will be performed by
Iranian belly dancer, Maral,
who is sure to hypnotize eyes
and tempt feet to the dance
floor. Close to midnight, guests
will all step out to watch the
moon and count down the
minutes to the time of powerful
magic when all bad wishes
come true. The merriment does
not end there as the DJ will
continue to spin the eeriest
of tracks till dawn. The last
person standing will receive a
bottle of wine and tips on how
to handle the hangover by the
host.
The event is, however, not
just about entertainment but
also an opportunity to create
more jobs and employ various
talents in a time of severe
youth unemployment.
“There were certainly
many challenges but we
overcame them all, thanks
to the unflinching support
we received. We are already
planning a New Year’s
extravaganza now,” says Lama.
“But as of today, my plan is
to successfully mastermind
an outstanding event with the
best crowd for the best time! It
might be scary, it might be a
fright, but it’s sure to be fun on
Halloween night!” !
page3
one question
make your statement
Who will You be?
Let this Halloween bring your darkest fantasy to life.Whether you want to parody the biggest news
stories of the year, channel your favorite meme or pay tribute to the celebrities you love to hate,
Halloween releases the wacky side in you. And while you decide on what to transform into this Hallow’s
Eve, we ask some well-known faces which avatar they would like to pull off this year.
Ashmita Rijal
I shall be myself because there
is nothing as scary and as pretty
as myself. So no makeup and no
costume for me please.
Best known as the front woman of
Abhaya and the Steam Injuns, Abhaya
Subba is someone who has brought a
change in rock music in Nepal.
I’m planning to dress as a
werewolf. I’ve always wanted
to be one and now that I have
a chance to, I definitely will.
With skills acquired from an
acting school in India, Arpan
Thapa has succeeded in
carving a niche for himself in the
Nepali film industry with movies
like Badhshala and Maun.
May be Cat Woman. I know Cat
Woman isn’t scary but cats are my
favorite animals and what better
chance will I get to show my love for
them.
Miss Nepal 2011 Malina Joshi has
a different perspective on Halloween
costumes.
I would like to dress as a witch with
a long nose and a pointy hat. I have
often fantasized about flying on a
witch’s broom. So yes, this Halloween,
witch it is!
A concoction of a bold attitude and a
sincere personality, Deeya Maskey is
one of the most candid celebrities in the
Nepali film industry.
feature
BINOD BHATTARAI
issues that matter
is a journalist who runs
The Writing Workshop
([email protected]).
Election 2013
My vote
A
bout 19 days remain
before we line up to vote.
That is, if all doubts
that still linger about having a
successful election are proven
untrue. One more holiday
break (Tihar, Chaath) remains
before the real run-up to the
election begins, so I would
prefer to remain cautious
before making a call on
whether or not there will be a
successful ballot.
Everything else seems to
be in order. The date has been
set, candidates can be seen
campaigning on TV (although
they haven’t reached our
households yet, if mine can be
seen as an example), the media
is bulging with election ads,
army of election monitors have
arrived, and all politicians have
been talking about these days
is why they should be given
another chance. All the floating
parts of an election seem to be
coming together.
Now to the questions that
most people I meet have been
asking but rarely have an
answer to: Will there be an
election as planned? Will it be
a successful one? What about
those parties not in the race?
This is the only election I
know of where opinions about
its certainty are still divided.
There are those who say a
ballot will be held – as it was
done in early 2006 when Nepal
was under royal rule – and
then there are also those who
believe in the eventuality of a
postponement.
The leaders of the major
parties also seem to have other
concerns. An indicator of their
growing lack of confidence
in winning, even though they
command thousands of cadres,
is their desire to contest in
more than one constituency.
Many others who harbour
doubts about their electoral
prospects have ensconced
themselves in the ‘safer’
proportional representation
seats. Perhaps the time that
has elapsed since 2008, coupled
with the collective inability of
the parties to come up with
a constitution, has taken its
toll on the confidence of the
candidates.
Some would argue that
the doubts in the leadership
also reflect in who they are
contesting against, where they
are said to be facing supposedly
‘weaker’ candidates from main
rival parties. If it were cricket,
it would have been called
‘match-fixing’. Major upsets
could result if the underdogs
pull off surprises.
So far, campaigning has
largely been uneventful,
despite threats of obstruction
by a group of 34 parties
that have decided to actively
disrupt voting. The number
of skirmishes between those
opposing and those already
into electioneering have
increased after the Dashain
holidays. Vehicles have been
torched, election activities have
been disturbed and opponents
of the vote still seem to believe
they can derail the polls.
It’s not surprising that the
Election Commission asked the
government to provide more
attention on election security
last week. One of the major
parties in the polls has also
publicly complained about the
inadequacies, demanding better
security arrangements for their
candidates.
On a personal side, I have
not encountered a candidate
who seems to want my vote
yet. I would love to have them
come over to try and get what
I hold so close to heart. Should
they come around in the next
19 odd days – which is the time
they have for campaigning – I
will meet them with a lot of
questions and their answers
could sway me either way.
For now, I have made certain
tentative choices and that
is how I will vote if no one
shows up to ask me for my
support.
I will definitely vote
should there be an election as
planned and everyone should
too, as it is the one day in a
democracy where citizens can
feel empowered. I will also go
to the polls for another reason
- because voting is good for
democracy irrespective of the
outcome. !
blog stop
‘Sunday Morning’ Fever
Supral Raj Joshi
I don’t know where to even start about the latest sensation to hit the internet.
Before 19 October, the “artist” in conversation was known to only those
who had seen his “dance moves” in the ‘Worst Nepali Dance Video ..lol’ on
YouTube.As I write this, his latest offering has had 545,423 views, a substantial
number for any Nepali YouTube artist, and might be on its way (which I
honestly hope it is) to gathering a million hits. It’s catchy, funny, and even been
featured on Buzzfeed under the title ‘The Awesome Nepali Pop Song You
Didn’t Know You Were Waiting For’. It is *cue drum roll* the spectacular
‘Sunday Morning Love You’ by Mr. Bhim Niraula.
I first saw the video on 21 October, Monday (morning love you?) and haven’t
met many people who are unaware of it since then. I hum it unconsciously;
it really is that catchy. I’ve also played it on my radio show since people are
actually requesting it.As to why, I already know the answer.The song, as I
mentioned earlier, is catchy and has the simplest possible lyrics which at times
make no sense at all.A case in point:“Lady you are my life, my life, my life. Let
us have a free time, free time, free time.” As for the video, the dance moves
are nothing short of epic, with the backdrop changing from Mayan pyramids
to New York City, all centered around a British model who plays Mr. Niraula’s
love interest. Not to mention the uncomfortable close ups of Bhim dai’s face.
There are just so many things happening at once!
But of all the videos on the web, why did this particular one go viral? I can’t
really say but I do know the funniest kind of humor is unintentional. Maybe
that’s the case here too.Anyone can sing along to it and the dancing also
helps. Mr. Niraula seems to have made good use of his free time when he isn’t
working his regular job at a bank in Reading, England.‘Sunday Morning Love
You’ is totally singable and has a bass line reminiscent of an 80s video game.
But most importantly, it is sincere. It appears to be one man’s genuine effort
to stand out in the crowd. If that was the motive in the first place, it can be
considered a goal well accomplished. So, show some love to Bhim dai every
day of the week and make sure to stream an interview of his on YouTube
where he reveals why there isn’t a ‘Saturday morning love you’.As for those
who’ve disliked the video, lighten up.
Halloween Horrors
review
popular culture revisited
It’s that time of the year again when ghouls and goblins come to life and roam free. It’s Halloween! Although still a week away,
there’s no harm in preparing for it. Since there is no trick or treating in Nepal, the best way to spend this spooky day is to
curl up in a warm blanket and have a horror movie marathon. Here are some movies that have to be in your horror fest.
