Sonam Losar is one of the important festivals of Tamang communities. Also known as New Year, Tamang celebrates the day by consuming various traditional Tamang cuisines. Here is a list of items that are served during the festival:

Sithi Nakha is celebrated on the sixth day of the waxing moon, according to the lunar calendar, in the Nepali month of Jestha/Asar. This year it has fallen on Wednesday, June 16.

KATHMANDU, Sept 6: The chariot of the deity Rato Machindranath was pulled at Patan on Sunday afternoon. The chariot was pulled from Machhindra Bahal in Pulchowk to Sorhakhutte Falcha- in front of Lalitpur Metropolitan Office.

KATHMANDU, July 24: Dhanraj Chitrakar started drawing serpentine deities from the age of 14. It has been over five decades since he has been into this business but now fears for a technological take over as people have shifted onto printed versions of Naag Posters. Now he is fearing for his profession which in some decades can be the rarest-of-rarest as the younger generation are drifting away from it.

Bhawani Thapa, 17, from Baluwatar is not allowed to enter kitchen, and worship when during her period because she is considered 'impure' and 'untouchable'. While medical science reports sleep disturbance during the menstrual cycle for girls and women, Bhawani cannot go to her bed after menstruation. Leaving her bed, which is uneasy for many, she has to find an alternative. Born and brought up in a well-off family in the heart of Kathmandu, Bhawani must strictly adhere to her 'family values' as ordered by her mother and grandmother. However, she is unable to share her suffering. She says: “I know it is a bad practice, but I am still forced to obey simply to respect my mom and grandma."

KATHMANDU, April 22: Rato Machhindranath is worshipped as the god of rain. According to legends, it is believed to have been brought to Kathmandu from Kamaru Kamakhya, India. Chariot of this deity is pulled with much fanfare during the chariot festival that is attended by a huge crowd in Kathmandu.

It is believed that English pranksters started popularizing the annual tradition of April Fools’ Day on the 1st of April of the year 1700. They generally celebrated it by playing practical jokes on each other. However, this is just one of many beliefs of how the tradition first started and its exact origin still remains unknown.

La Tomatina is a Spanish festival usually held during the last Wednesday of August in a place named Bunol.

If you are still single in Denmark, your friends have a special way of reminding you of your singlehood on your birthday.

Lanvin designer Bruno Sialelli quoted from decades of fashion history on Wednesday in a ready-to-wear show fully befitting France’s oldest fashion house.

PALPA, Jan 21: Anita Gharti of Gothadi village of Palpa is just 20 but she already has two kids. The elder one is two and the younger one is just four-month-old. The marriageable age, going by the law, is 20 for both male and female. Gharti had married three years ago, when she was 17.

The tradition of treating guests as deities (atithi devo bhawa) may be theoretically sound but it is practically an impossible and flawed concept as no human beings can shoulder the burden of fulfilling all the unrealistic expectations and wishes of the people. Hence, the concept of hospitality and relevance of tourism has to be redefined at regular intervals to adjust to the ethos of the epochs and ever-changing socio-political dynamics.

This is not meant to disrespect any culture or tradition, but to address the level of awkwardness and discomfort experienced by women. Haven’t we moved forward enough in the world to not scrutinize women who may be having their period?

DOLAKHA, Oct 12: Locals in the ancient city of Dolakha celebrated the traditional Khadgajatra traditional on Wednesday, a day after Vijaya Dashami.

The biggest festivals of Nepal – Dashain and Tihar – are knocking at our doors. And as per our tradition, during this time, we take special care in cleaning as well as renovating our homes. So, why not use this time to up your décor game? Decorating a home is something you should pay special attention to because how you feel in a particular space has a lot to do with it.

KATHMANDU, Aug 28: Chitrakar families in the Nepalese capital of Kathmandu were renowned traditional painters and sculptors who depicted gods and goddesses on temples, masks of Hindu deities and posters for various religious celebrations.

“Thang” meaning cotton and “ka” meaning images together make up the Tibetan word “thangka” which literally translates to images made on cotton. Thangka paintings’ origin can be traced back to nearly 2500 years ago. A visual representation of Buddha’s teachings, thangka paintings originally served as personal meditation tools for monastics and students

BHAKTAPUR, June 10: Because of its rich culture, tradition, and heritage sites, Bhaktapur has remained as one of the most popular tourist destinations of the country for decades. The devastating earthquake of April 2015 and the aftershocks, however, took a severe toll on old settlements, temples and other heritage structures. Its residents remained in shock for a long time. Gradually when they started rising from the rubbles, it became apparent that they will have to rebuild many cultural and religiously important structures.

KATHMANDU, June 9: The month-long chariot pulling festival of Rato Machhindranath concluded after displaying the jewel-studded traditional Nepali vest 'Bhoto' at Jawlakhel on Sunday.

CHITWAN, May 10: Defying the age-old Hindu tradition which allows only sons to cremate their parents, a daughter in Baharatpur Metropolitan City has lit the funeral pyre of her father.

Buddha Krishna Baag Shrestha pierces his tongue every year on the jatra held annually at Khasi Tole, Bodey, Bhaktapur. Shrestha first pierced his tongue in 2005. However, it was in 2008 when he started doing it on a yearly basis.

