TOUR DIARIES

Excitement was banging the door of ninth graders when they were told about the tour they were eagerly waiting for since the beginning of this session. Educational tour from school, it has always been my favorite activity and I've not missed any of it. Last year's was a memorable one but this year's tour was the most memorable tour of my school life because it was our last one. When it comes to tour our school never fails to amaze me. Last year's tour was amazing but this year's was far more beyond my expectation and imagination. It's all  thanks to our school administration for planning this wonderful tour for us ninth graders. Our school planned to take us on this amazing trip after our second terminal exam. I was excited for this tour since I started grade nine. And the tour was worth waiting for. Our school planned to take us to Chitwan, Lumbini, Palpa, Pokhara and Siddha cave.

Day 1: (Kathmandu to Chitwan)

All of the students were told to reach the school at 5:45 am. I was very excited for the tour so I woke up at 4 am and i woke my friend Albert he slept at my place because his house was far from school. We ate breakfast and got ready. All of us gathered at the school at 5:45 am just as planned. There were 27 students, 7 teachers and two brothers. We started our journey after loading our bags on the bus. I was very excited at the beginning I was frequently watching out of the window. But after some time i fell asleep. After a long ride on the bus we ate our lunch at camp springwood, Dhading. Then after a 2 hour long bus ride we reached Chitwan. Chitwan was far more better than my expectations. We stayed there at a resort. The place was very nice. We went for a jeep safari which turned out to be very memorable. I was vlogging with my friends on the jeep it was an awesome experience. We saw deer, kingfisher, stork, white stork and many more. After a long ride in the chitwan national park we went to see alive crocodiles and alligators. Then we went inside a museum there were dead bodies, bones and skulls of animals found inside the chitwan national park. After observing the animals we went to animal breeding center we saw many elephants and their babies. After observing the elephant breeding center, we returned to our resort. We had our breakfast enjoying  the beautiful sunset. The view was so beautiful. It was an awesome experience. Then we went to our respective rooms. We became fresh and changed our clothes. Then we went to observe the tharu culture dance which was awesome. Then we returned to our resort enjoyed the bonfire then we ate dinner. Then we went to our rooms. I was so excited that i didn't sleep all night. We stayed till 2:00 am then we slept.

Day 2: (Chitwan to Lumbini to Butwal)

 We were told to wake up at 5:30 am. I was feeling so sleepy but my friend were shouting in my ears trying to wake me up. I woke up, washed my face, dressed and got ready for another exciting day!! We packed our clothes, loaded it in the bus, had tea and started the journey again. After some hours we reached CG temple located at Nawalparasi. The temple was very nice. It was a foggy morning, the temple was all covered in fog. Then we had breakfast and went to Lumbini, the birth place of lord Gautam Buddha. There were so many monasteries but my favourite was the Mayadevi temple. I loved everything about it. The environment was so peaceful. We had lots of fun that day. We had planned to spend our night at Butwal. So we went to a hotel at Butwal which was very nice. We had dinner and all of us went to our room. I slept at 4:30 am.

Day 3: (Butwal to Palpa to Pokhara)

I was woken up by  my friends at 5:30 am. I slept only for 1 hour. Then i Washed my face, brushed my teeth and packed my clothes. Then we loaded our things on the bus and started the journey again! We went to Palpa. It was a nice place. Palpa is very famous for dhaka materials. Then we went to a museum in Palpa. We visited the bazaar of Palpa. Had lunch in a hotel near the bus park and left for Pokhara. After a 4 5 hour long ride on the bus, we finally reached Pokhara!! I spent most of the time at the bus by sleeping because i did not sleep at night. We went in a hotel and unloaded our luggages and entered our hotel room which was very nice. Then all of us got fresh. We ate dinner and all of the boys started playing mini militia in our room. i slept at 2:30 am.

Day 4: (Pokhara)

All of us were very excited on this day. Deepak sir came to our room and woke us up. We got ready by 5:30 and left for Sarangkot to watch the sunrise. Our bus reached the base of Sarangkot at around 30 minutes and we walked for another 30-45 minutes to reached the top. We found Dorje's lost brother there!! The sunrise view was amazing. After watching the sunrise we returned to the base. Then we went to bindhyabasini temple. We had our breakfast there. Then we went to KI Singh bridge to see the seti gorge. It wasvery deep.  We returned to our hotel for lunch. After lunch we went to Fewa Lake. We did boating there, we went to taal barahi temple at first. Then the brother took us around the lake. After reaching far enough from the temple Tshering, Anil and me asked the brother if we could row the boat. He gave us the oar. Tshering rowed the boat for some time then Anil and I sat on the two end of the boat and started rowing the boat turn by turn which turned to be an amazing experience. We were  having fun. Then we played race with the other boats on which our friends were sitting we started from last and  became third!! Then we went to David's falls, mountaineering museum and finally we had a walk on lakeside on the evening. After reaching hotel we ate pizza. Music was being played there, all of the students were dancing and having fun. We had our dinner late and all of us went to our respective rooms. We started packing our clothes for tomorrow's return Albert packed mine. Then we started playing games in our phone. We had planned to celebrate Anil's birthday at 12 O'clock. We celebrated his birthday, all of us wished him then we ate some chips, noodles, drank cold drinks and went to bed at 3 am.

Day 5: (Pokhara to Kathmandu)

We woke up a bit late that day. Then we loaded our belongings on the bus and left Pokhara for Siddha cave. We  had to walk for an hour to reach the entrance. Then we went inside the cave which was beyond my expectations. The cave was entirely natural which was very hard to believe!! Then we went deeper inside the cave we had to climb down a small cliff. Some of us went down with the help of rope and some with the help of ladder. Then we went inside a room on the cave which was also known as AC room. Then we returned to the opening of the cave. We walked all the way down to our bus then left for Kathmandu. We had our lunch in the way. I slept most of the time on the bus. We stopped to have fish at Malekhu which was  tasty. Then we reached Kathmandu at around 7:30 pm.

I would like to thank our school administration for planning this wonderful trip for us and taking good care of us. I made amazing memories with my friends which I can't forget. The tour gave us beautiful memories, very unforgettable ones.

THANK YOU!!!!!

Tihar 2K75

Tihar is the second biggest festival of Nepal after dashain. It is celebrated for five days. The first day of tihar is called kag tihar. The second day of tihar is called kukur tihar. The third day of tihar is called laxmi puja. The fourth day of tihar is called govardhan puja. And the last day of tihar is called Bha tika.

I did not play deusi bhailo at tihar. I went to the bazaar with my friends and brothers. We blasted bombs, jammed on the night and had fun. I also went to koshi river with my family. I returned to kathmandu 2 days after tihar.

DASHAIN 2K75

Dashain is celebrated to mark the victory, according to Hindu religious writings, of Ramayan over the evil demon-king, Ravana, and over the demon Mahisasur, who cruelly terrorised the people of India in the form of a raging water buffalo. The Hindu goddess Durga was said to be instrumental in winning these victories, so she is especially worshiped at this time. In general, the holiday season of Dashain is a celebration of “the triumph of good over evil,” though it is tied to specific Hindu stories. It has special significance in Hinduism and is celebrated for 15 days.

My dashain experience was awesome!! ,even though my family could not celebrate it because of my grandfather's death.. Every time dashain vacation starts I get only one thought in my mind "Going to village!!". I don't know why but every time I go to my village I get a different feeling and that feeling is awesome because I get to meet my childhood friends and do weird stuffs and dangerous stunts with them. One day I was on the bus park with my friends, they were doing just random bicycle stunts and suddenly one of my childhood friend came up with an idea of jumping the bicycle in high speed off the cemented roof which was more than 2 and a half foot high. At first everyone of us except him thought it was dangerous. But at last everyone agreed to do it taking turns. My friend who came up with the idea was doing it first. So, as agreed he jumped the bicycle, the jump was successful but unfortunately the landing was worse!! After the jump he flew off the bicycle like superman and fell down on the ground. He was hurt very badly. He got a hole on his forehead and on his cheek. Firstly all of us laughed but after we saw his condition all of us were worried. We called an auto and took him to the hospital. he got two stitches on his forehead and two on his cheek. The doctor told him to rest for a few days. After getting the stitches we took him to his house. He stayed on his house for a few days. After five days he came to meet us at the same place. We had some normal talk and then all of us including him laughed so hard till our stomach ached remembering his stupid idea.. We played carrom board at a hotel for some times . Then we went to the bazaar visited some places and went to a hotel, ate some foods and returned to my house. We stayed late till the night randomly jamming some songs. Then we slept at 2:00 am in the morning at my place. I also played a football tournament at my village. I used to go to play football in the ground that was in the bazaar with the brothers of Phidim Sporting Club. They were very nice to me. I also went to my mamaghar. I stayed there for six days. Even though I didn't celebrate dashain, I made amazing memories.

TEEJ

Teej

is a generic name for a number of Hindu festivals that are celebrated by women mainly in Nepal and some parts of India. Hartalika Teej welcomes the monsoon season and is celebrated primarily by girls and women, with songs, dancing and prayer rituals. The monsoon festivals of Teej are primarily dedicated to Goddess Parvati and her union with Lord Shiva.

Teej refers to the monsoon festivals, observed particularly in western and northern states of India, Nepal, and in some Southern states of India such a Telangana. The festivals celebrate the bounty of nature, arrival of clouds and rain, greenery and birds with social activity, rituals and customs.The festivals for women, include dancing, singing, getting together with friends and telling stories, dressing up with henna-coloured hands and feet, wearing red, green or orange clothes, sharing festive foods, and playing under trees on swings on Haryali Teej. The festivals are dedicated, in many parts of India and Nepal, to Parvati. Dedicated to the Goddess Parvarti, commemorating her union with Lord Shiva, the festival is celebrated for well-being of spouse and children and purification of one's body and soul. The festival is a three-day-long celebration that combines sumptuous feasts as well as rigid fasting. Teej is celebrated by women, for the long life of her husband and long and firm relationship between them in this life and all the lives to come. The folk music and dances add more flavor to traditional values of Teej. Women in red dance and sing in the street, going to temple in holy and fasting mood. Teej is also called Haritalika Teej. This festival is celebrated by Nepali Hindu women all across the world.

MY FATHER

My Father

My father's name is Sandip Lawati. He is 35 years old. He is a businessman. He is the one who works hard everyday for my family. He is the closest person to me. He is  very loving, caring and helpful person. He tells me everyday that to give something to needy person, never hold back. My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me. he is the reason i smile everyday. I love you dad!

JANAI PURNIMA

 JANAI PURNIMA

Janai Purnima is observed in the month of Shrawan. It is called Rakshya Bandhan as this festival observes the bond of purity and security.  This festival is celebrated by Hindus all over the world. 

Janai Purnima is Sacred Thread Festival. On this day, Hindu men, especially the Brahmins and Chettris perform their annual change of Janai and all who celebrates this festival put a scared thread around their wrist.

What is Janai

Janai is a cotton string worn across the chest by Hindu male. This thread is only given to males during a long and  impressive religious ceremony called Bratabandhan. Almost all the religion has type of Bratabandhan, but known by different names. Bratabandhan is basically a formal process of accepting someone in the religion.

  

The Janai initiates the boy into manhood and commands them to devotedly follow the religion and the path of truth. The Janai must be worn every day of their lives after they listen their mantra from the guru during the Bartabandha. 

Janai is regarded as symbol of body, speech and mind, and when the knots are tied the person wearing it is supposed to gain complete control over each of them.

This cord is changed if it becomes untidy or dishonored due to those acts which are forbidden by religion.  However, Janai must be changed without fail on Rakhsya Bandhan Day.

Meaning of Janai Purnima

Janai is sacred thread, and Purnima is full moon day,  thus it is Janai festival in the full moon day of Shrawan month of Bikram Sambat Calendar

When is Janai Purnima

Janai Purnima is on Shrawan Purnima. This year Janai Purnima is on Bhadra 12, 2072, that coincides with English Calendar date of August 29, 2015.

What do we do in Janai Purnima

A day before Janai purnima the persons wearing janai should make themselves 'clean' by shaving or cutting hair and take a good bath. They undergo a partial fasting, taking only one meal of foods considered to be 'clean' - no meat, no onions or garlic. Before big event Hindus prefer to clean their body by keeping fasting. Satvic food is prescribed for all Hindu ritual and festival. 

In the Purnima morning men usually go to rivers and ponds nearby, to take secret bath dipping himself thrice in the water. Men, then change their Janai. Break the old ones.  

However in cities, the family priest (Pandit / Puret) comes to the residence. The entire family gathers around pandit as he reads the importance and stories of the from a holy book (patro) and performs a ceremony, which purifies the new thread, and places it about the men’s neck across the chest. In a payment the priest is given foodstuffs and monies. The money is called Dakshina and other stuff are called Daan in Sanskrit.

RAKSHA BANDHAN

RAKSHA BANDHAN

Raksha Bandhan, also Rakshabandhan, or simply Rakhi, is a Hindu festival centred around the tying of a thread or ornamental bracelet on the right wrist as a form of bond and ritual protection between brother and sister. It's celebrated on the full moon day in the lunar month of Shravana. The day signifies the mutual bond of love between siblings.The festive Hindu and Jain ritual is one principally between brothers and sisters, observed both before and after she gets married thereby marking her continued relationship with her natal home and brothers. The rite is also found between priests and patrons, and sometimes by individuals to real or potential benefactors. Differing versions of the rite have been traditionally performed in northern India, western India,Nepal, and some Hindu, Jain and Sikh emigrants from the India since the 19th-century. It is alternately referred to as Saluno, Silono, and Rakri. The rituals associated with these rites, however, have spread beyond their traditional regions to much of India and have been transformed through technology and migration, the movies, social interaction, and promotion by politicized Hinduism, as well as as a occasion of national solidarity and state tradition. 

On this festival, sisters of all ages tie a cotton bracelet or amulet, called the rakhi, around the wrists of their brothers, ritually affirming the bond and support of her brothers, receiving a gift from them in return, and traditionally investing the brothers with a share of the responsibility of their potential care. The expression "Raksha Bandhan," Sanskrit, literally, "the bond of protection, obligation, or care," is now principally applied to this ritual. It has also applied to a similar ritual in which a domestic priest ties string bracelets on the wrists of his patrons and receives gifts of money. A ritual associated with Saluno includes the sisters placing shoots of barley behind the ears of their brothers. 

Of special significance to married women, Raksha Bandhan is rooted in the practice of territorial exogamy, in which a bride marries out of her natal village or town, and her parents, by custom, do not visit her in her married home. In rural north India, where territorial exogamy is strongly prevalent, large numbers of married Hindu women travel back to their parents' homes every year for the ceremony.Their brothers, who typically live with the parents or nearby, sometimes travel to their sisters' married home to escort them back. Many younger married women arrive a few weeks earlier at their natal homes and stay until the ceremony. The brothers serve as lifelong intermediaries between their sisters' married- and parental homes, as well as potential stewards of their security.

Among women and men who are not blood relatives, there is also a transformed tradition of voluntary kin relations, achieved through the tying of rakhi amulets, which have cut across caste and class lines, and Hindu and Muslim divisions. In some communities or contexts, other figures, such as a matriarch, or a person in authority, can be included in the ceremony in ritual acknowledgement of their benefaction. Raksha Bandhan is also celebrated by Hindu communities in other parts of the world. Although rooted in Hindu culture, the festival has no traditional prayers unambiguously associated with it. The religious myths claimed for it are disputed, and the historical stories associated with it considered apocryphal by some historians.