MOVIES
Pooja Pradhan
Who says a good horror movie has to be without some eye
candy? Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)
proves otherwise. The feature film debut of Johnny Depp,
this is the flick that spawned the Elm Street franchise
keeping Freddy Krueger alive in the nightmares of a
generation of movie watchers. With a rich storyline, this
film keeps surprising, and scaring, the bejeezus out of
the audience with every twist. It’s not Depp but Robert
Englund, essaying the role of Krueger, who steals the
show. Krueger is a disfigured and apparently immortal
serial killer who attacks when his victims can’t defend
themselves – in their dreams. After watching this movie you’ll want to sleep with
your eyes open for who knows you might just hear “One, two Freddy’s coming for
you…three, four better lock your door…five, six bring your crucifix…seven, eight
gonna stay up late…nine, ten never sleep again.”
Ghosts, monsters and the supernatural all scare us, but no
more than the horrors of real life. One of the best – or
worst – examples of a movie showing the atrocities that
humans commit on one another is Hotel Rwanda. This is
a tale that makes you question humanity. The scene where
the fog lifts while hotelier Paul Rusesabagina, played by
Don Cheadle, travels in his car is especially terrifying;
you feel his horror upon realizing the bumps on the road
weren’t potholes but bodies. But what hits you the most
is Joaquin Phoenix’s line - “They’ll say, ‘Oh my God,
that’s terrible,’ and they’ll go on eating their dinners.” For what could be more
terrifying than the thought of us committing such crimes with ease while others
just sit, watch and talk about it, doing nothing to prevent such abominations
from taking place. !
No horror movie marathon would be complete without a creature that’s
long been responsible for making people’s blood curl - the vampire.
Watch the classic that spawned it all: Dracula (1931). Starring the
legendary Bela Lugosi as the titular character, Dracula might pale in
comparision to the special-effects laden flicks of today, but this film will
forever be a classic of its genre. Watch it not to be scared, but because
this is the movie that brought to life the Count Dracula that we know
and fear today. It’s Bela Lugosi’s Dracula that everyone imitates. That
heavily accented voice sinisterly uttering “I am Dracula. I bid you
welcome,” which still manages to send chills down many a spine, has to
be heard from the master himself.
Most of us have grown up listening to at least one or two ghost
stories, but The Exorcist (1973) makes the most bloodcurdling of
them pale in comparison. A horror movie that caused people to be
taken away in ambulances, it still retains its charm - if you could call it
that. The story of a possession is nothing new, but The Exorcist packs
plenty of moments to scare you. You’ll not be able to look at walls,
not even the ones in your bedroom, without imagining the alarming
spider walking scene nor will your be able to forget the horrific image
of Regan’s head turning a complete 180 degrees. The scariest of all,
though, is their claim that it’s based on a true story.
The Shining, a psychological horror starring Jack Nicholson, who
plays a writer slowly going crazy while moonlighting as a caretaker
of an isolated hotel. Scenes like Nicholson screaming “Here’s Johnny!”
while leering through the hole he axed in the bathroom door, with his
wife screaming in terror, will surely haunt you for a long time. The
entire movie is full of moments that’ll make you want to grab on to
something or someone. But what else can you expect from a movie that
has been called one of the scariest horror films of all time?
people
the buzz-makers
The Writer’s Log
The recently concluded Ncell Literature Festival saw various
local and international authors - from Prajwal Parajuly to Sanjeev
Uprety to Shobhaa De - discussing their work, along with the
scope and challenges of being a writer.The festival also saw a big
turnout of literature passionate people. We caught up with the
man behind the event, Ajit Baral.
Shuvechchhya Pradhan
My dream vacation spot is Geneva in Switzerland.
I am a publisher. I don’t think I have reached that level where I can call myself
a writer yet.
One thing I am really passionate about is books.
I only listen to music that gets aired on FM radio when I am cooking.
Between writing and editing, I would choose to write because editing is a
boring job in comparison even if it is important.
If I am not writing or reading, I am hanging out with friends, going for
movies and drinking.
Travel writing is my favorite genre; sadly I don’t have the luxury of traveling
much.
I don’t have a specific time to write, I write whenever inspiration strikes me.
I started reading books only after high school, which was pretty late.That’s
how I got into writing actually.
I wish we had writers’ retreats here like in the US.There’s no residence
program for writers here either and the exposure is minimal.
I am a very active user of Facebook and Twitter.
Ajit Baral is not only the festival Director of Ncell Literature Festival but also an
author and editor of various books such as the Lazy Conman and Other Stories
(Penguin, India) and First Love, an anthology of memoirs on first love. He runs an
independent bookstore, Bookworm, and is the founder and managing editor of
Kathmandu-based publishing house, FinePrint.
The last book I read is
Hothouse (the history of a
publishing house) which I
haven’t finished yet.
My favorite books include The
Famished Road, Atonement,
Midnight’s Children, Karnali Blues
and Seto Dharti.
events
TOP 3
make the most of the city
With events to the left and right, Fr!day makes it a little bit easier for you to
choose events to check out this week and the next. Here are our top three picks:
1. KTMROCKS HALLOWEEN GIG 2013
what’s on
KtmROCKS, after sometime has come up with Halloween Gig 2013, featuring
some of the best names in the underground music scene, including Lakhey and
Underside, among others. Thrash metal band Bidroha will also be releasing their
debut album in the event.
things to do
sun. mon . tue . wed . thu
. fri
.sat
2. INTER NATION DANCE SHOW EAST TO WEST
311 2
34 5 6
This is a dance show showcasing cultural and ethnic dances of Eastern
and Western countries featuring performances by acclaimed national and
international artists. This is one of a kind dance show featuring Flamenco,
Charya and Bharatnatyam dancing styles.
In Conversation with Prabal Gurung
3. BEATNIK ACOUSTIC BAND
COMPETITION
Date: 1 November (Friday); 4:00 pm onwards; Venue: Army Officer’s Club Auditorium, Tudikhel
If you like acoustic music, then this should be the event you should be looking
forward to! A guitar competition as well as performance of few guests
artists including Rohit John Chettri, Ashra Kunwar and The Hermits will be
entertaining the crowd with their numbers. DJ performance will also be there!
“In Conversation with Prabal Gurung” is a one of a kind event that
provides an open platform to hear about the journey of internationally
acclaimed designer Prabal Gurung, along with an opportunity to direct
questions at him. With the mission of providing the best possible
education to underprivileged children, this event is organized by Shikshya
Foundation Nepal of which Gurung is also a founding member. The event
is sponsored by Dabur Nepal Pvt. Ltd. and Mega Bank. Tickets are available
at Roadhouse Café (Pulchowk, Thamel, Boudha, Bhatbhateni), Bakery Café
(New Road), Nanglo (Durbar Marg), Café Cheeno (Patan Dhoka).
POST US: Email event details to [email protected] or call
5011571/ 5011639/ 5011730/ 5011731 for listings. Listings are free but
inclusion is not guaranteed due to limited space.
Ticket Price: Rs. 250
nsider’s Tip
is a chance for you to celebrate
Deepawali in an outrageous way,
with DJ XYZ boosting the mood
with his party tunes. So get ready
for a rollicking good time with killer
music, awesome food and drinks!
Tickets are available at Cafe 32.
Ticket: Rs. 299 (includes
complementary drinks)
Kumudini Shrestha
Organizer, Shikshya Foundation
Nepal (Founder Member)
F An opportunity to hear about the the journey of ace
F
F
F
F
designer Prabal Gurung; his humble beginnings and how he developed
a passion for fashion.
Fans and admirers of Gurung will have the opportunity to converse
with him.
The event will be moderated by Ashutosh Tiwari, CEO of Water Aid.
Sales proceeds from the tickets will be given to Pushpa Basnet’s Early
Childhood Development Center.
Shikshya Foundation Nepal has devotedly been supporting 23 girls
from ECDC in receiving a formal education.
MUSIC AND PARTIES
Halloween Party at 1905
Date: 31 October (Thursday)
Time: 6:00 pm onwards
Venue: 1905, Kantipath
Ticket: Rs. 500 (with costume), Rs.