DHARAN, Dec 29:  It was December 23, Sunday. It was around 8 in the night. Dressed in traditional Limbu outfits, Limbu men and women were singing traditional songs, holding each other’s hands. They danced and the dance steps were beautifully synchronized. The tune to which they were dancing is called ‘Palam’. The dance performed by them is known as the ‘Dhan Nach’.

We live in a society that’s rooted in tradition, culture, and religious sentiments. And while that’s a really good thing, what bothers me about it all is how sometimes people take things way too far. It’s quite the norm for people to follow certain traditions because that’s just how things are supposed to be without knowing anything about it. And when someone questions why they do certain things on certain occasions, the supposed implications of that question offend them. It doesn’t matter that they can’t justify their actions with logical explanations.

BHAKTAPUR, Oct 15: It’s Dashain and Dashain is incomplete without music. And music has its own language that is captivating to all age group. Likewise, the teenagers from Bhaktapur are also drawn to traditional music that is played during Dashain. The traditional music which was once ignored, have gained its popularity again.

Indrajatra is one of the most remarkable festivals of Kathmandu. The significance of this carnival lies in its famous masked dances, folk drama, and chariot processions. Living goddess Kumari is brought out during the festival from her abode in a beautifully decorated chariot. This event occurs only once a year, during this festival. The head of state and the head government also receive blessings from the deity, considered to be an embodiment of Taleju Bhawani. Lord Bhairav and Ganesha, along with Kumari are charioted across the city.

KATHMANDU, Sept 21: As many as 29 Guthis come together for the Kathmandu Valley's longest festival Indra Jatra today. There are various mythical stories related to the festival. One such popular story is about the King of Heaven, Indra who came down to earth to get a special flower parijat and Karkalo (taro) for his mother, who was fasting and worshiping Goddess Basundharadevi.

CHITWAN, Sept 15: The 6th national lakhe dance competition is to be held in Narayangadh on coming September 19 and 20.

KATHMANDU, Aug 26: The tagadharis or those who wear the 'Janai' (the sacred thread) around their bodies from the left shoulder change the sacred thread today after having a haircut and a bath on the occasion of 'Janai Purnima', also known as 'Rishi Tarpani'.

WINDSOR, England, May 19: Prince Harry weds U.S. actress Meghan Markle on Saturday in a lavish ceremony that unites the pomp of British royalty with Hollywood glamour.

BHAKTAPUR, April 16: Amid the crowd of thousands of people in Madhyapur Thimi of Bhaktapur on Sunday, Buddha Kishna Baag Shrestha pierced his tongue for the sixth consecutive time, giving continuity to the centuries-old tradition of piercing tongue which had started during the period of the Lichchhavi dynasty.

BHAKTAPUR, April 8: The public has been observing foreigners celebrating many festivals including Holi, Gai Jatra and Bhai Tika. On Sunday, the locals of Bhaktapur got a rare chance to see a foreigner celebrating Janku, a Newari festival celebrated when a man or woman of the Newar community turns 77.

The Kathmandu Art Fair; Art for Society has kicked off from March 3 at Rastriya Nachaghar, Jamal. A total of 117 artworks, including paintings, sculptures, prints, traditional paintings, installation arts, performance arts and photographs, among others, have been put on display at the fair.

Bhaktapur has never failed to amaze its visitors with its age-long artistry. Far from the hustle and bustle of city life, at the south of Bhaktapur Durbar Square, there resides a Newar community that has been depending on clay for survival since time immemorial. One of the communities gaining mastery at molding clays is certainly the Prajapatis, the locals of Bhaktapur.

The recently launched Matka Café at Naya Baneshwor, Thapagaun has become one of the hangout hotspots among the youngsters for its warm ambience and special tea.

Purna Maharjan, Arish Maharjan, Rabi Dangol, Prasan Maharjan, Sujan Maharjan and Prajal Maharjan are the members of Shree Kanga Ajima Yetkha Twa, Yetkha, Kathmandu. In this traditional musical band there are 10 members.

LAMJUNG, Sept 12: The primary aim of most ethnic groups in the villages of Lamjung is either to get recruited in the British or Indian armies. Young boys running to get their chest measured is a common practice here.

Though the tradition of chhaupadi, a practice that prohibits women from participating in regular activities during menstruation as they are considered impure, has received much criticism and even been condemned by health experts, it is still largely prevalent in many parts of Nepal. Despite the many mental, physical, and psychological ramifications of the tradition and repeated campaigns to do away with it, chhaupadi still seems to have a strong hold in our societies. How does the chhaupadi tradition affect our women and communities and why does it still thrive? Arun Bam reports.

DAILEKH, July 8: On December 19 last year, a 15-year-old girl in Achham district was found dead in a Chhaugoth, a shed where girls and women are kept during their menstruation and post delivery.

Dallu Awas Sthaniya Sahayogi Samittee has revived Dallu Awas Cultural Youth Group with an aim to promote and conserve traditional musical instruments, art and culture.

People have little knowledge about Sithi Nakha today. Houses are abuzz since the morning, family members gather around and different food items are served, especially Wo (Newari dish made of lentils) and Chatamari (Newari dishes made of rice flour).

BHAKTAPUR, March 30: Buddha Krishna Bagha Shrestha has come forward this year to get his tongue pierced to give continuity to this time-honoured tradition that is indigenous to Bode, Madhyapur Thimi.

MYAGDI, Dec 20: Despite the information technology penetrating the world, the age-old tradition of assigning the Katwal (messenger) to relay important messages and announcements in the remote villages of the district is still in existence.