Dear Self

5 years of journey with WiSTEAM

I know that life hasn&#39;t been as smooth as you expected. You see, life is full of uncertainty, obstacles, and challenges. Not only that, you have to suffer in almost every step you take, every day. But what exactly is suffering? Stepping into this world itself is the beginning of suffering. When you had to struggle while stepping into this world itself, how could you expect life to pass with ease?

The only difference is, some struggle a little more, while some a little less. But a reminder: everyone has a problem in their own way. It&#39;s just that one&#39;s problem seems to be bigger than the other because you are the one living the problem/ suffering, not them. You always think that you&#39;re the only one who is suffering the most. But darling, you need to also remind yourself that everyone pretends to be living a happy life but cries within. Why? It&#39;s simply because society makes fun of people who cry. In addition to that, they depict that crying is a symbol of weakness and everyone wants to be acknowledged as being strong and confident. But I&#39;ve got a question to ask all such people: Who cares about the headache behind the scene? Crying isn&#39;t a weakness at all!&nbsp;

It&#39;s not your fault dear. It&#39;s our society who&#39;s at fault. Most people carry a sad face behind a happy face. The real mood of an individual can only be determined when he/ she is in the room alone. But who really cares? You, yourself have to take care of yourself, dear.&nbsp;

I know that you&#39;ve been feeling low and depressed lately. No one knows what you might be going through. Thanks to our already judgmental society, who doesn&#39;t even think once before passing a harsh comment or making fun! But, trust me! You are stronger than you think you are!&nbsp;

There are almost 8 billion people in the world, each having their own personal problems. Haven&#39;t you seen people who are suffering more than you could ever imagine and not giving up? If yes, I&#39;m sure you&#39;ve been motivated not to give up as well. But if not, there are plenty of examples that you should know of! From differently-abled people to the ones who have lost all of their loved ones and have nothing left in life! Just think of how they&#39;re fighting against all those and still choosing to live?&nbsp;

Remember, you are not only the one who&#39;s suffering. You aren&#39;t alone! Having suicidal thoughts and wanting to give up in the middle of the way is absolutely normal! But the majority of people do have the capacity to handle any pressure and you&#39;re one of them too! Besides, giving up will neither help you overcome the situation nor will make your loved ones happy. Think of your loved one before you get that thought again! Giving up isn&#39;t the solution at all dear!&nbsp;

Don&#39;t you know that hard and off roads often lead to the most beautiful destinations? Similarly, all the hardships and obstacles placed in your way are only making you stronger and wiser. So, don&#39;t stop believing in yourself, don&#39;t give up, and even take a break if you need to. I know it&#39;s easier said than done but do you know what? You simply matter! Your existence matters! You may not realize the impact you&#39;re creating on someone else&#39;s life! You may not realize the importance of yourself sometimes and it&#39;s absolutely alright too! You have to believe in yourself because if you don&#39;t, who will? Be grateful for the life you have because there is someone out there who&#39;s praying to have even 1% of that!&nbsp;

Your sufferings have taught you the most valuable life lessons that even your course books and teachers couldn&#39;t teach you. Life is indeed your greatest teacher and you ought to learn something new every day! You ought to keep negativity and harsh feelings aside and let in the light of positivity and love! Life is a precious gift, embrace it fully and live life graciously. You have your own goals and dreams which you always wanted to accomplish. But you want to give up on your life and dreams because of a few problems? You shouldn&#39;t jump, not at all. It&#39;s always one step at a time! You&#39;re more than those problems! You can overcome anything that comes as an obstacle to your life and dreams.&nbsp;

Lastly, focus on your good karma rather than worrying about the results. Break the stereotypes of society and go accomplish your goals! Come on, if not you, then who? If not now, then when?!&nbsp;

Love,&nbsp;

Self

Written by: Mila Bajracharya

Edited by: Sisya Chitrakar

&nbsp;

Pandemic and education

The COVID-19 pandemic has hugely affected education all around the globe, affecting nearly 1.6 billion learners in more than 200 countries (Pokhrel &amp; Chhetri 2021). &nbsp;The alarming spread of the virus caused havoc in the educational system forcing educational institutions to shut down. This shows that millions of children were deprived of getting an education due to the pandemic. Similarly, the spread of the virus also affected education in Nepal.

&nbsp;

The pandemic has led to the closing of almost all the educational institutions like schools, colleges, universities, and early childhood development centers in Nepal. The government of Nepal has temporarily closed down all the educational institutions to reduce the widespread of the virus among the people. Thus, the exams and other educational events had to be postponed. &nbsp;As of the second week of May 2020, (UNESCO,2020) estimates that nearly nine million (8,796,624) students in Nepal are affected due to school/university closures in response to the pandemic.

&nbsp;

The closure of these institutions has highly affected the education as well as the mental health of the students, especially teenagers. Schools and colleges play a significant role in supporting the mental health of children. The lockdown has also discouraged socializing with other people so youngsters are confined inside their homes. So, living in such a crisis is impacting their social, mental, and physical wellbeing. The COVID-19 has disrupted the school life and education of many children resulting in social exclusion and dropping out in general. This social exclusion has also been resulting in the feeling of liking isolated places in the youngster. For instance due to the lockdown the youngsters these days like a sedentary lifestyle rather than going out and socializing.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The sudden lockdown has impacted not only the youngsters but also the teachers. Sudden change in the teaching module from the physical classroom to remote classroom, has made it difficult for teachers to adapt, especially teachers who are not familiarized with technology and online methods of teaching. The teachers were not prepared for the online classroom before so this instant change in teaching methodology was very difficult for teachers as well as students.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Online education or distance learning is dependent on technology, including the internet and Wi-Fi, but all of the students don&rsquo;t have access which widens the gaps in access and quality of education. There are possible three digital divides that are affecting the education system in the world, especially in South Asian countries.