1,000 (without costume)
4225272, 4215068
Prepare yourselves for this year’s
Halloween - start working on your
costumes now! The Halloween
Party at 1905 provides an evening
of pure entertainment and scares
accompanied by awesome music,
with the best costumes winning
wonderful prizes. Remember, there
are no costume shops in Nepal,
so you need to be creative! All the
benefits will be contributed to L’Art
En Poche Programs.
Hell’s Bells: Booo! at October
Date: 31 October (Thursday)
Time: 6:00 pm onwards
Venue: Attic Bar, Lazimpat
Halloween brings you another
musical gig. Hell’s Bells: Boo! at
October is a concert that will be
telecast on Hell’s Bells on Channel
Nepal.The gig features popular
rock bands including Newaz, Space
Cake Break, Tumbleweed, Manual
Transmission and Next. Halloween
costumes are highly encouraged. So
be as scary as you can!
Ticket: Rs. 150
KTMROCKS HALLOWEEN
GIG 2013
Date: 31 October (Thursday)
Time: 1:00 pm onwards
Venue: Purple Haze Rock Bar,
Thamel
9841239657
The initiation of KtmROCKS
in 2001 was the actual starting
point of underground music scene
in Nepal. And now with over a
decade of uplifting underground
and non-mainstream bands in the
country, it has been one of the
most respected names in the Nepali
music scene. Now after some time
of inertness, KtmROCKS has come
up again with Halloween Gig 2013,
which will be the first event in the
Halloween gig series after 2009. This
time, the concert features some
killer names in the scene including
Lakhey, Underside, Rage Hybrid,
Horny Monks, Bidroha, Antyesti
and Consequence. With metal
bands of diverse subgenres from
Newari ethnic metal to alternative
metal, and metalcore to thrash
metal assembled together, there is
something for all metalheads. In the
event, Bidroha will also be releasing
their debut EP. So prepare yourself
for the Halloween tremors!
Ticket: Rs. 150
Halloween in Tinchuli
Date: 1 November (Friday)
Time: 7:00 pm onwards
Venue: JB Rana’s Old Summer
Palace, Tinchuli, Kathmandu
9808052448, 9803667326,
9813125553
It’s that creepy season once again!
And this year, Halloween in Tinchuli
will take place at the haunted
summer home of Juddha Shumsher
Jang Bahadur Rana! This spot is as
spooky as is gets! Come party in a
real haunted house and check out
the scariest party in Kathmandu.With
DJs, a full bar and a ghostly old palace,
start getting your costumes ready!
Ticket: Rs. 499 (without costumes),
Rs. 999 (with costumes)
Tihar Fiesta Phase II
Date: 1 November (Friday)
Time: 7:00 pm onwards
Venue: Cafe 32, Battisputali, Old
Baneshwor
4486782
Hello people! ISEE Ingenious Squad
presents to you the second phase
of the Tihar Fiesta dance party. This
BEATNIK ACOUSTIC BAND
COMPETITION
Date: 2 November (Saturday)
Time: 11:00 am onwards
Venue: Funky Buddha, Thamel
9849096621
Do you think you have the talent of
entertaining with an acoustic guitar?
Or are you a fan of acoustic music?
Then you should look out for
Beatnik Acoustic Band Competition.
Participating bands will need to
perform a total of two songs for the
competition, which can either be
covers and originals. Bands will have
an option of playing either Nepali
or English pieces only, or a mix-up
of both. They will be judged by a
jury of popular and professional
musicians. The registration fee
is Rs. 2,000. The winner of the
competition will be awarded with a
cash prize of Rs. 15,000. Along with
the performances starting at 11 am,
the DJ performance will also go
on till 2 am in the morning. Guest
artists including Rohit John Chettri,
Ashra Kunwar and The Hermits will
also be entertaining the crowd.
Ticket: Rs. 250
MISCELLANEOUS
Money Expo & Conference
2013
Opening date: 31 October
(Thursday)
Closing date: 2 November
(Saturday)
Venue: Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu
6914689, 4267717, 9813033999
In continuation of the last two
years, Money Expo and Conference
2013, is being organized, which
is the premier business event of
Nepal on money, finance & banking,
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available to Bank, Insurance,Airlines
& Travel Agencies Only)
Take Away
20% off all dishes
From 2-3pm only
(Orders must be called in between
2-3pm)
DINNER SPECIALS
4 Course Meal with Bubbly
Set menu with a bottle of
Baccorasa Zonin Sparkling Rose
Rs 4,999/couple
4 Course Meal with Wine
Set menu with a bottle of Micheal
Schneider Riesling or Bordeaux
Chateau La Borie
Rs 3,999/couple
insurance and stock market
with an enhanced conference
component of the event this year.
The Conference will consist of
various selected themes over 3 days
of the event, each covered by 3-5
experts from their specialized areas.
Prominent speakers from Nepal,
India, UAE, and UK are expected
to speak at the Conference. The
event will also have an exposition
with 125 stalls of banks, mutual
INTER NATION DANCE
SHOW - EAST TO WEST
Date: 1 November (Friday)
Time: 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm (to be
seated by 4:30 pm)
Venue: St. Xavier’s School
Auditorium, Jawalakhel, Lalitpur
5550191, 5521691
Tewa, JJ Sultans and Sushila Arts
Academy are jointly organizing
a fund-raiser called Inter Nation
Dance Show. A dance show
showcasing cultural and ethnical
dances of Eastern and Western
nations featuring performances by
acclaimed national and international
artists, this is one of a kind dance
show featuring Flamenco (Spain),
Charya (Nepal) and Bharatnatyam
(India) dancing styles. Come and
support the cause of women
empowerment, peace, justice and
arts while you enjoy an evening
filled with sound, movements, music
and emotions through arts.
Ticket: Rs. 500
Wild Summer Bash II
(Wilderness Resumes)
Opening date: 1 November (Friday)
Closing date: 2 November
(Saturday)
Time: 7:00 am onwards
Venue: Jamal, Kathmandu
9808540451, 9813873488,
9813365655
Wild Summer Bash is a two-day
event with unlimited fun, which
makes it a perfect weekend
getaway filled with excitement and
exploration. It starts on Friday
morning where the participants
will meet at Jamal, Kathmandu
to leave for Himalayan Gorkha
Outdoor Center, Trishuli, Kurintar
and then back again on Saturday
afternoon. One of the highlights is a
26 kilometer long rafting trip lasting
3 and half hours. Face painting,
unplugged performances, stalls with
soft and hard drinks and a beach
dance party with BBQ will be there
for your enjoyment.You can also
experience the joy of sleeping in
relaxing tents inside warm sleeping
bags, all placed around a camp fire.
Ticket: Rs. 3,500 (includes
transportation, food,
accommodation, rafting, etc.)
Farmer’s Market
Date: 2 November (Saturday)
Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm
Venue: 1905 Restaurant and Bar,
Kantipath
4225272
Craving for some organic fresh
fruits and veggies? Then be sure to
drop by at 1905 Restaurant and
bar where they have a Farmers’
Market every Saturday. They sell a
variety of good quality products
which are locally produced by the
local farmers, bakers, local cheese
makers (in fact you can find chèvre
and Greek style feta here) or local
entrepreneurs. Come to 1905 for
some shopping sit back with friends
and family and enjoy a nice breakfast
or lunch.
Post-Dashain Rooftop Party
and Second Hand Market
Date: 2 November (Saturday)
Time: 2:00 pm onwards
Venue: Sattya’s Rooftop,
Jawalakhel, Lalitpur
9813485716, 9803372667
Let’s continue the Dashain
celebrations and welcome Tihar
with drinks, snacks and music!
Sattya is organizing Post-Dashain
Rooftop Party and Second Hand
Market where you can enjoy the
jubilant ambience, as well as sell
old used stuff. So if you have stuff
at home that you no longer use,
either donate them to Sattya or
sell them here.
Candle Walk 1134
Date: 3 November (Sunday)
Time: 3:00 pm onwards
Venue: Mangal Bazar, Patan
Candle Walk 1134 is a peace
rally organized by the Newar
community to welcome the new
Newari lunar year which falls on
the new moon’s night of October.
