Restoration of Seto Machindranath temple starts

 Ambassador of India to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra, chief executive officer of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) and mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City today jointly did the bhoomipooja to mark the starting of work of conservation and restoration of Seto Machindranath temple.

The conservation work of Seto Machindranath temple is first of the 28 cultural heritage conservation and restoration projects being under taken with a reconstruction of Rs 5,800 million committed by government of India for the cultural heritage sector, according to a press note issued by the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu. "All the 28 sites were identified by government and both India and Nepal signed MoU in this regard in August 2017," it reads, adding that the Central Level Project Implementation Unit (Building) of NRA is the implementing entity has been identifying agencies for the restoration works as per be conserved as per Ancient Monument Preservation Act.

The Seto Machindranath Temple will be conserved as per Nepal’s Ancient Monument Preservation Act, and Department of Archaeology’s Basic Guidelines and Manual for conservation and reconstruction of heritage affected by devastating earthquake of 2015, using material close to the original building material at the time of its construction as per the traditional ethos, local traditions and values that sustains and enriches such living heritage sites in Nepal.

The decorative art surfaces and features such as repoussé work, decorative and non-decorative woodworks including timber members with traditional polychrome arts will be documented and conserved through minimal interventions. Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH)  has been engaged to provide technical support during the conservation and restoration work as per the Detailed Project Report approved by the government.

Believed to have been built in 10th Century AD during Malla era, the temple was damaged during the devastating earthquake of 2015. The temple located in the heart of Kathmandu city is visited by Hindus and Buddhist devotees to worship Seto Machindranath is considered to be one of the Protectors of the Kathmandu Valley.

SAARC handicraft exhibition and workshop concludes

SAARC Cultural Center organised SAARC Handicraft and Exhibition and Workshop at Patan Durbar Square, from September 9 to September 12.
During the inaugural event, minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yogesh Bhattarai said that events like the expo would be crucial for providing exposure to local products. “Such expos help to not only showcase the products but also share indigenous skills to participants from other countries," he said. 
The expo also witnessed participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. Handicrafts made in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka were showcased in the expo, according to the organiser. “Traditional and modern handicrafts are such properties that keep reminding the people about the rich culture of SAARC countries,” said secretary general of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Amjad Hussain B Sial, on the occasion.
“The exhibition brought together artisans from across the region to showcase their handicrafts under one roof, and to share their knowledge and skills locally and also internationally,” reads a press note issued by the SAARC Cultural Center.

काठमाडौंमा उस्ताद जाकिरको जादू

काठमाडौंको चिसो रात अनि पाल हालेको चौरभरी संगीत पारखीहरु कुरिरहेका छन्, तबलाका जादूगर उस्ताद जाकिर हुसेनको जादूमय तबलाबादन सुन्न । काठमाडौंले २० वर्षअघि उनको तबलाको जादू प्रत्यक्ष देखेको र सुनेको थियो । यसपटक २० वर्षपछि नेपाल–भारत कूटनीतिक सम्बन्ध स्थापनाको ७० वर्ष पुगेको अवसरमा भारतीय राजदूतावासले ‘जाकिर हुसेन इन कन्सर्ट’ आयोजना गरेको थियो, मंगलबार राति लैनचौरस्थित दूतावासको इन्डिया हाउस परिसरमा ।
जाकिरको तबला सुन्नमात्र होइन, हेर्न पनि मनमोहक थियो । तीव्र गतिमा तबलामा बजिरहेका उनका औंलाको जादू सुन्न जति आनन्ददायक रह्यो, हेर्न उत्ति नै आकर्षक ।
उद्घोषिकाले जब उस्ताद जाकिर हुसेन आउनै लागेको बताइन्, चिसो बिर्सिएर श्रोताहरुले तालीको गडगडाहटले स्वागत गरे । जब उनका औंलाहरु तबलामा नाच्न थाले, चिसो हरायो र उस्तादको तबलासँगै झुम्न थाले दर्शक । घरी रोमाञ्चित हँुदै, घरी आनन्दित हँुदै श्रोताहरुले करिब २ घन्टा चिसो रातमा पालमुनि विश्वकै लोकप्रिय तबलावादक जाकिर हुसेनको तबलाको जादूमा हराए । दर्शकमाझ उनले आधुनिक, शास्त्रीय तथा केही रमाइला वादन प्रस्तुत गरे र मन्त्रमुग्ध बनाए ।
उस्ताद जाकिरसँग सारंगीमा शबिर खान, ढोलकमा नवीन शर्मा र मृदंगमा अनन्त कृष्णन थिए । कन्सर्टको सुरुवात शबिर खानले आफ्नो सारंगीवादन मार्फत् गरे । भारतको विभिन्न पृष्ठभूमिका तथा फरक–फरक बाद्ययन्त्रमा उनीहरुले एउटै कथा सुनाए । “पहिला यो सम्भव थिएन । तर आज यो सम्भव भएको छ । संगीतले हामी सबैलाई जोडेको छ,” जाकिरले भने । कार्यक्रमको सुरुमा भारतीय राजदूत मन्जिव सिंह पुरीले उस्तादको टोलीलाई आफूहरूको निम्तो स्विकारिदिएकोमा धन्यवाद दिएका थिए ।

US gives $100,000 for restoration of Hindu temple in Nepal

The US has provided Nepal a financial assistance of $100,000 for the restoration of a 16th century Hindu temple, which was badly damaged in the 2015 devastating earthquake that jolted the Himalayan republic.
The US Embassy in Kathmandu, through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP), provided the amount to the Kathmandu Valley Preservation Trust (KVPT) for the restoration of the historic Char Narayan temple.
"Built in 1566, the temple demonstrates a significant and highly-developed expression of Newari architecture,” according to a statement issued by the embassy.
"Our work through the Ambassador’s Fund for Cultural Preservation serves as a symbol of the strong, vibrant partnership between our nations, as well as our respect for Nepal’s diverse and rich heritage,” Ambassador Teplitz said, adding, "As we celebrate the 70th year of diplomatic relations between our two countries, I am pleased to inaugurate the restoration work on Char Narayan as a tangible symbol of our mutual friendship."
Teplitz and director general of the Department of Archaeology Bhesh Narayan Dahal jointly inaugurated the restoration of the temple at a ceremony in Patan Durbar Square in the capital Kathmandu.
Combined with other donors, the funding will support the seismic strengthening and restoration of the Malla-era temple belonging to Lord Vishnu. The restoration work is expected to be completed within two years.
Nepal was hit by a massive 7.8 magnitude devastating earthquake in April 2015 that left nearly 9,000 people dead and as many as 22,000 injured.
According to a UN report, more than 300,000 houses were damaged in the earthquake.