&nbsp;

<ol>
	<li style="list-style-type:decimal">Lack of Device: Many children in Nepal do not have access to remote devices like mobile phones, laptops, or computers. According to the Nepali government, 18.7 percent Nepali population are living under the poverty line currently. So the majority of children don&#39;t have these devices. The teachers have access to mobile phones but the majority may not have smartphones which is the reason they are not able to conduct online classes and making online classes not possible. Hence, students coming from families with low socio-economic status are likely to be severely affected by such conditions.</li>
</ol>

&nbsp;

<ol start="2">
	<li style="list-style-type:decimal">Lack of access to the internet: The students and teachers who have access to remote devices do not have access to internet service. As a result, they cannot join or conduct the classes virtually.</li>
</ol>

&nbsp;

<ol start="3">
	<li style="list-style-type:decimal">Effective use of technology: One of the limitations of remote learning is lack of personal interaction between teachers and students which is limiting the learning abilities in children. Another is that the teachers and students are effectively not able to use the available devices. There was no training for teachers about conducting the classes virtually as a result the teachers are not able to properly conduct classes and are continuously facing problems.</li>
</ol>

&nbsp;

For the effectiveness of remote education all over the country, the barriers mentioned above need to be eliminated. If the teachers and students both have access to devices and the internet then education or learning can be effective. On the other hand, the students are facing lots of problems during their virtual class. The online class is only based on theoretical models of teaching, as a result, the students are not able to get practical or hands-on knowledge. It is very difficult for the students to understand subjects like math and also difficult for the teachers to explain the formulas or processes of mathematics.&nbsp;

 
 
Reference:&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Pokhrel, S., &amp; Chhetri, R. (2021). A Literature Review on Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Teaching and Learning. Higher Education for the Future, 8(1), 133&ndash;141. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/2347631120983481" style="text-decoration:none">https://doi.org/10.1177/2347631120983481</a>

&nbsp;

Dawadi, Saraswati; Giri, Ram; Simkhada, Padam (2020): Impact of COVID-19 on the Education Sector in Nepal - Challenges and Coping Strategies. Sage Submissions. Preprint. <a href="https://doi.org/10.31124/advance.12344336.v1" style="text-decoration:none">https://doi.org/10.31124/advance.12344336.v1</a>&nbsp;

&nbsp;

UNESCO (2020): COVID-19: Impact on Education. UNESCO, Available at: https://en.unesco.org/covid19/educationresponse&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

 
 
 
&nbsp;

LGBTQI in Nepal

Gender is one of the most important areas of Community development.&nbsp; &quot;Gender&quot; means masculinity and femininity and not male and female. Gender refers to the socially constructed roles, responsibilities, attributes, characteristics, and power relations that are assigned to men and women of a given society or community. These constructs can vary greatly by culture, tradition, norms, values, geographic region, socioeconomic status, and context, and they change over time. Your deeply-held inner feelings of whether you&rsquo;re female or male, both, or neither is your gender identity. It is about how individuals perceive themselves as and their identity. One&rsquo;s gender identity can be the same or different from the sex assigned at birth (Human Rights Campaign). Some people may identify as a man or a woman and some may have a gender identity that doesn&rsquo;t fit into one of these genders and identify themselves as LGBTIQA+ (Diversity and Inclusion, AHS). &#39;LGBTIQA+&#39; is an umbrella term that stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, asexual. One&rsquo;s gender identity can be the same or different from the sex assigned at birth (Human Rights Campaign).&nbsp;

There have always been issues on gender disparity in Nepal but it is only recently that people are being more vocal and the discussion and issues of gender-related things are being raised and have come out to the mainstream especially issues related to LQBTQA+. For about a decade now, Nepal has been leading LGBT rights progress in Asia and globally, due to various achievements in the field of LGBT that started with a decisive 2007 Supreme Court decision in which the court acknowledged that LGBT individuals should enjoy the same legal rights as other citizens. Supreme Court ordered the government to legally recognize a third gender category, audit all laws to identify those that discriminated against LGBT people, and form a committee to study legal recognition of same-sex relationships (Knight. 2017). After the court&rsquo;s decision, the Nepal government worked to identify laws and policies that needed to change to eliminate discrimination against LGBT people and help them come into the mainstream. Nepal has made remarkable achievements in the sector of LGBTQI rights by changing the way of thinking.&nbsp;

Conservation patriarchal Nepali society considered LQBTQI as a sin for committing a crime in their previous life or god&rsquo;s wrath and they were successful in changing the mindset of people to be more open about it and to address the rights. By 2010, the Election Commission had added the third option to voter&rsquo;s roll and immigration forms swiftly followed suit. In 2011, Nepal was the world&rsquo;s first country to include the third gender on its federal census (Knight. 2017). The term &lsquo;Third gender&rsquo; here is used as an umbrella term for gender variance and gender and sexual minorities (GSM). In 2015, the Nepal government started issuing passports that recognized three genders. In the same year, Nepal became the world&rsquo;s 10th country to specifically protect LQBTQ people in its constitution (Knight. 2017).&nbsp;

Despite many achievements LGBTQI community in Nepal still face challenges. They are still excluded from society even though the government has made policies for them and provided them with identity and rights. Despite LGBTQI discrimination is illegal in Nepal, they have to face all forms of discrimination and oppression such as lack of employment opportunities and prejudice when accessing health care, marriage, housing, and education. LGBTQI community members experience, prejudice, stigma, violence, discrimination, and victimization in the course of their lives. According to the Blue Diamond Society, In the context of LGBTQI, most of them are still hidden and are in the closet. They are a marginalized group within the marginalized community. This is the group suppressed by the patriarchal system, and breaking the closet is a nightmare (Blue Diamond Society, 2018 January).&nbsp;

Many LGBTQI members are still hidden as their family members often keep the sexual orientation a secret for fear of shame and stigmatized and some are afraid to disclose it to their family members in the fear of loss of family, rejection from family and friends where society does not accept them for who they are and violent consequences which can ultimately lead to depression, anxiety, a sense of fear, shame. Acceptance by families is severely limited due to overwhelming social and cultural pressures to enter a marriage with the opposite gender and fulfill the gender role that comes with it. Same-sex couples may find it difficult to find housing or experience discrimination from neighbors. LGBTQI members also face barriers in accessing the health sector as it prevents them from fully accessing and utilizing health services. They are discriminated against by health service providers because of their gender and people from rural areas who have no idea about LGBTI, gender, and gender identity, they think their child has some health problem and take them to the hospital to cure them or for traditional healing methods. As said above, they are a marginalized group within the marginalized community but they do not have any government quota, positive discrimination, special advantage, or benefits to ensure social inclusion as other recognized marginalized groups such as Dalits, Janajati, Muslims, Women, etc.&nbsp;

Some serious issues faced by the LGBTQI community are the dropout from the school due to homophobic, biphobic, and transphobic bullying, and the lack of an LGBTQI friendly environment in educational settings such as toilets. Prejudice can come from other students, their parents, and also from teachers and education officials. To ensure proper education and to minimize dropout rates, training needs to be done for teachers and staff in schools to ensure the physical safety and mental well-being of LGBT youth. Furthermore, schools and educational systems also should establish anti-discrimination laws. Transgender students are denied access to exams or get enrolled in schools, colleges because of problems with identification cards and uniforms. Transgender people confront explicit discrimination including physical and verbal attacks when their citizenship or identity documents may not reflect their chosen gender. They also have difficulties in obtaining documents in their preferred gender which would then be a barrier to them when seeking employment, further education, or migrating to other countries.