The ceremony also reflects the
rich and precious Newar culture.
Rotaract Club of Lalitpur, in
collaboration with Nepal Bhasa
Manka Khala, announced that
this year’s candle walk, being
hosted for the eighth time, will
make the year’s end and the
beginning of the new year an
eve to treasure. To accomplish
this objective, the event under
the theme of “Youth for Culture;
Preservation and Promotion” will
be felicitating senior citizens who
had contributed to culture and
heritage, as well as new emerging
talents from community youth
groups.
Enjoy Your Sundays at Hyatt
Date: 3 November (Sunday)
Time: 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm
Venue: The Cafe, Hyatt Regency,
Kathmandu
491234
Take a break from home cooked
meals this Sunday and enjoy a
brunch and swim at Hyatt. Relish
the scrumptious meal after an
exhausting complementary swim.
Choose between a wide variety
of cold buffets or an interactive
hot buffet. The menu changes each
week so call ahead to find out
what’s being offered, and while
you are doing that be sure to
book a place for your family
Fees: Rs. 1,600 (exclusive of tax)
Vintuna Cycle Rally (New
Year Cycle Rally)
Date: 4 November (Monday)
Time: 7:30 am onwards
Venue: Mangal Bazar, Patan
[email protected]
The Chepangs Mountain Bike
Club has set up an exciting cycling
event celebrating the Newari
New Year. The route will pass
through Mangal Bazar, Pulchowk,
Basantapur, Durbar Marg,
Gyaneshwor, Gausala, Koteshwor,
Purano Thimi, Bhaktapur, Naya
Thimi, Koteshwor, Balkumari
before ending at Nagbahal, Patan.
If you’re a biking fanatic, this
should interest you!
Issue 193 | 6 November 2013
Festive Fusion
Date: 2 November (Saturday); Time: 7:00 pm onwards;Venue: Kaafe Lahsoon, Jhamsikhel; 5525025
With the onset of yet another grand festival – Tihar - this event might just
be the right mix for some of you. Titled ‘Festive Fusion’, begin your festival
with a fun night out with family and friends and get captivated by the
music of ‘Manda’, a budding classical fusion band from Kirtipur.
Entry Fee: Rs. 500
nsider’s Tip
Sapun Shrestha
Manager, Kaafe Lahsoon
F The event marks the opening of their newly constructed
Karaoke Room together with the introduction of their after
5:00 pm snacks menu.
F While you are at Kaafe Lahsoon also try out the chef’s signature dishes
such as North African sea food, hummus with pita bread and duck de
l’orange.
F The ticket price includes a complimentary drink so feel free to ask for
one.
9
hallofframe
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3
7
8
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Old is Indeed Classic
26 September, Electric Pagoda
The second edition of the ‘Classic Motorbike Exhibition’ saw the
participation of about 40 vintage and classic bikes. Organized by Motor
Horse, Electric Pagoda and supported by The Reincarnation of Classic
Motorcycles, the event was attended by bike enthusiasts from different
parts of the world. On the second day of the exhibition, the organizers
announced the best classic bike and best modified bike of the lot, the
owners of which were awarded with a token of appreciation.The event
ended successfully with a promise to revive the status of classic and
vintage bikes in Nepal.
1. Kristina Allen 2. Fergus Anderson 3. Pradip Kapali 4. Pujan Joshi
5. Ranjit Gurung 6. Kiran Thapa 7. Julian Shrestha 8. Mohan Gurung
1
3
1
2
2
5
4
3
4
6
5
Festival in between Festivals
25 October, Nepal Academy Hall
Ncell Literature Festival 2013 saw various local
and international writers, as well as famous
personalities, both as participants and audience
members. During the festival, the various issues
that writers face - from publishing and writing to
themes and issues of stories - were discussed.
The festival was organized by Bookworm
Foundation and was sponsored by Ncell.
1. Buddhi Sagar and Kumar Nagarkoti 2. Prajwol Parajuly 3. Jhalak Subedi
4.Yubraj Ghimire 5. Sudhir Sharma 6. Muna Ram Khanal
Colors from the Past
24 October, Nutan Studio
Making his comeback to the film industry after 12 years, Sambhu
Pradhan announced his upcoming movie Rang Baigani in the presence
of close friends and media people.The film will be directed by
Pradhan and produced by Nutan Studio. Debuting with Rang Baigani is
cinematographer Shashank Pradhan while the music is being composed by
Binay Pradhan. Prolific songwriter Raman Ghimire has been signed in for
the lyrics. Speaking at the event, Ghimire said that he was very honored to
be part of a film by Pradhan, whose comeback was long awaited.
1. Binod Pradhan, Saibrat Acharya and Subrat Acharya 2. Shashank Pradhan
3.Tulsi Ghimire 4. Sambhu Pradhan and Raman Ghimire
5. Samjhana Upreti Rauniyar
1
1
2
3
2
3
Forever Incomplete is Here
26 October, Patan Museum Courtyard
4
Mahendra Man Singh’s book “Forever Incomplete:The Story of Nepal” was
launched in an event organized at Patan Museum Courtyard.The book, which
contains nine chapters, tells the story of the socio-political milieu of Nepal.The
author himself launched the book alongside Pratyosh Onta, Sanu Raja Joshi, nephew
of martyr Sukraraj Shastri, Nepal Bhushan Chand, nephew of martyr Dashrath
Chand, and Renu Mathema Shrestha, daughter of martyr Dharma Bhakta Mathema.
The book which otherwise costs Rs. 1280., was discounted to Rs. 1100 for the day.
1. Rukmangat Katwal and Subodh Sukla 2. Mahendra Man Singh and Deepa
Mathema Joshi 3. John
Xperia Z1 Unveiled
27 October, Hotel Himalaya
In an event held at Hotel Himalaya on 27 October, Nepa Hima Trade Links, the sole authorized
distributor of Sony Mobiles in Nepal, unveiled its new smartphone “Sony Xperia Z1.” The event
was attended by delegates from Sony Singapore along with media guests.The program began with a
short welcome speech by Rajesh Tuladhar, Executive Director of Nepa Hima, followed by a product
introduction by Masaki Matsumae, Head of Regional Market Development at Sony Singapore.Along with
the new phone, Sony also introduced a wide range of products including camera lenses, smart TV and a
new connectivity system ‘NFC’.
1. Rajesh Tuladhar, Masaki Matsumae, Karan Sum and Diana Soh 2. Binil R. Bajracharya 3. Pradeep S.Thapa
4. Roman Awale
1
1
2
3
Dancing for a Cause
28 October,Tamarind Restro and Bar
4
2
Art in Words
27 October, Image Ark Gallery
Casper Johansson had the opening of his solo exhibition titled “Mark My
Words” at Image Ark Gallery on Sunday. Ingrid Chiron from the gallery
introduced Johansson and two special guests, Aditya Aryal and Shraddha
Shrestha, to the audience of art admirers. The artist and guests spoke
their mind about their love for art.
The three-day exhibition showcased Johansson’s work of his mixed
passion for urban life and graffiti, which depicted social issues and
created a stir in the minds of the audience.
1. Chirag Bangdel 2. Shraddha Shrestha and Aditya Aryal 3. Ingrid Chiron
4. Casper Johansson
The event, Inter Nation Dance Show - East to West which is to be held
on 1 November at St. Xaviers School, intends to raise funds for Tewa
and Sushila Arts Academy, two organisations that have been working for
women empowerment and arts respectively. During the press meet, the
representatives talked about the work that their respective organisations
have been doing.Yuliya Koirala from Sushila Arts also announced a oneyear scholarship that their organization will be providing to deserving
candidates working in the field of classical dance.
