Nirogdham was established in 2001 and aims to make the community a healthier place through yoga and correct eating habits. Their belief is that ailments like diabetes, blood pressure and even obesity can be controlled by making changes in your eating habits. The Week talked to Dr Umesh Shrestha, founder of this Philanthropic social organization, to find out how we can eat right to stay healthy and fit.

The first thing you’ll notice about Singapore is how well maintained, structured, and clean it is. The air seems fresh, free of dust, and that will really excite you right now, given the condition of our roads and quality of air these days. A five-day trip to Singapore is enough for you to enjoy everything it has to offer, though you can choose to stay as long as you want and leisurely go about your days. It’s a small city and expensive too but there’s still a lot to do here (on a budget).

Nepal is a male dominated society which is why women workers aren’t valued much. I got involved in FWEAN to bring their work to the forefront. I wanted to make the decision makers aware about the kind of work women were doing in Nepal and also make sure that the products women entrepreneurs were making in Nepal met certain standards.

“When you empower a woman, you empower a family. When you empower a family, you empower a community. And when you empower a community, you empower a nation.” These words were spoken by Jean Shafiroff, a philanthropist and volunteer leader of several Southampton and New York charities. This week, women entrepreneurs join us to talk about their businesses and the challenges they faced while starting off and along the way.

After receiving much accolade and applause at the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF), the 17-minute short movie Dadyaa: The Woodpeckers of Rotha, recently bagged the special jury award for cinematography at the Sundance Film Festival. Dadyaa is a poignant Nepali story based in Karnali where Atimaley and Devi find themselves faced with a dilemma when a dear friend leaves without a word.  Priyanka Gurung sat down with Chintan Rajbhandari, director of photography of the movie, to talk about the win and reflect on the movie making process. ​

If you try these chocolates, you’ll probably never be satisfied with other chocolates ever again. Smriti Tuladhar’s homemade chocolates are that good. She ensures that the chocolates, made without preservatives, are crafted to perfection. It’s been less than a year that she started the chocolate company Bittersweet but she already has a decent list of corporate clients under her belt. And, at 23, with her effervescent persona, charming smile, and go-getter attitude she is steadily gathering even more on a daily basis. She joins The Week to talk about her journey so far and what keeps her going.

Her friends and relatives often tell her that they don’t know what to feed her when they invite her for dinner. Her answer is always the same: I’ll eat anything and everything that grows in the fields and isn’t sourced from animals. Shristi Shrestha, animal rights activist, freelance writer, and fitness instructor, has been vegan for five years now and says that it isn’t a difficult lifestyle, despite what many might think, if you educate yourself and realize how your choices affect every living being. Here, she joins The Week to talk about her vegan lifestyle and how those who are interested can join her in this noble path.

With work, studies, and household issues to take care of, your to-do list on a regular basis is probably longer than you wish it to be, and so you might be tempted to let your annual checkup slip. But don’t let that happen. Going to the doctor might be the last thing on your mind right now but regular tests might save your health and your life too. A little idea: Each year around your birthday, give yourself a gift. Schedule a visit to your dentist and consult your doctor to see if there are important tests you should take. With an investment of an hour or two, you may be able to add years to your life.  For starters, we consulted Dr Devish Pyakurel of Samyak Diagonstics to lay out the five essential medical tests you need once you are in your 30s.

We might not be able to do a lot on a regular basis to clean our houses inside out but there are little things you can do when you find some pockets of time here and there that will ensure your house looks well maintained.

It’s that time of the year again when it’s neither too hot nor too cold. During the days, we often need to peel off the layers we have put on in the morning when there is still a slight nip in the air. All of a sudden we don’t find ourselves longing for a hot cup of coffee anymore. We want something cooler that will soothe us in the afternoon heat. Higher Ground Bakery at Bhanimandal has some refreshing coffee drinks that will do just that and a little more.

Whether you suffer from acne, brown spots, or occasional dryness, chances are that all of you have at least one skin care concern in need of some extra attention. Luckily, most skin issues are more than manageable with the help of good, regular skin care regime. “My mantra is cleanse, cleanse, and cleanse. Achieving beautiful clear skin can sometimes be as simple as having a clean face,” says beautician Archana Rimal, of Charm Herbal Beauty Parlor in Manbhawan, Lalitpur. Here, she breaks down your cleansing routine for you.

Good Reads

Every conversation Sneha Koirala has had since she was a little girl has inspired her to doodle. She would draw a tiff she had with her parents, things she discussed with her friends and found that, though she grew up, she couldn’t stop drawing things. It was one of these drawings she did for The Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them that gave birth to Studio Sarcastic. The Week caught up with her to get her talking about her creations.

Many of us have to skip gym due to our busy work schedule but we are willing to spend some time working out at home. The Week talked to Sachin Pradhan of Platinum Fitness to find out how you can best tone your body without having to step into the gym. He advises that you watch a few YouTube tutorials before attempting any exercise, especially if you are a beginner, as wrong posture while doing an exercise may lead to injuries.

When is a cough “just” a cough, or a headache a symptom to be concerned about? Whether you live in a city where smog forecasts are routine or in a less populated place, tiny pollution particles in the air can lead to big problems for your heart. With the current condition of Kathmandu valley with its steadily worsening air pollution, you have to be a little concerned about your health.

Meditation, after all, has been globally appreciated for helping people become more peaceful, more focused, less anxious and more attentive to everything in their lives. Further, many also claim that meditation helps them better understand their own minds.

From refurbishing counters with reused wooden planks to turning pani puri wagon strollers into a restaurant’s condiment stand, Prajal Pradhan’s range of incorporating recycled decor in his interior designs is certainly impressive. His ideas are clever and provide a much needed breath of fresh air where decoration options are concerned.

The birthplace of Lord Buddha, Lumbini literally translates to “the lovely” in Sanskrit. It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1997. According to the Buddhist traditions, Maya Devi game birth to Buddha when she was on her way to her parents’ house in Devadaha in 642 BC on her tenth month of pregnancy.

This year, make it your goal to witness some of the most unique and fabulous celebrations from all around the world to have the ultimate holiday experience. Presenting a list of festivals that you must experience at least once in your lifetime.

We have heard musicians retelling stories of how addictive they find music and how they just can’t let go. It’s the reason Axis band’s front man, Sandeep Bishwokarma, also cites, in a rather matter of fact fashion, for his latest comeback. It’s certainly been a while since we last saw the singer in action, nine years to be exact. But while he has been away in Hong Kong for most parts, Bishwokarma shares that music has always been on his mind. This was eventually going to happen.