Gender and community development need to go together to make community development sustainable by incorporating all the genders with equal participation and involvement.&nbsp; To make effective and inclusive development we have to ensure the participation of marginalized communities such as LGBTQI, elderly, children, people with disabilities, women, indigenous groups, minorities group, etc. From the surface, it may look like there is no problem but as we look more and deeper into it, we can see the situation of the LGBTQI community and women more clearly. To remove the gender disparity from society it is very important to find the root cause and search for possible solutions for it such as changing the perception of the people towards the LGBTQI. Providing quotas and other positive discriminations can help the LGBTQI community to come out in society. The role of organizations and agencies encouraging LGBTQI is also very important to encourage the community to readily accept the identity of LGBTQI people and also LGBTQI people to be open about their gender identity. Collaboration with civil society, organizations, development partners, and various government ministries has shown a positive response.

In Nepali society, where we give values to family, relationships, social norms, values, and culture, the lack of family and community support and help can have a huge impact on the mental and physical health of LGBTQI people. Even though people support alternative sexualities and gender identities, when it comes to day-to-day behavior, there is an urgent need to change the ground reality. Discrimination, prejudice, and abuse against the LGBTQI community are still prevalent in the region. In Nepal, the legalization of homosexuality by the court is only the first battle among many that are yet to come.

Considerable progress is being made in advancing human rights for LGBTQI individuals in Nepal. The government of Nepal used to consider third gender persons to be &lsquo;unnatural&rsquo;, &lsquo;sin from a past life&rsquo;, and &lsquo;perverted&rsquo; until not long ago. But things have been getting better in recent years, people are being more accepting and organizations and activists working for the rights of LGBTTQI people are also being successful in changing the mindset of people. The court recognized third gender persons as &lsquo;natural people&rsquo; and ordered the government to end all discrimination against third gender persons by formulating appropriate laws and amending existing laws to ensure their rights. Through amendments of some laws and by making egalitarian policies (emphasizing equality and equal treatment across gender, religion, economic status, and political beliefs), Nepal has shown signs of change in gender equality. With the positive change in Nepal, the third gendered people have started to come out of the closet demanding equal rights on par with other genders. Given a disparity in policy, legal provisions, and actual practice, a better understanding of the perceptions and experiences of various agencies towards LGBTQI is essential which in turn may promote better harmony, inclusion, and justice in the society.

<h4>&nbsp;</h4>

<h4>Reference</h4>

<ul>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Asano, S. n.d. GENDER ISSUES IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. Retrieved 22 07, 2021, from <a href="https://faculty.washington.edu/jhou/rim/2004/papers/SatokoAsano.pdf" style="text-decoration:none">&nbsp;https://faculty.washington.edu/jhou/rim/2004/papers/SatokoAsano.pdf</a></li>
</ul>

<ul>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Blue Diamond Society. &ldquo;Discrimination and violence against lesbian and bisexual women and transgender persons in Nepal&rdquo;. 2018.<a href="https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CEDAW/Shared%20Documents/NPL/INT_CEDAW_NGO_NPL_30008_E.pdf" style="text-decoration:none"> https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/Treaties/CEDAW/Shared%20Documents/NPL/INT_CEDAW_NGO_NPL_30008_E.pdf</a>. Accessed 07 12 2021.</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Brownie, E. (2014, 02 03). Gender in community-driven development. Retrieved 23 07, 2021, from http://gsdrc.org/docs/open/hdq1079.pdf</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Chhetri, G. n.d.&nbsp; Perceptions About The &ldquo;Third Gender&rdquo; In Nepal. Dhaulagiri Journal of Sociology and Anthropology Vol.11, 2017. DOI:<a href="http://dx.doi.org/11.3126/dsaj.v11i0.18824" style="text-decoration:none"> http://dx.doi.org/11.3126/dsaj.v11i0.18824</a></li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Crawley, M., O&rsquo;Meara, L. (2002, March). GENDER EQUALITY in Community Development. NDP. <a href="http://www.mariecrawley.com/geu.community.pdf" style="text-decoration:none">http://www.mariecrawley.com/geu.community.pdf</a> . Accessed 07 4 2021.</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Jain, D.,&nbsp; DasGupta, D. (2021). Law, gender identity, and the uses of human rights: The paradox of recognition in South Asia, Journal of Human Rights, 20:1, 110-126, DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/14754835.2020.1845129" style="text-decoration:none">10.1080/14754835.2020.1845129</a></li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Alberta. (2020, December 18). Gender, gender identity, and gender expression. <a href="https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/gender-ID-expression-LGBTQ.aspx" style="text-decoration:none">&nbsp;https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Alberta/Pages/gender-ID-expression-LGBTQ.aspx</a>. Accessed 07 18 2021.</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Human Rights Campaign. n.d.&nbsp; Sexual orientation and Gender Identity Definitions.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.hrc.org/resources/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-terminology-and-definitions" style="text-decoration:none">https://www.hrc.org/resources/sexual-orientation-and-gender-identity-terminology-and-definitions</a>. Accessed 07 13 2021.</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Khanal, D. (2015, 15 December). Gender and its relation with community Development and in the context in Nepal. SHARING4GOOD. <a href="http://www.sharing4good.org/article/gender-and-its-relation-community-development-and-context-nepal" style="text-decoration:none">http://www.sharing4good.org/article/gender-and-its-relation-community-development-and-context-nepal</a>. Accessed 07 20 2021.</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Knight, K. (2017, August 11). How Did Nepal Become a Global LGBT Rights Beacon?. World Politics Review.<a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/08/11/how-did-nepal-become-global-lgbt-rights-beacon" style="text-decoration:none">https://www.hrw.org/news/2017/08/11/how-did-nepal-become-global-lgbt-rights-beacon</a></li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">UNDP, USAID. (2014). Being LGBT in Asia: Nepal Country Report. Bangkok. Retrieved from: https://www.usaid.gov/sites/default/files/documents/1861/Being_LGBT_in_Asia_Nepal_Country_Report.pdf</li>
</ul>