1.Yuliya Koirala 2. Lilu KC 3. Amir Shrestha, Sunil Tuladhar and
Kevin Shrestha 4. Prasanga Shrestha
3
4
events
make the most of the city
mark your calendar
events in the next few weeks
Silence Festival 2013
Date: 9 November (Saturday); Time: 12:00 pm onwards;Venue: Fun Park, Bhrikuti Mandap, 4439204
After bringing
international metal
powerhouses like Vader,
Textures and Freak
Kitchen to Nepal, Silence
Entertainment comes up
with yet another edition
of Silence Festival. This
year’s concert is going
to feature the Polish
blackened death metal legends Behemoth as headliners. Apart from
them, other killer bands like Ugrakarma, Underside, Jugaa, Newaz,
Zygnema (India), Derrick and And We Came will also be performing.
Silence Entertainment has always been quite versatile when deciding
the festival roster, and this time around too they’ve mixed up bands
from various styles and subgenres - from old school death metal to
deathcore and alternative rock/metal to hardcore. Hence, fans of every
metal style have something to look forward to. If you are a heavy metal
fan, this is the event that you should be excited about!
Ticket: Rs. 700
nsider’s Tip
Bikrant Shrestha
Managing Director,
Silence Entertainment
F No bottles, chains and other harmful equipment will be
allowed inside the festival area. Security will be high all
around.
F The festival is expected to start at 12:00 noon sharp and finish at
around 8:00 pm. Gates will open at 11:00 am.
F Behemoth will be entering the stage at around 6:00 pm.
F Call the number given above for early bird tickets.
MUSIC AND PARTIES
Mongolian Heart Live in
Concert 2013
Date: 8 November (Friday)
Time: 2:30 pm onwards
Venue: Nepal Academy Hall, Kamaladi
9841229587, 9813304018
With the theme of “music for
peace, education and development”,
Raju Lama with Mongolian Heart
is doing a concert this November.
Raised funds will proceed for school
improvement programs in Baruwa-1,
Sindhupalchowk district. Join the
event to support the cause!
FunkTastik 2013
Date: 15 November (Friday)
Time: 7:00 pm onwards
Venue: Brian’s Grill House,
Sunrise Biz Park, Charkhal Road,
Kathmandu
Bored with the regular parties
in town? Coming up in midNovember is FunTastik 2013, an
exciting party with the theme
“fashion speaks louder than
words”! At your service behind
the discs will be DJ Rabbit and DJ
Sanjay. This is a 21+ event and VIP
services are also ava ilable.
Ticket: Rs. 1,000 (including drinks)
Mohit Chauhan - Live in Nepal
Date: 30 November (Saturday)
Time: 6:00 pm onwards
Venue: Dashrath Stadium,
Tripureshwor
9818842177
Gifted with a mellifluously intense
voice that’s perfectly suited for
romantic ballads, Mohit Chauhan
hardly needs a formal introduction.
The singer has swayed an entire
generation to his tunes after all. Said
to be a favourite of A.R. Rahman,
Chauhan has numerous films under
his belt. His craze in India is every
musician’s dream. At a concert in
Delhi, the crowd went berserk
leading to the management losing all
control. With a massive fan following
of 2.6 million on Facebook, he knows
how to charm his audience and
how! He’s in Nepal this November,
so what are you waiting for? Mark
the date on your calendar and
spread the word. Let’s rock with the
rockstar!
Ticket: Rs. 5,000 (VVIP), Rs. 2,500
(platinum), Rs. 1,500 (gold), Rs. 1,000
(silver), Rs. 500 (bronze)
Freak Out Dance Party
Date: 14 December (Saturday)
Time: 2:00 pm onwards
Venue: Cube the Club, Kamaladi,
Kathmandu
Bad Boy Entertainment presents
Freak Out Dance Party this
December with loads of excitement
and fun. The main attraction is the
Raw Barz battle rap performance,
where rappers will be going head-tohead against each other with their
cunning rhymes. Other activities
include beat boxing, B-boying, neon
lights, etc.Yama Buddha, DJ Poison,
DJ Raju, etc. will also be present at
the event!
Ticket: Rs. 499
MISCELLANEOUS
1st Nepal Junior Open Tennis
Championship
Opening date: 6 November
(Wednesday)
Closing date: 23 November
(Saturday)
Venue: All Nepal Lawn Tennis
Association (ANLTA), Satdobato,
Lalitpur
The 1st Nepal Junior Open Tennis
Championship is going to be held
for children between the ages of
8 and 18 years old. Competitions
will be held in 7 categories for both
boys and girls. Cash prizes along
with a medal and certificate will be
awarded to the winners, runner-ups,
and semifinalists in each category.
The tournament will be conducted
in accordance with the regulations of
the International Tennis Federation
(ITF) and ANLTA while the seeds
will be selected by the tournament
committee based on the latest
available recognized singles/doubles
ranking.You can register for the
event at ANTA Complex, Satdobato.
The tournament is supported by All
Nepal Lawn Tennis Association and
Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI).
Time: 10:00 am onwards
Venue: St. Xavier’s School, Jawalakhel
9841977919, 9841515682,
9843561924
Alpha Music and Jaya Sambho
Entertainment are organizing a rock
concert with the motive of helping
Aadibasi Janajati Aapanga Sangh. In the
concert, Mantra, Sabin Rai & Electrix,
Cobweb, Prism, Sugam Pokhrel,
Samsarachakra, along with many
other bands will be entertaining the
crowd with their popular numbers.
The concert will also be full of fun
and entertainment activities.
Fair Trade Christmas Bazaar
Date: 23 November (Saturday)
Time: 11:00 am to 7:00 pm
Venue: GIZ Office Premises, Sanepa,
Lalitpur
Enjoy the festival season of Christmas
this year at the Fair Trade Christmas
Bazaar with friends and family. Stroll
through the stands discovering gifts.
Children may block print their own
cards while watching artisans live at
work.You will be well catered for
with Nepali and Western food and
traditional German mulled wine.The
bazaar will include a good collection
of Christmas and children’s presents,
natural cosmetics, clothing and fashion
accessories, home textiles, furnishing
and decorations, organic food products
and spices, etc. So buckle up for this
year’s Christmas shopping with this
event!
ICTA Academy Training and
Conference 2013
Date: 28 December (Saturday)
Venue: Gokarna Forest Resort,
Gokarna, Kathmandu
9851173399, 4259976, 4238183
[email protected] /
www.thevisionaryworld.com
Makani Academy (Cyprus & Denmark)
and Visionary World present the
International Coach and Trainers
Association Training Conference in
Kathmandu Nepal - “Calling of the
future!” The seminar is an international
meeting of ideas and knowledge, with
the main purpose of bringing coaches,
trainers, facilitators, psychologists,
counselors, healers, practitioners,
HR personnel, entrepreneurs,
educationalists and human excellence
practitioners under one umbrella of
training and coaching.The international
forum will have the major themes of
improving communications, building
better teams, tongue management
- a communication of difference,
management excellence, motivating
the spirit, core coaching and training
conference, professional training and
coaching development, etc.A bigger
conference will take place from 21
December to 7 January.
LA Food and Music Festival
Season 2
Opening date: 29 November (Friday)
Closing date: 30 November
(Saturday)
Time: 10:00 am onwards
Venue: Little Angels’ College
Compound, Hattiban
9801188130, 9849379879
Isn’t food and music a good
combination? The students of LACM
Bachelor in Hospitality and Tourism
Management (BHTM) are organizing
the second edition of LA Food and
Music Festival. So this is the event
where you can listen to some amazing
music, treat your belly with some
delicious dishes and get a chance to
win exiting gifts.The event will also
include face painting, B-boying, food
eating competitions, food carving,
exciting games, zip lining, and many
more exciting activities.
Co-operation for Differently
Ables’ Live Concert 2013
Date: 17 December (Monday)
ART AND THEATER
Art and TheaterShort Film
Competition
Date: 19 November (Tuesday)
Venue: St. Xavier’s College, Maitighar
When we really want to celebrate
our dreams, we do something that
inspires us and that is what always
carves the history . On our way
to make history and to celebrate
the silver jubilee celebration, the
Department of English is planning
to organize a short film festival. The
sole aim of this celebration is to put
the talent and creativity of young and
eager minds in the limelight.
Turn to page 19 for details on
live performances around town.
