The women of the Nepal Blind Association (NBA) today organised a felicitation programme cum poetry symposium where most of the participants were differently abled people. Purna Devi Kansakar, the first visually impaired women to pass SLC examinations and Shubhadra Shrestha, the first blind teacher were felicitated. Shrestha had passed SLC in 1975 from the Laboratory School and began teaching at Khagendra Nava Jeevan Kendra right after a year. She has passed bachelor’s level but could not complete degree as she fell ill during the examinations. She is still working there. Social worker Angur Baba Joshi suggested the participants to initiate a campaign to collect Re 1 every day to strengthen the Kamala Memorial Fund announced by the women branch for the Kamala Memorial Talent Award. The award was established in the name of late Kamala Shrestha, the founder chairperson of the Women Branch. Over 75 per cent participants of the open poetry symposium were blind and they had neck-to-neck competition with their abled counterparts. Renuka Bhatta was declared first, Ramesh Pokhrel (disabled) second, Brinda Bhurtel third and Sita Shah bagged the consolation prize.

Carrying on the Panchakanya tradition

Renu Kshetry

Panchakanyas - meaning five embodiments of goddess - seen on special festive and state occasions standing in a queue to garland prominent personalities, visiting dignitaries or state guests as a blessing so that their aspirations come true - have to don dresses made decades ago. The embroidered crimson dresses have been replaced only twice - first in November 1987 during the third SAARC summit in Kathmandu, and again in January 2001 for the eleventh SAARC summit here again after 14 years. Only girls between eight to ten years of age can represent Panchakanyas. The decisive factor is the dress. The girls get a chance to be Panchkanyas only if the dresses fit them. No one knows when precisely the tradition of Panchakanyas welcoming visiting dignitaries began. “If the child becomes too big for the dress, another child replaces her as Panchakanya,” said Sabitri Pathak, chief of Children Homes at Nepal Children’s’ Organisation. Pathak opined the tradition needed to be preserved. The Nepal Children’s Organisation (NCO) prepares the girls after they receive a letter from Kathmandu district administration office for the event. The DAO bears the expenses of garlands and the girls are provided sumptuous lunch along a pick-up and drop home facilities. Acharya Purna Chandra Dhungel, PhD in Pandini Shastra, said the five kanyas represent a symbol of various shaktis (powers). In Hindu religion, everybody relies on power to successfully complete any work without disturbance, for which the blessings of goddesses are required.

SOURCE: The Himalayan