&nbsp;

My period story

Menstruation is the natural process where a female bleeds from her vagina every month as a part of the monthly cycle. However, in Nepal, it is still considered to be taboo. According to Plan International, 67% of girls from Nepal are not allowed to attend religious functions while menstruating (Buitenbos, 2021). Most girls might have their own untold stories of their struggles. Here&rsquo;s my personal experience with period taboo and how I was able to at least bring a small change in my home.&nbsp;

I grew up in Kathmandu, which is the capital city of the country, and had a normal childhood. I belong to a brahmin family, the highest-ranking caste of the four varnas of the caste system as per our cultures in Nepal. Since my family strongly believes in existing caste systems and follows the cultures, I had to go through so many restrictions inside my house. My grandfather as head of the family was very strict about the rules of my house and made sure everyone followed him. As a result of this, when I was a child, I was not allowed to touch my grandfather while he was eating, not allowed to wear slippers inside the kitchen and so many other restrictions. Over the years, I realized that with all these restrictions, my mother was suffering continuously during her periods. When she was on her period she was restricted to touch anything not even the floor carpet and sleeps separately on the ground. The most hurting part for me was that my mother believed that she becomes impure during her monthly cycle and started to accept it as her fate.

I was thirteen years old when I had my first period. It was then when I understood the difficulties that my mother had to face. Menstruation is such a taboo that I was not encouraged to share freely about it even with my mother. I remember struggling with my pads and extreme pains that I managed to overcome by myself. As soon as I had my first bleed, my family took me to a room without sunlight where I was supposed to stay for twelve days as a part of the culture. But since I was studying in grade seven already, dropping my classes for that long was not possible hence resume school from the fourth day.

Another incident after a few years during my period left me shattered. My brother and I were sitting on a terrace in the sun. At that very moment, my grandfather came and sat next to me while I didn&rsquo;t realize it. My grandmother saw us together and immediately confronted my grandfather saying &ldquo;why are you sitting with her when she is on her period?&rdquo; All of a sudden my grandfather stood up and requested my grandmother to bring him a new Janai, a sacred thread. He took a shower just because I got in contact. The very moment was very awful. Thus, I started realizing the feeling of discrimination that girls had to face.&nbsp;

Initially, as a child, I lacked understanding but later started analyzing things happening around me. Firstly, I was not allowed to watch the sun during my first cycle,&nbsp; it was weird for me but I couldn&#39;t actually talk about it. Then, my parents always taught me that this period is a shame and we should not talk about it freely. Since Brahmins are considered to be priests and have to be pure as per our cultures, cultural restrictions got multiplied for me. My family also informed me to stay in my room during my menstruation and not to go to any other room. Therefore, I followed them since I was scared to speak up often given that Nepalese society follows a hierarchy within families.&nbsp;

It was Dashain time, the biggest festival of Nepal which is celebrated in almost every part of Nepal. I was fully enjoying the festival as Dashain only comes once a year. Unfortunately, I had my period on the day of Navami, the ninth day of Dashain. The tenth day was Bijaya Dashami, the day when we put on tika. Even though I was scared, I decided to keep it a secret and get tika on Dashami. One of the reasons behind this is I was following continuous stories in social media where many girls shared stories about how they had put on tika during their period. This has also influenced me to follow the same. So on Bijaya Dashami, I got up early, took a shower and got a tika, and did everything as any normal girl would do on the day of Dashami or any other day. I went to temples and to relatives to put tika and even helped my mother in the kitchen yet I didn&rsquo;t see any differences in things when I touched them. Now, this got me to ignite the curiosity,&nbsp;why my family is imposing those restrictions? As I reached higher grades I realized that this mindset of considering period as a taboo, girls as impure during their monthly cycle are untrue and are creating discrimination against women in society. Menstruation is the normal phenomenon that every woman has to go through every month and it doesn&rsquo;t have anything to do with the impurities.&nbsp;

Most of the time, I feel happiness and satisfaction inside me despite the fact I was not able to share my story with my family. As a woman, it takes so many years to unlearn things that we were made to feel sorry about which is why somehow keeping secret with my own family during the biggest festival was also breaking me inside sometimes. But, I managed to gather the courage to engage them by conveying a message of dissatisfaction with the period taboos and opted for the smaller transformations. Therefore, after a few days of Bijaya Dashami, I decided to tell my mother about putting on a tika in spite of having my period. I was also prepared for her anger. But to my surprise, she acted normal. She told me &ldquo;Yes, I think the time has come when we finally change the perception regarding period.&rdquo; Finally, this gave me the strength that I was doing the right thing and should not feel guilty about it. Then slowly the thought of changing my family&rsquo;s perception came to my mind. Despite my family being strict I started going inside every room and telling them that nothing will happen and touched the furniture and other things inside the room during my period. Initially, my grandfather and grandmother scolded me for getting inside the room but eventually, they stopped scolding and caring much about me going inside the room during my cycle.&nbsp;

Today, the transformation makes me happy but also aware that there is a long way to go. The changes from the incidents like my grandfather taking a shower and changing his sacred thread after being in contact with me, the Dashain incident when I managed to keep my monthly cycle secret to recently normalizing the contacts, the journey wasn&rsquo;t easy that many girls might have to go through. Although my grandfather was being liberal about me, I still find it difficult to change his attitude towards being impure. Although it is a long process of changing the mindset of all family members, I personally feel happy to be able to share my story with my mother and get a positive response from her. Therefore, I am continuously working to make awareness and normalizing periods taboo and I am happy to eliminate so many restrictions that we had initially for the long run.