Disclaimer:
Fr!day does not endorse any
event printed, mentioned or
listed in the publication. Event
participants are advised to crossrefer to sources for validation.
musique
turn it on
Euphoria Through Nylon Strings
Kathmandu International Classical Guitar Festival 2013 indulged the music
lovers of the city by bringing together guitarists from around the world. A
festival celebrating the blissful sounds and possibilities of the classical guitar,
this was truly an event to witness!
Samyam Shrestha
T
he jam-packed Baggikhana
Hall of Yalamaya Kendra,
Patan Dhoka maintained
a deafening silence. The only
resonating sound was from the
guitar on stage. It seemed like a
tiny disturbance, even that of a
camera flash, could distort the
ambience that had been created
by the nylon strings. The hall
was populated with both Nepali
and foreign audiences in equal
proportions, with people standing
at the rear due to insufficient
seats.
It was October 18, the
second day of the Kathmandu
International Classical Guitar
Festival 2013. The two-day
event organized by the Classical
Guitar Society of Nepal had
exclusively featured performers
from around the globe, a first
of its kind in Kathmandu in ten
years. “The last festival was held
in 2003. After that, we couldn’t
continue mostly due to Nepal’s
political situation and weak
financial capability,” said Kishor
Gurung, the virtuouso guitarist
and president of the Society. It
was, thus, a special moment after
exactly a decade!
American writer Vera
Nazarian once wrote, “If music
is a place, then jazz is the city,
folk is the wilderness, rock is
the road, and classical (music)
is a temple.” The sounds and
theatrics of classical music in
themselves hold an essential
value in defining Western music,
which has evolved through the
Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque,
Classical, Romantic and 20th
Century avant-garde periods.
But despite its rich history in
the West, unlike other Western
music styles, classical concerts
are relatively rare in Nepal. The
scenario is gradually changing
though with the interest for this
type of music growing among
the younger generation. Daniel
Lindel, one of the performers,
as well as an organizing team
member, said, “The primary
objective of this festival is to
enjoy the music of course, but, in
a bigger sense, it’s to realize the
possibility of taking this form of
music and this type of repertoire
to a larger scale in Nepal.” To
this, Gurung added, “We just
want to celebrate the guitar’s rich
history, of which most of the
Village Cafe
Hitoshi Miyashita Duo (Japan),
Woratep R. Umpawan (Thailand)
and Pongpat Pongpradit
(Thailand). Each session lasted
about 20 minutes, all of them
treating the audience to soothing
and relaxing sounds that filled
the air with a certain richness,
while the listeners, in turn,
admired the artists’ instrumental
expertise and musical aesthetics
in utter silence.
Regarding the two days of
the fest, Lindel shared, “The
attendance has been a wonderful
surprise. To see the audience
enjoying deeply is where we find
this festival’s achievement. We’ve
been talking about making this
an annual event, and we already
have it in our heads. We are
focusing on this year, but at the
same time, envisioning the future
as well.” The festival ended with
a Pokhara show on 21 October. !
youth seem virtually unaware.”
The festival also had a display
of handmade guitars crafted by
Japanese luthier Yuichi Imai who
has been making the instrument
for over 45 years now. His
creations were played by a few of
the performers, including Kishor
Gurung himself. Regrettably,
Pia G. Offerman, a performer
from Germany, was a little
discontented with the audience.
“Silence among the listeners is
important while playing classical
guitar, but some of them were
pretty disturbing yesterday. I
hope it won’t be like that during
my performance in a while,”
she expressed before the gig.
Offerman was performing for
the second time in Nepal after
2003. Other guitarists in the
festival included Leon Koudelak
(Liechtenstein), Maria Duo
(Japan), Tomonori Arai and
RVL Radio
CHARTS
NEPALI CHART
1
Bistarai - Rohit John Chettri
2
Herda Ramro Machhapuchhre - Dharmendra Sewan
3
Muskan - Hemanta Rana
4
Timi Batai Suru - DJ K-World ft. Sabin Rai
5
Mero Solta - Laure ft. Gun Ace
6
Kaha Bata - Genesis of Pink
7
Kati Risauchhau - Subani Moktan
8
Sundar - Nima Rumba
9
Maya Ho Ki Hoina - Nattu Shah
10
10 Najik Chhau Timi - Rekha Thapa ft. Kamal Khatri
ENGLISH CHART
1
Roar - Katy Perry
2
Who You Love - John Mayer ft. Katy Perry
3
Wrecking Ball - Miley Cyrus
4
Burn - Ellie Goulding
5
Berzerk - Eminem
6
Royals - Lorde
7
True Love - Pink ft. Lily Allen
8
Applause - Lady Gaga
9
Still into You - Paramore
TOP
10 Take Back the Night - Justin Timberlake
facebook.com/rvlradio
www.rvlradio.com
@rvlradio
Trip to Tihar
Festivals in Nepal are mostly close-knit family affairs that are far
from entertaining.Tihar is different.The ‘Festival of Lights’ is one
everyone can engage in without actually participating. We show
you how.
Shreesha Nankhwa
T
ihar manages to tick all the senses: sight, sound, smell, touch and taste. You know
it’s here when you feel the nip in the morning air, see the otherwise mostly dark
city twinkle in the evening, smell the aromatic incense wherever you go, hear the
(not-so-legal) firecrackers go kaboom in the sky and taste the ghee laden delicacies. If
you haven’t had the chance to experience the Tihar magnificence yet, the time is now.
We give you a list of places that showcase the spirit of Tihar at its best.
kathmandu
never a dull moment
Sweet shops
Tihar is incomplete without
an excess of sweets and a
few more cavities for your
dentist to fill. Some of the
oldest and most popular sweet
shops are to be found in Maru,
Lakhachen, and Peukha near
Kathmandu Durbar square.
Tichu galli and MaMaru galli
in Patan have also developed
quite a reputation. So forget
the calories and indulge your
sweet tooth. Just don’t forget to brush afterwards.
Ason Bazaar
Swayambhu Nath
Always a popular spot for its bird’s eye view of the valley, you can see the city
celebrating from up here. Although firecrackers are prohibited in Nepal, you
might see a few rockets go up in the sky. And if you manage to stay on after the
sun sets, the whole place will be lit up quite brilliantly. The fact that you can see
the entire city twinkling below you goes without saying.
Tip: A word of advice, don’t forget to grab your camera. It’s probably the only time of
the year when the city turns into a sea of stars. No load-shedding, you see.
Durbar Squares
The Durbar Squares
(Basantapur, Patan
and Bhaktapur) are
always cool places to
hang out but during
the festivals, they
absolutely blow your
mind. The energy in
these special places is
surreal and, with the
flickering oil lamps
and elaborate rangolis/
mandaps (which most
of the durbar squares flaunt these days) in the main dabalis, the atmosphere is
amazing. The best time to enjoy the ambience is right after sunset. Grab a few
friends (and a hot cup of coffee to resist the evening chill) and take a stroll.
Tip: On the day last day of Tihar, a group Bhai Tika is held at Kasthamandap in
Kathmandu Durbar Square by a humanitarian who goes by the name of Anjali didi.
You can participate or just observe if you wish since everyone is welcome.
The sheer number of people thronging
this place is overwhelming. First timers
should prepare themselves for a parade of
rude pushing and trampling, albeit often
unintended. We suggest you get off the path,
find yourself a spot among the local vendors
and soak in the shopping mayhem that reaches
its peak during the festive hours. It will
be crazy but such is the spirit of Tihar. Be
enchanted by the smell of dry fruits from the
surrounding traditional shops and the sight of
the yellow marigold flowers that brighten up
the bustling old bazaar, an image that captures
the age-old essence of Tihar.
Tip: This is the go-to place for your Tihar
essentials. The main Ason bazaar and some of its
surrounding chowks
and gallis offer everything necessary for the festival, be it flowers for decor, colors for
mandalas, dry fruit packets, incense, butter lamps and more. A word of caution: be a bit
careful with your bags and purchases as it’s easy to lose them when you’re surrounded by a
massive crowd of shoppers.
