SITU MANANDHAR

The contributor for Republica.
news@myrepublica.com

Things you probably didn’t know about Dashain

Published On: October 23, 2020 12:15 PM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Most of us, all over Nepal, celebrate Dashain but we aren’t familiar with the many concepts and stories of this main festival of Hindus. Like with everything else, there are many myths and facts associated with Dashain that can help you see the festival in a new light. Also, the information can make for good conversation starters.

An interesting story

Published On: January 3, 2020 01:25 PM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Numbers, a science fiction novel by Rachel Ward, was a whole lot better than I expected it to be. I was captivated by the first chapter, which gave me a slight hint that the novel deals with a teenager’s inability to fit into the society. The plot turned out to be quite thrilling and fast paced. The character development was also good and the element of romance that Ward had chosen to add kept the story interesting.

Creating something new

Published On: January 3, 2020 12:15 PM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Sanim KC, 20-year-old book and lyrical video illustrator, is known for his realist art of famous celebrities on Instagram. His painting of Lord Krishna won him an award at the Student Quality Circle conducted in Lucknow in India.

Dare to be different

Published On: December 20, 2019 11:44 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Known to many by her Instagram name, Ahskid (@_ahskid_), 21-year-old Diksha Thapa is breaking boundaries in SFX (Special Effects), fantasy and transformation makeup art in Nepal. Despite being quite young, Thapa has already worked as an art director and lead makeup artist in four Nepali films. She feels it’s her passion for makeup that has helped her get better at it with easy passing day.

Teaching in Dolpa

Published On: December 6, 2019 09:06 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Binod Shahi, president of Snow Yak Foundation, came in the top 50 out of 37,000 teachers in the Global Teacher Prize 2018. Shahi was recognized for his immense contribution in providing education to children of Dolpa, a part of Karnali Pradesh in Nepal.

America’s Got (Nepali) Talent

Published On: November 29, 2019 09:43 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Parkour is the art of going from one point to another overcoming any obstacles on the way, without any equipment to assist you and in the fastest and most efficient way possible. Developed from military obstacle course training, parkour includes running, swinging, vaulting, jumping and rolling among other free movements. Needless to say, parkour is challenging and daunting.

Normalizing mental health issues

Published On: November 29, 2019 09:16 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Mental health is one of the least prioritized areas in the health care sector of Nepal. There is one major national psychiatric hospital in Kathmandu run by the Nepal Government, and other smaller psychiatry units in various hospitals. A few civil society organizations run programs and clinics providing mental health care, with a focus on raising awareness and giving counseling and support for access to medical care.

Bringing something to the table

Published On: November 22, 2019 01:23 PM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

It’s safe to say that Aabhas Shrestha, currently the head chef at Mango Chili in Labim Mall, Pulchowk, is good at his job. Sample any dish at Mango Chili and you will see his fine culinary skills on full display. Everything from the taste to the presentation of dishes at the Thai restaurant is just right.

Amazing Asian food

Published On: November 22, 2019 10:20 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Novu Asian Fusion restaurant, a family owned business, is all about providing the best of Asian cuisine under one roof. According to the manager, Ronak Giri, this is where you can find delicious dishes that are not only different but feel like a perfect mingling of various food cultures.

Good food to fit your budget

Published On: November 15, 2019 09:53 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Fuse-On Pizza Hub and Café, located in Kamalpokhari about 40 meters ahead of City Center, serves really good pizzas and more. Even if you already have a go-to place for pizza, I recommend you give this place a try because who doesn’t need and deserve a change of scene?

Continuing the legacy

Published On: November 15, 2019 09:48 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Prakash KC, winner of the eighth national games in weightlifting, admits that he never thought he would become a sportsperson. He started weightlifting at the age of 13 and since then he has often been winning the title of Junior Best Lifter Men in the national level. Recently, at the eighth national games, he broke the record by lifting 224 kg in the 67 kg body weight category. However, his personal best is 242 kg.

Click by click

Published On: November 8, 2019 10:49 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Mia Tuladhar feels that photography has made her more adventurous and bettered her communication skills. She mentions that she started taking photos on her cell phone and because they came out quite good, she realized she had a flair for photography and took it up a bit more seriously after that.

Words of wisdom

Published On: November 1, 2019 10:50 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

​Don’t you wish what you know today you had been aware of maybe five or ten years earlier? Would things have turned out differently for you? But it’s never too late to change your life for the better. The Week’s Situ Manandhar asked some people to reflect on their lives and give their younger selves the advice they wish they had received sooner.

Born to box

Published On: November 1, 2019 09:41 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Max (Manohar) Basnet, 14 times national boxing champion, recently won an international boxing championship in Japan. He has devoted 15 years of his life to boxing already and even after all these years of struggle, he is still up for participating in one more international boxing championship, if it’s for a good cause.

Beauty with a strong sense of purpose

Published On: October 25, 2019 10:49 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Priyanka Rani Joshi, who was crowned first runner up in the fourth edition of the En Vogue modeling contest in 2016, started modeling when she was 17 years old but she confesses that she never thought of modeling as a career option. Rather, it was just a hobby for her. Joshi says she has always prioritized education above all else and modeling was something she got into because she chanced upon it.

Oh, this happy time!

Published On: October 25, 2019 08:55 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

You enjoy Tihar because it gives you a reason to gorge on sel roti, dipping it in a cup of hot tea, and pop that one more laddu in your mouth without feeling guilty. You might love it because the string lights you have put on your balcony purely for aesthetics finally gets a purpose. Or all the colors and lights just make you happy, not to mention the sweet smell of marigolds in the air this time of the year that makes your heart swell. Or maybe your sibling has come home and you get to celebrate Bhai Tika after five years.

Playing with passion

Published On: October 18, 2019 09:51 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Rabin Gautam has been playing basketball for eight years. He started when he was 10 years old. When he was 16 years old, he was awarded the Best Junior Player and Most Valuable Player at the 3rd National U19 Championship. He was also the highest individual scorer at the Kwiks Basketball League in 2018, which was the first ever basketball league to be held in Nepal. Here, with The Week’s Situ Manandhar, Gautam talks about his career, how the game has shaped him, and what he feels is still lacking in Nepal to take the game to newer heights.

Tasty Food tastefully presented

Published On: October 4, 2019 09:35 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Boudha is beautiful. I think there’s something so serene and calm about this place despite the traffic and footfall it sees. It is where art thrives and people can be seen doing their own thing and enjoying themselves. There are also many eateries where you can grab a quick bite. And you can actually choose one depending on what you are in the mood for.

Dreaming big and making it happen

Published On: September 27, 2019 10:39 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

He was always a shy kid who never really thought he could muster up the guts to get up on stage, much less participate in a national event. 20-year-old Ojash Joshi, the Under 21 Mr Kathmandu 2019, has proven himself wrong and how. Joshi, who is a fitness trainer at Gymkhana Muay Thai, says that his decision to join a gym was the turning point in his life.

Playing with words

Published On: September 13, 2019 11:44 AM NPT By: SITU MANANDHAR

Anand Vijay Gurung says he is a full time communication specialist and a part time writer but that hasn’t stopped him for pursing writing whenever he can. He recently published an anthology of poems titled ‘Dandelion Snow’ and his poetry has been published in many leading newspapers and magazines in Nepal. As a journalist, he has worked for various media houses in the past and that, Gurung says, fueled his love for reading and writing. Here, with The Week’s Situ Manandhar, he talks about the books he loves and his writing journey thus far.