 
 
&nbsp;

Reference&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Buitenbos, D. (2021, May 19). 4 FIRST PERIOD STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD. Plan International. <a href="https://stories.plancanada.ca/4-first-period-stories-from-around-the-world/">https://stories.plancanada.ca/4-first-period-stories-from-around-the-world/</a>&nbsp;

STEAM Education in Nepal

Have you ever closed your eyes and tried to imagine a picture of a scientist, doctor, nurse, engineer, teacher, air hostess, pilot, and plumber in your mind? I might not be wrong to guess most of you imagined a scientist, doctor, engineer, pilot, and plumber as a male figure in your head whereas you imagined a nurse, air hostess, and teacher as a female figure. Although the stereotype is changing and men are also into nursing and females are also into engineering, scientists but the gap is still there. Engineering is still seen as a &lsquo;male profession&rsquo; and the workplace is highly dominated by males despite the change in attitude in our society. Even in our schools; Maths, Science and Arts have been in the curriculum for a long time and in recent decades Technological subjects such as computer science are also being introduced but what about engineering? Engineering as a subject is still missed in our school curriculum which is why most students do not have early exposure to this subject.&nbsp;

Education for students in STEAM( Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) is gaining popularity recently due to its potential to enhance science learning and broaden participation in science and technology through various practical approaches to learning in this technologically advanced era. As we are moving towards the fourth industrial revolution, new technology, skills, jobs will be generated for which we need to produce a generation that is capable of handling these future challenges and STEAM education helps one to achieve that. STEAM education should increase the students&#39; understanding of how things work and improve their use of technologies&nbsp; (Bybee, 2010). It allows and supports children to&nbsp;think critically, thoughtful risks, engage in experiential learning, persist in problem-solving, embrace collaboration, and work through the creative process (Education Commission of the States, March 2019; INSTITUTE FOR ARTS INTEGRATION &amp; STEAM RESEARCH., n.d.). We should integrate all disciplines of STEAM and develop deep technical and professional skills which can meet the demand and address the challenges of the 21st century (Bybee, 2010). Various efforts have been made to improve the education system including the integration of computer science, different science projects, and brainstorming ideas in the school curriculum.

After the post-world war Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) subjects started to gain popularity as the US economy boomed with the consumption of new goods ultimately raising the living standard of the people drastically (Banks &amp; Barlex, 2014). Following the US, Europe also promoted and encouraged STEM and provided jobs for returning servicemen and other workers (Banks &amp; Barlex, 2014). STEM has become a buzzword in the world of education (Thomas, 2020) and the former president of the Rhode Island School of Design, John Maeda started the movement on the transformation of STEM to STEAM, campaigning to add &ldquo;arts&rdquo; to STEM (Gunn, 2020).&nbsp;

The approach of integrating art with STEM, also known as STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math), has gained tremendous popularity over the last several decades due to its potential to enhance science learning and broaden participation in science (Vossoughi &amp; Bevan, 2014). The challenges, issues, and complex problems served by scientific thinkers today require 21st-century professionals who go beyond traditional thinking and who can think creatively. Teaching and learning that connects the arts and sciences are essential because integrating arts makes science most effective and fun. Adding arts to STEM doesn&rsquo;t fade the other four disciplines but rather enhances the framework inciting a greater sense of creativity and curiosity. Therefore, a number of schools worldwide are incorporating teaching methods that are more in line with STEAM education, as the use of arts makes the explanations easier to understand, makes learning more fun, and keeps the students more engaged.&nbsp;

Though the concept of STEAM is not new in developed countries, in Nepal it is a relatively new term. Only a few organizations, schools, and government authorities are working for it and many do not even know what STEAM is. We can still see the underrepresentation of women in STEAM fields not only in Nepal but globally, which continues to be a problem. Gender stereotypes, male-dominated culture, fewer role models, math anxiety, confidence gap, and occupational segregation that is still prevalent in most areas are the reason why there are fewer women in these fields (AAUW)&nbsp; as STEAM fields are often viewed as masculine, and teachers and parents often underestimate girls&rsquo; abilities on technical studies starting as early as preschool (Wallenius, 2017).&nbsp;

After the Basic and Primary Education Plan (BPEP 1 and BPEP 2) and introduction of the School Sector Reform Plan (SSRP), the Government of Nepal has prepared an education sector plan covering the period July 2016- July 2023, called the School Sector Development Plan (SSDP). It aims for inclusive and equitable access, participation, and learning outcomes of the education system through Investment of US$6.66 billion from 2016-2023 in multiple areas including teacher management and professional development; school governance and management; institutional capacity development; disaster risk reduction; school safety, monitoring, evaluation, and assessment; examination and accreditation, ICT, and health and nutrition. (Government of Nepal Ministry of Communication and Information Technology, 2019, pg.no. 85).&nbsp;

Even though the Nepal Government has made various plans and policies it is not being implemented properly. In rural areas and public schools, students face problems such as lack of equipped library, computer facility, lack of basic infrastructure, discrimination, and so on resulting in high dropout rates. Even though SSDP has plans to improve the basic education system, provide quality education, expand the role of ICT in education, and many more, it does not especially mention STEAM education or STEAM approach of teaching. (Government of Nepal, Ministry of Education, 2016) Nepal&#39;s school education system is in the transforming phase by reforming curriculum, textbooks, and education policy to make education more integrated from the basic level to the upper level (CDC, 2007; Belbase, 2019). This initiative will be the first small step towards big change. Schools and teachers will also understand what STEAM is and its importance in children&rsquo;s life through various awareness and training.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h2>Reference</h2>

&nbsp;

<ul>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">AAUW. (n.d.). The STEM Gap: Women and Girls in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. AAUW. Retrieved 23 05, 2021, from <a href="https://www.aauw.org/resources/research/the-stem-gap/" style="text-decoration:none">https://www.aauw.org/resources/research/the-stem-gap/</a></li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Banks, F., &amp; Barlex, D. (2020). Teaching STEM in the secondary school (2nd ed.). New York: Routledge. (2nd Edition ed.). DOI: <a href="https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429317736" style="text-decoration:none">https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429317736</a></li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Belbase, S. (2019, December). STEAM Education Initiatives in Nepal. The STEM Journal, 4 (1), 10. 10.5642/steam.20190401.07</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Bybee, R. W. (2010, August 27). What Is STEM Education? 329 (5995), 996. DOI: 10.1126/science.1194998</li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Government of Nepal, Ministry of Education. (2016). School Sector Development Plan 2016/17-2022/23. <a href="http://www.moe.gov.np/assets/uploads/files/SSDP_Book_English_Final_July_5,_20171.pdf" style="text-decoration:none">http://www.moe.gov.np/assets/uploads/files/SSDP_Book_English_Final_July_5,_20171.pdf</a></li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Institute for ARTS INTEGRATION and STEAM. (n.d.). What is STEAM Education? Retrieved 07 10, 2021, from: <a href="https://artsintegration.com/what-is-steam-education-in-k-12-schools/" style="text-decoration:none">https://artsintegration.com/what-is-steam-education-in-k-12-schools/</a></li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">International Labour Organization (ILO). 30 April 2018. Women and men in the informal economy: A statistical picture. Third Edition. Retrieved from: <a href="https://www.ilo.org/global/publications/books/WCMS_626831/lang--en/index.htm" style="text-decoration:none">https://www.ilo.org/global/publications/books/WCMS_626831/lang--en/index.htm</a></li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Makarova, E., Aeschlimann, B., &amp; Herzog, W. (2019, July 10). The Gender Gap in STEM Fields: The Impact of the Gender Stereotype of Math and Science on Secondary Students&#39; Career Aspirations. <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2019.00060" style="text-decoration:none">https://doi.org/10.3389/feduc.2019.00060</a></li>
	<li style="list-style-type:disc">Thomas, A. (2020, August 3). The History and Importance of STEAM Education. https://www.steamtruck.org/blog/steam-education-history-importance</li>
</ul>

Wallenius, J. T. (2017). Challenging gender roles through STEM education in Nepal. <a href="https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017PhDT.........6W/abstract" style="text-decoration:none">https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2017PhDT.........6W/abstract</a>

My journey to technology

&ldquo;Computers, software, applications, staring at the screen all day long, not my jam. I got a life I am not spending on that&quot;. I claimed. Little did I know that I would end up on the very field. I wasn&rsquo;t a techie, nor a STEM enthusiast and had other plans, but life dumped me into an engineering college. So now, I am an Undergraduate Software Engineering Student, and here&rsquo;s my journey into the tech world.

After graduating through SLC, high school in Science, and a good year invested in self. I got admitted to Nepal College of Information Technology in 2016 as a software engineering student. I had absolutely no idea what I was doing in college. I found out I wasn&rsquo;t alone; my people have stories similar, with their own twists. Only a few being genuinely interested in technology and others for the sake of a degree, we came together as a class of 2020.

The beginning days were an actual struggle. Getting started with programming, understanding the terms, even the computer was painful. But the more I spent my time I grew ambitious. I wanted to reach great heights, but reality hit one by one in the form of errors and bugs, it&#39;s frustrating. I had fewer people to seek help and more on my plate than I could endure. For a curious mind, not being able to solve a problem hits, either way. You like exploring, and the rush of solving a problem provides you with a sense of pleasure. And the other being you get bored, you get too tangled with no way out and eventually let it be. I&rsquo;ve been through both.&nbsp;

Engineering taught me numerous things about life and living. It taught me decision-making&nbsp;the day I went with technology as a choice and sticking to that. My shift from an impulsive decision-maker to taking a step back for analyzing things before deciding has been a great deal.

Patience and dedication, as I patiently wait to mend my broken laptop, software, and program to run. With the passion I put in the work despite the hindrances, I learned hard work does pay off.

These things won&#39;t happen in a blink of an eye but take several sleepless nights.

Critical thinking, we are taught to see several aspects and rationally recognize the pros and cons of any work before starting, which led me to be a critical thinker.

Problem-solving, I can proudly claim, I have become a better problem solver. After years of dealing with a number of obstacles, I learned to tackle them, rather logically and avoid the possibility.

Pressure Handling, assessments, assignments, exams, projects, I have literally attained the power to work under pressure and not go crazy. Be it submitting assignments on the due date, or completing the syllabus a night before exams I found my way to getting along with the stress.&nbsp;

It prepares you for failure. With multiple backlogs and re-exams, one gets lost in the loop. Then there are errors, bugs, failed programs, and so on, realizing that failure is a part of life. It is not a setback, but an opportunity for a comeback.

My journey so far has been a rollercoaster, for someone just starting and has a lot to catch up with, looking forward to more of the craziness in technology. Beginning with representation, fighting with biases, and making a place for myself in the field. I know I wished things differently, but as I walked this path, I found it to be more interesting. The possibilities are insane, and with a will to achieve, there is a lot this space has to offer you. You look sincerely, understand, use information, and every shining object can turn into gold.

 
&nbsp;

Top 8 Practices for better mental health.

Mental health is one of the most discussed words on the internet, yet most ignored in the community. Anxiety, depression, mood swings and other crucial issues, we often overlook the situations and people that require help.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Feeling ashamed of admitting the symptoms, trying to hide it rather than acknowledging it and eventually end up in different tragic situations like suicide.

&nbsp;

Based on police data and projections, the World Health Organisation put Nepal as the country with the 7th highest suicide rate in the world (24.9 per 100,000). Public health experts say that suicide is the symptom, and that the actual disease is poor mental health.

&nbsp;

In 2009, the Nepalese Family Health Division&rsquo;s Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Study published the &ldquo;shocking finding&rdquo; that suicide was the leading cause of death for women of reproductive age (15-49).&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Nepal has a relatively high ratio of female: male suicides (30.1/100,000 for men, 20.0/100,000 for women) and stands out as being ranked 17th for male suicide rates but 3rd for female suicide rates. While male suicide rates are higher, an estimation that Nepalese women attempt to suicide three times more than men do. However, the numbers improved till 2016 having a ratio of female: male suicides being 1.43, yet thousands of lives are at risk.

&nbsp;

Suicide is one of the major reasons as neglected or unaddressed mental health problems. But today we aren&rsquo;t talking about the problems. We discuss the solutions to improve our mental state, diverting our emotional response from stress and strain, to peace and contentment.

let&rsquo;s begin.

&nbsp;

<h1>Meditation and exercise</h1>

&nbsp;

Meditation is a practice where an individual uses a technique&ndash;such as mindfulness or focusing the mind on a particular object, thought, or activity&ndash;to train attention and awareness, and achieve a mentally clear and emotionally calm, and stable state.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

An hour of silence before starting my day has proved to be the most comforting thing. And I can guarantee that it can work miracles on you. If you are a beginner, start with 5 minutes a day, then 10 and 15, and so on. And if you are already on the path to enlightenment, then you know what I am talking about.

&nbsp;

Then comes the exercise.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Exercise develops your physical and mental state. Any form of exercise, starting from yoga, joining gyms, boxing, Zumba, swimming, jogging, or anything that requires the movement of the body parts is sufficient.

&nbsp;

Some time for yourself after waking up, some meditation and movement of the body are effective for your mental state.

So why not start now?

&nbsp;

<h1>Traveling/ exploring&nbsp;</h1>

&nbsp;

Travelling is one of the most rational things you could do for yourself. Going to places, connecting to nature, exploring the diversity and cultures, traveling provides people with a unique prospect.

&nbsp;

One feels rejuvenated, and it heals the stress. It improves your patience for uncertainty, if you haven&rsquo;t explored yourself, traveling will make it happen. You get to meet a new you throughout the experiences.

