And after the attack on kumArI tradition, maoists get down to subverting the indra jatra tradition, in name of ending the animal sacrifice. The festival is the remnant of ancient indradhwaja tradition of Hindus now limited only to Nepal and some parts of Himachal-Uttaranchal. Traditionally the king used to sponsor the public celebrations.
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Lawmakers belonging to various political parties have accused the government of attacking on an ancient culture and tradition by not allocating budget for traditional jatras (religious festivals) observed in Kathmandu Valley.
The lawmakers also sought a clear response from the government regarding its decision to cut down state expenditure for the Indra Jatra festivals in the name of ending the ritual animal sacrifices.
The decision sparked massive protests in the capital from Friday and continued today too. People of the Newar community, who have been practicing the rituals for centuries, took to the streets saying the Finance Minister, who unveiled the budget estimate for the fiscal year 2008/09, cut off funding for jatras.
Some lawmakers have described the fund cuts as an attack on an ancient cultural traditions and demanded that the government withdraw its decision and provide the budget for the rituals.
Taking time from the CA chair Subash Nemwang to speak during the special session of the Constitution Assembly held in the capacity of legislative parliament, Nepali Congress leader Prakash Man Singh blamed that the government's decision was a deliberate attack on the ancient culture and tradition and also demanded that the amount of money given by the government for similar religious worship should be increased.
He came down heavily against government orders to Guthi Sansthan and Kaasuhi Toshakhana, the main organisers of Indra Jatra festival, to stop spending from state coffers on animal sacrifices during the Indra Jatra Festival.
Responding to angry questions raised by lawmakers during the heated debate that went on the issue during the parliamentary session today, Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai clarified that it was not the intention of the government to launch an attack against the ancient cultural tradition of any particular community.
"Let us not make the cultural and religious matters issues of contention," he said, adding that since Nepal is a secular country the government is committed to protecting the religiosity of all the communities.
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/se...news13.php
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
People gathered in thousands around the temples:
<img src='http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080915/capt.362e0ccdbec6486a9b906f34e2385815.nepal_hindu_festival_kat103.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
burning the effigy of maoists.
<img src='http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080921/i/r2998253255.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
On the final day of week-long indra festival people boycotted the celebrations and temples remained desolated -- probably the first time in a long history which some say is not a good sign.
<img src='http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080913/i/r4189349858.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Lawmakers belonging to various political parties have accused the government of attacking on an ancient culture and tradition by not allocating budget for traditional jatras (religious festivals) observed in Kathmandu Valley.
The lawmakers also sought a clear response from the government regarding its decision to cut down state expenditure for the Indra Jatra festivals in the name of ending the ritual animal sacrifices.
The decision sparked massive protests in the capital from Friday and continued today too. People of the Newar community, who have been practicing the rituals for centuries, took to the streets saying the Finance Minister, who unveiled the budget estimate for the fiscal year 2008/09, cut off funding for jatras.
Some lawmakers have described the fund cuts as an attack on an ancient cultural traditions and demanded that the government withdraw its decision and provide the budget for the rituals.
Taking time from the CA chair Subash Nemwang to speak during the special session of the Constitution Assembly held in the capacity of legislative parliament, Nepali Congress leader Prakash Man Singh blamed that the government's decision was a deliberate attack on the ancient culture and tradition and also demanded that the amount of money given by the government for similar religious worship should be increased.
He came down heavily against government orders to Guthi Sansthan and Kaasuhi Toshakhana, the main organisers of Indra Jatra festival, to stop spending from state coffers on animal sacrifices during the Indra Jatra Festival.
Responding to angry questions raised by lawmakers during the heated debate that went on the issue during the parliamentary session today, Finance Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai clarified that it was not the intention of the government to launch an attack against the ancient cultural tradition of any particular community.
"Let us not make the cultural and religious matters issues of contention," he said, adding that since Nepal is a secular country the government is committed to protecting the religiosity of all the communities.
http://www.nepalnews.com/archive/2008/se...news13.php
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
People gathered in thousands around the temples:
<img src='http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/ap/20080915/capt.362e0ccdbec6486a9b906f34e2385815.nepal_hindu_festival_kat103.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
burning the effigy of maoists.
<img src='http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080921/i/r2998253255.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
On the final day of week-long indra festival people boycotted the celebrations and temples remained desolated -- probably the first time in a long history which some say is not a good sign.
<img src='http://d.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20080913/i/r4189349858.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />