Kirtipur

bagh bhairav jatra 2015

2015-10-20T19:16:00.002-07:00

Bagh Bhairav Jatra is the festival of Kirtipur. Bagh Bhairav Jatra is performed on the first day of Bhadra (Nepali Calendar). An idol of Bagh Bhairav, especially made for the festival, is carried through the streets with traditional bands, followed by devotees chanting bhajans and kirtans and Lakhay dance too. On the occasion of Bagh Bhairab Jatra devotees circumambulate Bagh Bhairab temple.
There is a myth has that one is blessed with success and good health if he/she makes round of the Bagh BhairavÂ temple for 108 times on this very day.
Devotees carrying the idol Bagh Bhairab for the celebration on the occasion of the Bagh Bhairav festival celebrated at Kirtipur on Tuesday. Devotees playing traditional instruments following the idol Bagh Bhairab on the occasion of the Bagh Bhairav festival celebrated at Kirtipur. Devotees fire up incense during celebration Bagh Bhairab Festival celebrated in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal on 18, August, 2015.
Devotees offering ritual puja towards the idol Bagh Bhairab during Festival celebrated in Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal on 18, August, 2015.
Devotees pictured as they circumambulate Bagh Bhairav temple on the occasion of the Bagh Bhairav festival.

Naya Bazar Club of Kirtipur

2011-10-02T05:13:00.000-07:00

Naya Bazar Club (NBC), founded in the year 2037 BS (1980 AD), is a non-governmental, not-for-profit making community based organization (CBO) dedicated to help society through mobilization of youth and create an active regional network of community based organisations across the south region of Kathmandu valley. It is one of the popular organisations and occupies decent position in tongue-tip of dwellers of Kirtipur and suburb area. The motto of club”Let’s aware youth” is an inspiring sentence to form a common forum for social benefits. NBC is an equal opportunity provider for all free from discrimination on the basis of race, cast, tribe and any social and religious categories. NBC is rolling with the time and situations accommodating social demands and helping disadvantages.

Till late 80s, NBC was less active in events associated with social benefits. Presence of NBC in sporting activities in Kirtipur needs not to be exaggerated. Involvement of NBC products taking major responsibilities of games and sports in many leading private boarding schools are the reflection of its achievement in the sport activities.

Although Kirtipur and suburb areas are some couples of kilometers away from the capital city, Kathmandu, it still possesses typical rural characteristics. Lack of decent health facilities inspired us to initiate operating an ambulance for the purpose of providing quickest health facilities for the needy one. Over the past 25 years, NBC has achieved an overwhelming attention in the situation of southern sector of Kathmandu valley associating with the most popular public health activity, the Kirtipur Ambulance. Being one of the potential members of blood donors club, contribution of the NBC is process of blood collection was appreciated by Nepal Red Cross Society. Hundreds of patients seeking for blood to be transfusion from Kirtipur as well as from outside were timely benefited. In academic sector, NBC has set number of pioneer breakthrough to inspire students achieve quality education. As a responsible local institution sister relationship and organizational connection with many organizations provides us common forum for effectual result in common vocation.

Wide-ranging objectives of the organization are to mobilize youth to help society in all possible sectors through suitable activities. Furthermore NBC maintains grave concerns over issues like health, education, sports, environment, social crisis, etc. and develop proper ways to tackle associated problems.

Pride of Naya Bazar Club

NBC in fact, keeps its traditions of pioneering in majority of activities in the society.

NBC has been established 25 years ago aiming specially of taking part in the sporting activities. There were large numbers of examples that Nayabazar Club had actively took part in many sporting events in the locality and won many of them. Established as sporting club, however with increase in dimension in society, accepted social responsibilities were also added on top of it. As expected, NBC was compelled to fulfill its social burden.
Many events and programs in different sectors were initiated by NBC. Such pioneer events and programs, which has been continuing by many contemporary institutions till date.
Organization of sporting activities like basket ball, foot ball, table tennis, and volley ball competition were part of the regular programs. Among them basket ball is being taken as identity of the club. NBC had for the first time successfully organized interschool basket ball tournament in Kathmandu, perhaps in whole Nepal.
Organization of national level open Basketball Tournament for the first time in Nepal by NBC was a grand success. Although it is authorized National Basketball tournament, because of some of the obstacles in the Sport act of kingdom of Nepal, we were deprived of naming it as National game. It is our pleasure that Nepal Basketball Association affiliated to National Sport Council had come in effect due to the restless and selfless efforts paid by NBC members. The founder president Dr Shree Krishna Sherestha, was founder advisor of NBC.
Health sector is one of the heavily highlighted sectors of NBC. Successful running of public ambulance makes us feel contented. It is one of the prides of the NBC. Furthermore, it is unstated introduction to NBC in south region of Kathmandu. NBC for the first time took responsibility of running public ambulance for the benefit of people in southern sector of Kathmandu valley, which includes 8 former VDCs. It is not an easy task to raise fund from each of the individual household within all of these 8 VDCs to buy public ambulance.
Blood donation program is a regular calendar program of NBC for more than a decade. We were once awarded from blood transfusion centre for the highest amount of blood donation. One of our members had won prize in slogan competition organized by Blood transfusion center, this let somebody see the creativity of club members.
Eye camp organized jointly with Tilganga Eye Center in Kirtipur is an effort aiming to provide quality health service to the people at door step.
Help, support and inspiration in academic sector given out by club members are really exemplarily. Direct free-ship (scholarship) to the student possesses high academic ability but poor economic background was able to raise appreciation from many academicians in Kirtipur and suburb areas. Such assistanceship was made available to the students of governmental schools only like Kirtipur M. V, Jana Sewa M. V, etc.
Spelling contest, Quiz contest, Essay writing competition among school children were also motivated towards help lifting academic level up to standards.

§ NBC had actively been involved in generation of Environmental awareness among local dwellers. Anti pollution activities and demonstrations had been supported by prominent international environmentalist ‘Mr. Sundar Lal Bahuguna’. This was happened when NBC was actively initiated and involved in programs preventing establishment of pollution prone brick factory in Kirtipur locality.

§ Helping nation during national crisis by taking responsibility of distributing kerosene oil (fuel) to the local inhabitant in quota system was also selfless effort..

Strength and capabilities

One of the main treasures of the NBC is the trust of the people not only from core Kirtipur but almost all south regional sector of the Kathmandu valley. This would be one of the major sources of inspiration to tighten social attachment. From all perspectives NBC has been viewed as an ideal organization with full of innovativeness. Eagerness to help people in any difficult situations had already been felt in number of instances.

NBC has its own office ideally located in Naya Bazar town of Kirtipur Municipality. This definitely makes us relief from the problem of frequent location shifting and financial burden of paying rent, however, we have opportunity to generate income by lending our land and building for others to hire.

We are today proud of our dedicated members who are qualified in different professional capacities. A big hoard of the our members involved in key positions from governmental organization, non-governmental organization to free lancer contributing equally to help NBC achieving noble goal. NBC members are found to be champion on following sectors

Sectors	Capacity possessed by NBC Members
Health :	Medical Doctors
	Health Assistants
	Nurses
Sports :	Sport teachers in leading schools from Kathmandu
	Athletics coach
Environment :	Environmentalists
	Agriculturist / horticulturist
	Nature conservationist
Academic :	Professors / Academicians
	Professional teaching personalities
Research and development :	Research professionals
	NGO managers
Art and Culture :	Celluloid film artist (Actor, actresses)
	Performing art managers Professional Photographers

Strategies and Planning

The forthcoming period of the NBC will have further burdens to be generated through the social responsibilities. Unconditional volunteering at present scenario could hardly help achieving defined goal of an organization. Therefore overall organizational setup of NBC will be separated in following well defined department. Each department will be headed by a coordinator accompanied by 3 to 5 members. Individual department will be given autonomy in terms of work and setup. Division of the section within department will be done taking working area and work load into consideration. Appointment of paid worker/s will be made by President upon request from the coordinator of each department. In forthcoming period NBC will be running under inspiring slogan, Local Initiative for Social Benefit (LISoB).

Organizational structure of NBC shows a central office established in Kirtipur, and upon need, department will be established in concerned locations. Total set up of NBC has been adjusted in following wide departments.

1. Department of Health and Sports

This department will be divided into three broad sections

Health : Carry out regular health activities like blood donation and so on. The section will work in consultation with sister national and international organization to make prepare volunteer necessary for inevitable situation. Effective operation of Ambulance service will be taken care by this section.

Sport :Takes care of regular sporting activities. Section further look for promotion of the education and culture through sporting events.

Culture : It makes connections with the local cultural groups for cultural promotion. Work to help preservation of archeological ancient monuments especially Kirtipur by working collaboratively with governmental bodies and social groups.

2. Department of Education and Human Resource

One of the important department of NBC which delimit all the schools, backward societies and redundancy population. This department will planning have only three sections, namely

Education: Help promote quality education to school kids making sound connections with school and concern authority. Will run many activities to benefit school children.

Human resources: Appropriate management of human resource seeking working opportunity. Development of paid volunteer culture is also one of the motto of NBC

Human rights: Human right culture and living skills, appropriate

3. Department of Environment and Agriculture

This department will more responsible in terms of public response. However this department has much wider arena to work with. Work will be in global context but response will always from local level. Organic agriculture in these days needs to develop as culture help promotes use of local resources and also preserve environmental impact. NBC has made planning of making only two departments

Environment: Think globally act locally, is main inspiring sentence. This section will have to work with close connection with other department for effective results. Constant lobbing towards safer environment is always happening.

Agriculture: Increasing productivity for income generation with minimum environmental impact. Land protection awareness needs to be disseminated among farmers.

4. Department of Research and Development

This is an umbrella department to convert plan into action which has been setup by different department. Manpower within this department, most of them will be paid volunteers. Aim of this department is to make use of the human resources who is in search for the forum through which s/he can contribute to the society. Income generation, poverty alleviation, social and demographic research, local resource mobilization are to be carried out with collaboration with academic and research institutions like TU, RONAST, NARC, etc provided there should be funding source available. Research wing and development wing will be separated upon consultation with president when it seems extremely necessary.

Expectation for coming decade

From local to national level situation has changed. Role of the social organizations has grown to further wider dimension. We believe on making involvement of almost all aspect of the society to play accepted role. We are looking forward to work towards bringing change in awareness at political level, elevation in educational standards, improvement in social and economic status of the people within decade. In this changed scenario, we believe to invade society with more beneficial programs which will aim to raise awareness and expected to see development. The entire departments are aiming to set out annual programs to contribute for the social transformation.

We are in process of developing ‘sandwich’ program to enhance of smooth running of the club to achieve it noble goal. Generating fund from donor for the research and development and making use of the young and energetic professionals for its implementation. More manpower with local origin will be involved and women and disadvantages groups are given priority.

Pictures from daily life of "our" children of the Primary Education Program Kirtipur

2011-10-02T04:58:00.000-07:00

At home:

The family of Raj	Rujina - good at languages - is living here together with her mother	Sailu's is unemployed due to a serious illness.
Asmita's mother is earning money by doing laundry for other families.	Leeja's mother is daily wage labourer on construction sites	Asmita: living together with sick brother and parents in one room
Jesan's family	Here poor Sangita is living, ....	. . . left alone with a terrible burn at her foot!
Bunu's mother is sharing the right part of this building with a second family	10 sqm for three sisters with mother.	Traditionally the elder sisters are responsible to care for their younger brothers and sisters
	Also Prashant is living with mother, job-less father and little sister in one single room of the house depicted left. Puja was met by her mother and her little brother after classes.

At school:

Many children from remote villages have a long way to school	A call for common morning exercises is usual at many schools!	First Primary class at Bal Kumari school
First Primary Class at Indrayani- Primary School	After the breaks they have to line up before classes are continued!	Sports tournaments are very very welcomed at the schools!

After school in front of Kirtipur Secondary School	Tables are not common in traditional families, home work . . .	. . . has to be done on the floor or even in the court of the house

Playing around:


	The toys are very modest, yet the children are happy!!

Serious business:

Despite hard work in the brick factory these children are looking happy when meeting the foreigners.	Many children earn some extra income for the family by selling souvenirs for tourists.	May be he can find some usable items in the rubbish!?
Mother's lesson how to make gravel for some extra income	It's looking easy, but being hard work: bringing water from the distant well!	Ice cream is sweetening the hard life of the young monks.

14 Schools of the Primary Education Program in the Kirtipur Municipality

2011-10-02T04:55:00.000-07:00

The school system of Nepal is increasingly marked by a multitude of commercial private schools. The reason for that seems to be the government concentrates on the payment of the wages for teacher at governmental schools only and thus leaves the responsibility for maintenance of existing schools as well as for investment in school extensions to the very poor communities, the parents and the various sponsors within and outside Nepal. Many communities therefore decided to operate their own non-commercial schools in form of public trusted schools. The Government is not paying wages for the teaching staff of those community schools so the school must raise annual tuition fees. Of course tuition fee of a Community School normally is lower than that of commercial private schools.
The lack of support of the school system by the government not only causes the dilapidation of the building structures and other installations of the schools but also causes a rampant lack of quality education. In so far it is quite understandable that many parents - whenever they can afford - try to send their children to schools with a higher quality level. These are either Public Trusted Community Schools or even to the very expensive commercial Private Schools.

The concept of NEPALHILFE KIRTIPUR from the very beginning was, to make the best use from its restricted financial framework - considering that the best solution was to allow as many children as possible to attend a school. Therefore the concept initially excludes attendance of commercial private Schools whose annual tuition fee might be 4-5 times higher than the tuition fee of non-commercial schools. The scholarship can only be given for students attending 'Governmental Schools' and 'Public Trusted Community Schools'. The following sketch shows the connections between commercial and non-commercial schools in Nepal :

There is compulsory education in Nepal but no pressure to enrol the children at the age of 6 years to class 1 of Primary level. However the vast majority of the children newly enrolled is 6 years old.
(These figures must not let miss the fact that around 30% of all children in Nepal cannot attend a school or at least finish Primary level despite of compulsory education).

The usual age of students in their classes:

Age (Years)	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17
Class	Early Childhood Develpmt. (ECD)	Nursery	Kinder-garten (KG)	1*⁾	2*⁾	3*⁾	4*⁾	5*⁾	6	7	8	9	10	11	12
														10+2

*⁾ The Primary Education Program Kirtipur is supporting these classes.

The school system is sub-divided into the following levels:

Pre-primary	Primary	Lower Secondary	Secondary	Higher Secondary (10+2)
ECD to KG	Classes 1-5	Classes 6-8	Classes 9 & 10	Classes 11 & 12

The 55 students of the Primary Education Program are enrolled at 14 schools, widespread over the whole region of the Kirtipur Municipality.

The usage of donations within the Primary Education Program Kirtipur

2011-10-02T04:50:00.001-07:00

I have limited the maximum number of children supported by the Primary Education Program Kirtipur to 55. Probably the majority of the scholars will have completed the primary school in early 2014 A.D. I bear the responsibility to definitely give the support promised to all selected children really until completion of the primary level.

Yet the total amount of necessary donations until 2014 can't be calculated by plain projection based on the number of students:
At the beginning of school year 2008/2009 for the time being 40 children were supported, then from school year 2019/2010 on in total 55. One has to consider that some of the first 40 students had left the program already by various reasons. Not each of the selected children was enrolled in class 1 at the beginning of the of the scholarship, some of them were already enrolled in class 2. Because of fluctuation e.g. due to moves of the parents to places outside Kirtipur Municipality we will fill the scholarship by other children and thus it seems likely that some children have to be sponsored beyond 2014.

The donations for the Primary Education Program Kirtipur are therefore collected in a common fund from which the yearly scholarships are gathered. At this point I'd like to stress again that even the smallest amount of donation will be most welcomed and will be an important support for our projects!!
So far as the donations will exceed the requirements necessary for the scholarships of the 55 students, the surplus shall be used for a continuing support of at least a part of the children at continuing schools after Primary level. Of course the final decision on this matter can only be taken at a later date when we have a clear view about the available budget.

Promises of donators for taking over the sponsorship for one or more children for the entire primary classes of 5 years would of course remarkably ease the long-term planning of the program.

Such a promise (certainly revocable at any time) could be referred to a periodical yearly donation of 100 Euro per child or meaning a single donation of the total sponsoring of 500 Euro per child. . In such cases I'm willing to allocate the donation to a specific child at the donator's request. Although a general durable sponsorship will not be founded by this act, I'm willing to submit the existing personal data of the respective child including a photography to the donator. I cannot arrange a personal contact between a donator and "her / his" child. and I'm not willing to support that in order to guarantee and maintain equal chances for all children of the program. It's up to the single sponsor whether she/he will maintain a contact after conclusion of the program.

Education for better future of children of kirtipur

2011-10-02T04:48:00.000-07:00


Soon attending Primary School or. . .	. . . children's work in the brickworks??	Making someone happy!

As in most of the poor developing countries also in Nepal the children are very often suffering most from the economic situation in the families where the per capita income per year and person is only around 320 US$ and thus in average the available money for daily living is less than one US$. Despite compulsory education for all 6 to 11 years old children the statistics of the international world organizations show that now as ever 25 -30% of the children in Nepal can not attend any school due to economic reasons. In total less than two third of the girls cannot attend the Primary Classes and especially the female students in rural areas are forming the lowest percentage of attendance in classes. It is true that the rates of putting the children to primary schools is currently around 85% for the boys and around 75% for the girls but only 50% of them are finishing the 5-years lasting primary level at the end. Especially in families with more than one child there is a lack of money to buy the obligatory school uniform, books and stationary etc. Instead of attending school it very often happens that the children are called on heavy children's work in the domestic carpet production, weaving mills, farming and brickworks.