&nbsp;

Go for frequent road trips, two hours in every couple of days, gather friends and plan a long trip, cancel it hundreds of times but at least make it happen. Travel the world, explore as much as you can, if nothing traveling will keep you sane.

&nbsp;

<h1>Practicing gratitude and self-acceptance</h1>

&nbsp;

Learn gratitude. Be thankful to everyone and everything around you. Parents for providing you with love, affection, and care. Friends and relatives for being there in your life. Don&rsquo;t complain, as nature has provided you with the right thing needed for your growth. Embrace it.

&nbsp;

And once you finish appreciating others, look at yourself in the mirror. Show some gratitude towards yourself. All your flaws and imperfections, accept them. Make peace with your past. Try to see the glass half full, your strengths, skills, and your beautiful smile. Stay proud of who you are, be grateful for it.

&nbsp;

If you won&rsquo;t love you, no one will. Which will eventually disturb you and influence your mental well-being. So say it aloud, Dear God, that you for everything. And to yourself, that you are amazing in your own quirky way.

&nbsp;

<h1>Reach out to people</h1>

&nbsp;

Always reach out to people. The close ones that understand you, those who care for you and admire you. Reach out to someone if you feel anything is not right. When you feel depressed, anxious, defeated, angry or anything, talking to people helps. And if that doesn&rsquo;t, taking an expert&rsquo;s help will work.

&nbsp;

Some people are willing to help you, genuinely worry about you. If you are uncomfortable talking to people you know, seek help from strangers, take therapy, talk to the doctors. They can help you the way you need. Shying away from talking about how you feel is not the solution, but reaching out to people is.

&nbsp;

<h1>Learn to say NO</h1>

&nbsp;

Our inability to say NO involves us in uncomfortable or severe situations. And that bothers us emotionally. So, learning to say no helps a lot in personal or professional life.

&nbsp;

We should learn to walk off the situations that keep us distressed or if we don&rsquo;t fit in. Involving or accepting situations or people to please others is rather harmful to your mental state.

&nbsp;

So, walk away and say NO to anything you don&rsquo;t want, to eat, to go to the place, to do anything that you are unsure of. And see how good that feels.

&nbsp;

<h1>Drink enough water/ healthy eating practices</h1>

&nbsp;

Dehydration affects your mood, reduces your cognitive and motor skills, makes you more sensitive to pain, also affects your memory. So, drinking a required amount of water daily is beneficial to not only your skin and kidney but the brain. Start with two glasses of warm water every morning.

&nbsp;

Again, drinking water alone isn&rsquo;t enough. Healthy eating practices are equally important. There&rsquo;s a theory that says you become what you eat, and that&rsquo;s true. Your eating pattern and the constituents you consume affect your mind and body. Fasting also can boost brain function and prevent neurodegenerative disorders.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

So, drinking enough water and eating healthy affects your mind and mental state for the better.

&nbsp;

<h1>Read books and write a journal</h1>

&nbsp;

Books are the ultimate ways to escape reality. Books provide you with hope, give you different perceptions and an understanding. It can help you gain confidence, battle with your inner demons and win at life. Reading at least 10 pages a day helps you calm, stimulates your brain.

&nbsp;

And write a journal of your day. Be honest while scribbling your thoughts into the paper. Once you complete it, read it out loud. You will see most of the things you worry about don&rsquo;t even make sense. Also, reading these journals helps you with an insight into yourself, analyze them, and act accordingly.

&nbsp;

Read some pages every day before settling yourself to bed and write a journal of your day or something specific that has affected you throughout the day. Swear, that helps.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

<h1>Assign a &ldquo;me time&rdquo;</h1>

&nbsp;

Get a hobby, keep yourself engaged. Get creative. Cook yourself some good meals, sketch, sing, dance, get weird, do anything that you love. Try new things, new hobbies to explore, something you&rsquo;ve never done before. Do what makes you happy.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Some time for only you, focus on your development, have some self-reflection and release anything that causes tension.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Times can be tough, things mightn&rsquo;t go according to plan, and situations make us feel worthless. But one thing to keep in mind is that time changes and life will come up with better plans for you. Keep your heads up and smile and remember that you are doing just fine.

&nbsp;

The good touch and the bad touch.

Pari is a 7-year-young, lives with her parents Meera and Shyam. Their day starts with getting ready for work, getting Pari ready and taking her to school. Meera is a teacher in the school Pari studies and Shyam is an engineer. Shyam drops Meera and Pari to the school and goes to work and in the evening, returns home with Pari and Meera and so on. Pari has a small brother that is 2-year-young who stays at home with her grandmother, she takes care of him.

&nbsp;

Today, as usual, Shyam took Meera and Pari to school before leaving for work. Meera is smart and outspoken in school, has a lot of friends and everyone loves her. Meera leaves for the teacher&rsquo;s cabin and Pari to her class, on her way she sees the school compounder taking her friend behind the school&rsquo;s garage. Her friend, Naina is holding a teddy in one hand and the other hand was caught by the compounder. Pari got suspicious of the act and followed them quietly. She peeked through the wall and what she saw shocked her.

&nbsp;

The compounder was touching Naina in her censored area, gave her chocolate, and told her to keep quiet. Pari couldn&rsquo;t say a word and she ran from there. In the afternoon Pari tried to talk to Naina but she couldn&rsquo;t say much.

Later in the evening when Pari&rsquo;s parents took her home. Pari looked disturbed by the incident she saw this morning, her parents got suspicious and wanted to keep the conversation going. Meera gestured to Shyam to start something to talk to, so did Shyam.

&nbsp;

&ldquo;Pari, do you remember what we taught about the touch?&rdquo; asked Shyam.

&ldquo;Yes, Dad, you taught me about the good touch and the bad touch&rdquo;, Pari replied nervously.&nbsp;

&ldquo;Can you tell us what you remember, Pari?&rdquo; Meera asked.

&nbsp;

&ldquo;Yes, Mom. When I am hugging you or dad it is a good touch. A hug from grandparents, or sisters is a good touch. If the teachers pat me on the back saying for a good job then it&rsquo;s not necessarily a bad touch, a handshake with friends is a good touch.&rdquo;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&ldquo;But if someone is touching my thighs, waist, the chest or panty area is a bad touch. If I am not comfortable hugging or shaking hands and someone makes me do it, it is a bad touch. If someone is pinching me or touching me in a way that makes me nervous is a bad touch. Mom, if I don&rsquo;t like to be touched anywhere then it&rsquo;s a bad touch&rdquo;, Pari replied.