Rani Pokhari
Tihar is as much about sibling love as it is about
lights. But for those without brothers or sisters,
there’s no reason to feel left out. If a relative is not
performing your tika, you can visit the Yamaleswor
temple located in the middle of Ranipokhari. It
opens only once every year on the day of Bhai Tika.
The temple priest and his family have been offering
tika to the general public for three generations now.
Tip: The shrine is worth a visit even if you want
nothing to do with Bhai Tika. Just the sight of the
temple in the middle of the pond, ornamented in
shimmering lights throughout Tihar, is beautiful to
behold.
Being one of the most important festivals in Nepal, Tihar is celebrated by almost
everyone and absolutely everywhere in the city. Walk down any street and you’ll
see houses covered in twinkling lights, kids blowing firecrackers and yet more
children and teenagers playing Deusi and Bhailo. So, if you can’t spare some
time to go places (we all know how busy festivals get) take a walk around your
neighbourhood and drink in the festivities.
entertainment
let the good times begin
canvas conversation
The
Balancing
Act
Isha Gharti
N
icola Strippoli ‘Tarshito’
is an Italian artist who
lives the life that he
depicts in his work, and the
vibrant positivity that radiates
from him reflects in his art.
He believes that the balance
between spiritualism and
materialism are the essence
of life. ‘Tarshito’ has tried
to elaborate on this in his
recent exhibition, ‘Creator,
Creatures and Creation’, held at
Siddhartha Art Gallery.
Tell us about yourself ?
In 1979/80 I had just finished
my studies in architecture when
my parents provided me with
some money to travel. My
girlfriend of that time suggested
we visit India. When we reached
the country after a month
of travel by land, someone
immediately recommended a
visit to a dharamsala. We visited
the place and got an opportunity
to meditate for two weeks.
The meditation was a “wow”
experience, after which we were
advised to go to Brindavan
where again the bhajans, the
people, the culture and just the
place in general made our stay
so beautiful. We then travelled
to Hrishikesh. My entire stay
in India was one momentous
journey after another. Finally,
we went to Pune to meet Osho,
a visit that directed my life
towards the course that I have
now taken. The four weeks in
Pune gave a surge to my creative
instinct which later allowed me
to move forward in art. The
name ‘Tarshito’ was also given
to me by Osho himself.
Could you shed some light on
this particular exhibition of
yours?
I thought of this exhibition
referring to the concept of the
3Cs: Creator, Creatures and
Creation. The two Cs in my
work: Creatures and Created,
manifest themselves through
an elephant, a fish, a tree, the
mountains, people, etc. Creations
That is what my exhibition is
about.
and Creatures, on the other
hand, are symbolized through
the motifs in a simple universal
language relatable to everyone.
My artworks are an offering
to the Creator. Some of them
are in line with the Thanka
paintings which, in Buddhism,
is also associated with religious
offerings. In my work, you
will see a repetition of motifs
like elephants, fish, trees, etc
which are symbols of the divine
and blessed in most religious
cultures. These motifs are
mostly depicted in gold, which
again signifies divinity, and also
black and white which signifies
opposites like Yin and Yang. I
firmly believe in the concept of
unity among mankind; in the
dissolving boundaries between
people and countries. Hence,
in my work, you will find a
new and sacred geography of
the world. I believe in unity
of the individuals with the
divine which you will see a lot
in my art. For example, in one
work of mine, a man’s hair
seems to be contacting the sky
and, in another, the man may
be walking towards divinity
renouncing negativity. I have
also tried to express features
like bhakti; love for god, moving
forward through self-realization,
moving towards things of real
value, unconditional happiness,
eternal truth and consciousness.
For me, art is an offering to the
divine that helps to deconstruct
the layers of identifications,
masks and promotes the true
identity, the ontological one.
You have been in Nepal
quite a few times. Share your
experiences with us.
I first came here in 1980 for an
exhibition on meditative carpets.
I was able to do the display with
the help of a carpet manufacturer
who, along with a few others, I
became friends with. Back then
Kathmandu was a lot different.
It was this mysterious new place
for me and I loved coming back.
Later, two of my close Nepali
friends, including the carpet
manufacturer, passed away so I
didn’t come back for 20 years.
It was only last year that I
returned to participate in the
Kathmandu International Art
Festival and I fell in love with
this place all over again. I meet
all sorts of people here; the
rich elite who love fine dining
and talk of the finer things
in life, the ordinary people
living their simple lives and
also the artists and musicians
dedicated to their work. I love
each company equally. I really
enjoy the culture, the people, the
traditional art and everything
else here.
How do you feel about the
contemporary art scene in
Nepal?
Frankly speaking, I am not into
contemporary art. The ones in
Europe and America are really
dark and negative which I am
not very comfortable with. I
try to stay away from such
negativity. That might be a
reason why I haven’t really
followed contemporary art here.
What keeps you busy these
days?
Well, I teach in a university
which gives me the
opportunity to share my
understanding about art
and creativity with young
artists. I am also working on
building an art village where
I wish to organize classes,
workshops, etc with national
and international artists. I
also travel a lot showcasing
my work and learning things
from other culture and places.
And art and architectural
endeavors, of course, are
always there. I feel really lucky
and truly believe that I have
been able to live my life to the
fullest.
What plans do you have for
the future?
I’m going to India, then to
France and other countries
to showcase my work. I will
be back here in January to
continue my artistic pursuits.
I recently visited Janakpur to
learn about Mithila art. I’ll
hopefully be able to create
something along the same
line in the near future. !
Movies at QFX
Gravity 3D
A medical engineer and an astronaut
work together to survive after an
accident that leaves them adrift
in space.
Cast: George Clooney, Sandra
Bullock
Krrish 3
Not long after Kaal’s plans are put
into action, both Rohit and Krrish find
themselves facing with a crisis of epic
proportions, which only they can resolve,
together. But when they finally cross paths
with Kaal and his army, neither of them is
prepared for what lies ahead.
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Priyanka Chopra,
Vivek Oberoi, Kangana Ranaut
Director: Rakesh Roshan
Director: Alfonso Cuaron
Mickey Virus
When Delhi Police comes across a case
revolving around hacking, they begin
their search to find a computer expert
who can help them crack this case.
Mickey Arora (Manish Paul), a lazy but
street-smart hacker can actually help them
solve the case.
Cast: Manish Paul, Elli Avram, Puja Gupta
Director: Saurabh Varma
timeoff
Advertisement
eat, drink, party – live
food promotion
Chocolate and White
Embassy Restaurant is the latest eatery to
open its regal establishment to the gourmet
enthusiasts of the city. The official launch has
been set for 1 November; expect a fiesta that’s
set to continue for three days.
Gita Limbu
E
mbassy Restaurant is
located directly opposite
the Japanese Embassy at
Panipokhari. That, however, is
not where the restaurant takes
its name from. The honor goes
to its ease of remembrance – a
venue where people can get
together with good company.
Look for a black gate that hides
a sprawling pebbled ground.
While it may seem rather
unlike a restaurant at first
sight, the space you see is only
the parking lot.
Two vivid colors lend to
the ambience at Embassy –
chocolate and white, colors
that played a significant role
in establishing Tamarind
Restaurant as a serious
contender amongst the crowd
of restaurants at Jhamsikhel.
Embassy borrows the hues
that bring to mind the brighter
side of life and successful
beginnings. There are three
parts to the restaurant – the
bar, al fresco and the fine
dining conference room. Each
serves a different crowd but,
then again, rules aren’t set in
stone.
Embassy offers multicuisines like Indian, Japanese,
Mexican, Continental, Chinese
and Thai food. Two new
features the restaurant is
looking at add are a sushi and
dessert bar.
A few of us got the chance
to preview six dishes before the
official launch. In no particular
order, they were the crispy
prawn, vegetables and noodles
spring roll, tempura prawn
maki roll, paneer kulcha, fish
ginger, tandoori chicken and
fried chicken wings. As the
dishes rolled out, a delicious
aroma wafted through the air
and took over the ‘new home’
smell.