&nbsp;

&ldquo;Good job Pari,&rdquo; Meera replied.&nbsp;

Pari just smiled and kept quiet again for a long time that Meera and Shyam got worried about her changed behavior. Usually, she talks a lot returning home about everything that happened in school. Shyam couldn&rsquo;t resist the silence and asked, &ldquo;Pari, what happened? Why are you so quiet? Did something happen in school?&nbsp;

Pari was nervous but she knew she had to talk about the incident to her parents.

&ldquo;Actually,...&rdquo;, Pari narrated everything that she saw in the school.

&nbsp;

Her parents were shocked and assured to figure everything in the school tomorrow.

The next day, Pari with her parents went straight to the principal, said everything she saw.

The principal was shocked and asked Pari to assure what she was saying was exactly what she saw.

&ldquo;Are you sure Pari? Did you see exactly that?&rdquo;, Asked the principal.

&ldquo;Yes, madam, the compounder uncle was touching Naina on her panty area and her chest. He also asked her to sit on his thighs, gave her chocolates, and said it was top-secret between them.&rdquo; Pari said.

&nbsp;

The principal called Naina to her cabin, and asked, &ldquo;Naina dear, what happened to you yesterday? Did the compounder uncle give you chocolates and a teddy?&rdquo;.&nbsp;

Naina hesitated. She didn&rsquo;t say anything. &ldquo;Go on baby, no one will do or say anything to you. What happened yesterday? Meera assured.

&nbsp;

Naina said everything exactly what Pari said. Both Naina and Meera had tears in their eyes.

The principals felt guilty, soon then Naina&rsquo;s parents arrived at the cabin and heard everything that happened at the moment. Naina&rsquo;s parents were shocked to hear about the incident. Naina agreed on the incident, the poor girl didn&rsquo;t know what happened to her was wrong.

The compounder got arrested and the principal decided on each student to know about the good and the bad touch. Further, the principal also talked about the physical boundaries and why it is important for the kids to learn.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&ldquo;It&rsquo;s okay for the kids to say &lsquo;No&rsquo; to adults if they are not comfortable and their &lsquo;No&rsquo; shall be respected. This way they will learn their &lsquo;No&rsquo; matter and they can be vocal about their comfort.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&ldquo;Asking consent before hugging them, or for even a handshake, or before any other form of physical affection. This will help them with the importance of consent, for them and while with others.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&ldquo;Forcing affection to kids, even your own ones will shape them in a way that they think it&rsquo;s okay to do so, or if someone is doing any bad things to them. We need to stop doing this.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;&ldquo;Teaching them that there are other forms of showing affection, and being physical in everything isn&rsquo;t necessary. This way they will still be able to understand affection while holding onto their physical boundaries.&rdquo;

&nbsp;

Pari, Naina along with the whole school then learned about the good touch, the bad touch, and physical boundaries. Since then, no such incidents were reported in the school, and awareness was carried out by all the schools in the community.

&nbsp;

To eliminate violence, we need to start with the young. To commit, or to endure all and keep quiet, we are raising the culprits and victims in the same society, let&rsquo;s break the pattern this time. Speak up about the wrong, learn, be aware and contribute to creating a violence-free world.

&nbsp;

Dipawali

Dipawali, the second most important festival in Nepal is a five-day event celebrated with the worship of different animals to appease the Gods respectively. Food, flowers, prayers, singing, dancing and happiness. Families are busy cleaning the whole house, washing and sanitizing to get ready for the occasion, though it&rsquo;s a five-day event, starts like weeks prior. Now that we&rsquo;ve talked about the days, Let&rsquo;s see what these five days consist of.

Starting with Kaag Tihar, we celebrate Crows and Ravens that are considered as messengers of death. By feeding the crows, devotees hope to appease them and ward off death and grief for the coming year.

Then comes the Kukur Tihar, where we celebrate dogs for their loyalty, service and companionship. Dogs in Hinduism have a great history in Mahabharata as well.

We celebrate Gai Tihar and Lakshmi Puja on the third day. In the morning it&rsquo;s called Gai Tihar. We worship the cow, feed them and put tika on, and put a garland of marigolds. The cow has a special place in Hinduism.

A special puja is offered to Lakshmi in the evening, wishing for wealth, prosperity and good health. Lakshmi is welcomed into homes that have been cleaned and decorated with garlands made out of marigolds, diyas are set all around the home, and while electric lights are draped over houses in the belief that the goddess will not visit dark homes.

Govardhan puja and Mha Puja, on the fourth day Ox, is worshipped as an analogy to Cow, that provides manual labour to cultivate land especially in Agricultural countries like Nepal. It&rsquo;s a gesture of gratitude. This puja is worshipped towards the holy Govardhan mountain. A pile of cow dung is taken as representative of the mountain and worshipped.

And the Mha Puja is popular in the Newar community. Mha Puja is a unique tradition where the self and the soul within is worshipped.

The fifth day of Tihar is called Vai Tika. On this auspicious day, sisters put tika on their brothers. The seven colours in the forehead one by one, followed by a beautiful marigold garland, exchange of gifts and delicious foods. Wishing long life and preventing a god of death, Yama from reaching them, Vai tika holds the most value overall.

Legend has it that when King Bali fell mortally ill, his sister Jamuna looked after him and guarded him. When Yamaraj, the God of Death, came for Bali Hang&rsquo;s soul, Jamuna pleaded with him to wait until she finished worshipping her brother; that is, until Panchami (Bhai Tika). She then conducted a long and elaborate ceremony for her brother and performed the same for Yamaraj. She also put forth some conditions: that Yamaraj should not take Bali Hang until the tika, which she had smeared on his forehead, fades away; until the water sprinkled on her brother dries; and until the Makhmali flowers wilt. Over the years Yamaraj sent his messengers to inspect the flowers, and when the next Bhai Tika puja arrived Yamaraj admitted that he had lost Bali Hang&rsquo;s soul to his pious sister and granted him a long life.

During these five days of the festival, young boys and girls go around the neighbourhood, singing and dancing in a tradition called bhailo. They are offered small amounts of money and food as rewards for the entertainment they provide. Fireworks are also common on this particular day. Singing, dancing, gatherings, sharing happiness, warmth and love are all Tihar is about.&nbsp;

Stay home, stay safe.

Happy Tihar from the WiSTEAM team.

&nbsp;

September 21, 2021

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