The tandoori chicken was
“Think of Embassy as a big glass house. The open venue
allows you to meet people from various walks of life. We
are excited about this venture as we have improved on the
matters that were lacking in our other restaurant.We’d like
to be known as a place where our customers get a fiesta
vibe – good food with good company.” — Kishor Pradhan,
partner/owner of Embassy Restaurant
up first. Marinated in yogurt
and lemon juice along with
plenty of spices and then
grilled, the dish was packed
full of flavour. Each bite was
generously spicy, sweet and
salty. Next were the chicken
wings. There was very little
fuss surrounding this dish
and rightly so, for the hero
of the course had to be the
crispy battered wings itself.
The only hiccup was having to
pick up the wings by hand to
get every golden crisp off the
bone but I had no complaints
whatsoever.
The other notable mention
was the tempura prawn
sushi. Technically, the sushi
was inside out maki drizzled
with sweet mayonnaise. The
ingredients were still fresh
even though it had been
a while since the dish had
been served to us. The roll
was creamy thanks to the
mayonnaise and crunchy due
to the seafood. Unsurprisingly
addictive, for sure.
Embassy is the ambitious
work of three partners behind
Tamarind – Kavish Pradhan,
Kishor Pradhan and Chabbin
Shrestha. While there were a
few technicalities left to sort
out at the aforementioned
restaurant, they make up for
it in terms of better service,
ambience, and of course, the
cuisines in their new venture. If
the dishes presented to us are
to set the standard for what’s to
come, then rest assured you’re
in for a big treat. !
bazaar
markets & launches
NMB Bank
Expands its
Branchless Banking
Service
NMB Bank has expanded its
branchless banking service to
Doti district after successfully
introducing the service in
Dolakha, Thaiba, Lubhoo and
Dhangadhi. Under the Republic
of Korea funded Food for New
Village Project, the Bank joined
hands with the United Nations
World Food Programme (WFP)
to provide cash distribution
services to over 1600
beneficiaries in Ladagada and
Pokhari Village Development
Committees (VDCs) of Doti
district.
The initiative is aimed at
providing banking services to
the unbanked population and
providing communities access
to financial services for the
first time. NMB Bank will use
innovative chip-based smart
card technology to introduce
branchless operations in two
highly food insecure VDCs.
NMB also plans to expand its
branchless banking services to
other parts of the country in
the near future.
Pashupati Paint’s
Silver Coin
Winners
Pashupati Paints recently
announced its silver coin winners
for the third lot lucky draw under
the ‘Win A Home Contest’. The
five lucky numbers are 2526274,
3207745, 5512788, 6783631,
9853394.Under this contest,
those who buy Pashupati Paints
products such as Luxuria, Luxuria
Ecosafe, Ex-coat, Excoat Plus
and One Way worth Rs. 20,000
and above, receive a scratch
card which has a unique number.
The lucky winners are then
randomly selected through a
computerized software which has
been maintained and monitored
by F1Soft.
Scooter Exchange
Mela
The Yamaha Scooter Exchange
Mahamela started on 24
October with a grand rally
to Bhrikutimandap. The event
was inaugurated by actress/
model and Yamaha’s Goodwill
Ambassador Namrata Shrestha.
According to their statement,
the fair received a good
response on the first day itself,
with successful sales of over 55
scooters. The scooters most
exchanged during the mela
were Honda Dio and Mahindra’s
Duro and Rodeo. The most
popular scooter at the event
was the newly launched Yamaha
Ray Z. The company has already
sold over 2500 units since its
launch at the Nada Auto Show
2013.
The exchange mela also
had safe riding training, best
evaluation for old bikes, spot
finance facilities, bumpers prizes
from Rs. 5000 to 1 lakh and
entertainment features like
gaming zones, food festivals,
beauty tips and nail art.
Simrik Airline
Leases Agni
Airline’s Plane
Simrik Arlines recently leased
debt-ridden Agni Airline’s fleet
of five aircraft for five years.
According to the agreement,
Simrik will repay the loans owed
by Agni to the respective banks
on a regular basis.
After leasing Agni’s aircrafts,
Simrik now has seven planes in
their fleet. Rameshwor Thapa,
Chairman of Simrik Airlines
said, “The company will fly to
both remote and urban areas.”
Simrik Airlines started regular
flights with Beechcraft 1900
in February 2013. At present,
it operates flights to Pokhara,
Bhairahawa, and Simara, and has
extended its flight to Tenzing
Hillary Airport in Lukla with the
leased Dornier 228 aircraft.
Simrik will be returning the
planes back to Agni after the
contract ends. As per the
agreement, Simrik will take 70%
of the total profit while Agni
will get 30% during the contract
period.
Two New
Micromax Here
Micromax has recently
unleashed its two new mobile
handsets- Canvas 2 Plus and
Canvas Fun in the market.
Canvas 2 Plus has Android 4.2.1
Jelly Bean OS and 1.2 GHz
Quad Core Processor. With
5.0” IPS screen, it possess 8 MP
camera and 2 MP front camera.
Other features of this phone
include 1GB RAM, 4GB ROM,
expandable memory up to 32
GB, 3G connectivity, Wi-Fi and
2000 mAh battery.
Likewise, Canvas Fun has
Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean and 1.3
GHz Dual Core Processor. It has
4.5” screen with 5 MP rear and
0.3 MP front camera. With 1500
mAh battery, the memory of this
phone is 512 MB RAM but can
be expanded up to 32 GB.
highspirits
for the love of drinking
Halloween
Schmalloween
You don’t need to be a ghost or a ghoul or
even dressed as one to indulge in these special
Halloween themed drinks.
Pramod Shilpakar
T
he night of dreaded
evil is here and there
seems to be a lot of
buzz about it in the air.
Halloween parties seems to
be going full throttle and I
hear tickets are selling like
hot cakes. I hope you have
your costumes ready for a
night of howling, dancing
and some blood-sucking.
But something seems to be
missing. Drinks!
What is a party
without a free flow of
lipsmacking, thirstquenching concoctions?
Whether you are going out
for a Halloween themed
party with your pals or
planning one at home,
these cocktails will add the
much needed zing to the
atmosphere.
The Devil’s Son
45 ml gin
15 ml cointreau
10 ml vermouth
a dash of Angustura Bitters
Shake and strain. Serve
in a martini glass.
Brain Hemmorage
Bailey’s
Peach schnapps
a dash of grenadine syrup
Make layers of peach
schnapps and Bailey’s. Add
a dash of grenadine syrup.
This is a shot drink and you
know the rules.
Bloody Mary
6 ounces vodka
3 cups tomato juice
6 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 and 1/2 teaspoons
horseradish
1 and 1/2 teaspoons
Worcestershire sauce
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1/4 teaspoon Tabasco
6 lemon wedges
Mix together the vodka,
tomato juice, lemon juice,
horseradish, Worcestershire
sauce, salt, pepper, and
Tabasco in a pitcher. Serve
over ice in a tall glass with a
lemon wedge. You don’t even
need to bother serving it.
Just put up a few paper cups
alongside the pitcher and
you are ready for a party.
Plus, the red color of the
drinks work well with the
Halloween theme.
FYI
For many of you, Halloween
is a celebration that has
probably found its way
to your calenders quite
recently. But for me, and I
am hoping it’s the same for
my friends, it brings back
memories from childhood.
Let me make it clear that
Halloween in our city is a
very recent introduction.
Jack-o’-lanterns may be
a fancy thing from the
West but in Kathmandu,
Gathamuga or Gathemangal is
what scared the jeepers out
of the evil spirits. As a kid,
I remember having bonfires
in our neighbourhood and
building a scary figure out
of hay and bamboo, an act
that parrallels the carving of
a pumpkin. We would make
our costumes out of sacks and
paint faces if we could afford
to and go from house to house
‘trick or treating’, asking
for our share of popcorns
and soyabeans. Do you get
what I’m talking about now?
Gathamuga to us is what
Halloween is to the West.
Nevertheless, I hope you
enjoy All Hallows’ Eve. !