Support for the most deprived children of Kirtipur Municipality

The visitor of Nepal meets the poverty on every turn especially in the remote areas of the country. In those cases many people are inclined to help spontaneously and immediately with some money without considering the sustainability of their support. The impact of the well intentioned financial help in supposedly urgent predicaments very often slacks even before the foreign visitor has reached his home land again. As in nearly all developing countries it is much better not to to offer help unconsidered just out of pity, but only if sustaining effect is guaranteed. Everybody believing to help the children emotionally and out of pity with a quick grab into the purse very often causes the contrary: The alms of the tourists are becoming a matter of course in the awareness of the children, aggressive begging is becoming a habit and last but not least the money given to the children will be taken by the adults.

The best help we can grant to the children of Nepal is the support of better education and training. Only education and training will make them prepared for their life in the future.

Although in the vicinities of only a few kilometres around the centre of Kathmandu poverty is wide spread especially in the Kirtipur Municipality. Jobless families from all - ever poorer - regions of Nepal are migrating into the municipality in their hope to find a job with decent standard so close to the big city of the capital of Nepal. Mostly deep disappointment and again unemployment follows, if only possible the adults hire as labourer on building sites at the rim of the big city at wages which are scarcely enough to feed the family. No money is left for education of the children which is not charge free in Nepal even not at governmental schools. Also the obligatory school uniforms are often beyond the families means.

The aim of the scholarship program is to allow a limited number of most deprived children of the Kirtipur Municipality to attend Primary level in classes 1-5 at a Governmental school or at a non-profit Community school. The program is to take care of the financial burdens of the families for school uniforms, tuition fees, books, stationary and other costs caused by the attendance of the school which otherwise would prevent them to send their children to school.

Thus the scholarship is to cover the entire expenses for attending Primary Classes.

Yearly budget per student (plan values at starting point of the project):

Obligatory school uniform and shoes (double)	NPRs. 2000
Stationary (exercise books, pencils etc.)	NPRs. 1000
Books	NPRs. 1000
Annual tuition fee for the government or community school	NPRs. 4500
special courses, computer usage etc.	NPRs. 500
Total	NPRs. 9000

Considering the exchange rate EURO : NRP at the starting point the financial support for each student of the scholarship program was fixed at 100 Euro per year.

Images of kirtipur

2011-09-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

god ganesh

ehii

uma maheshwor


art

adinath temple

Adinath temple

Newari khana

chuloncha bihar

war of kirtipur unification

cave

old place of kirtipur


dev dhoka

chuloncha bihar

dev pokhari

lodegha

art

bagh bhairab

main gate of bagh bhairab

uma maheshwor temple

Bagh Bhairav Temple

2011-09-16T08:15:00.001-07:00

Bagh Bhairav Temple is holy to both Hindus and Buddhists. Bagh Bhairav Temple is dedicated to God Bhairav in the form of a tiger. This god is regarded as the guardian of Kirtipur and the locals call it Ajudeu, a grandfather god. This temple was constructed between 1099 and 1126 AD by Shiva Deva. The temple lies at the height of 1405 m from sea level, from where a beautiful view of Kathmandu valley can be seen.

The temple is rectangular and lies within the area of 1500 sqm. There is a Temple Torana to the left of the entrance with Vishnu riding Garuda. Bhairav in the middle of Ganesh and Kumar is below them. To the right of the Bagh Bhairava Mandir stands an interesting sculpture thought to be of Kirti mata, mother of Kirtipur, depicted on her back giving birth to a still unidentified creature. Other sculptures in the vicinity of the temple include the Ashta Matrikas (the eight mother deities) dating from the 3rd or 4th century and a rare iconic portrayal of Shiva from the 6th century. These survivals from the Licchavi period show the site to be among the oldest in the valley. The upper section of the temple is covered with swords and shields that belonged to the troop of Kirtipur, who were defeat by the army of King Prithvi Narayan Shah. Sacrifices are made here on Tuesday and Saturday mornings. The squat 16th century temple has wood-carvings and wall paintings, a rare combination in the Katmandu Valley. The paintings unfortunately are almost unrecognizable.

The temples were renovated in the years 1515 AD, 1803 AD, 1850 AD and 1961 AD.

Uma Maheshwor Temple

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Uma Maheshwor Temple is another famous temple of Kirtipur. It is also known as Bhavani ShankarTemple and lies on one of the highest points of the town 1414 m altitude constructed by Vshwanath Raurta. The triple-roofed Uma Maheshwar Temple, or Hindu Kvat, is gotten by climbing the stone stairway by the saddle.

On either side of the beginning of the stairway is a stone elephant with spikes on them. The main deities in this temple are standing Lord Siva and Parvati.

The temple was originally built in 1673 AD and had four roofs. It was damaged in the earthquake of 1934 AD and was restored. Standing by the temple, one can enjoy the beautiful landscape of the valley including the Himalayan ranges.

Unusally, the main image of Shiva and Parvati is a standing one, not in the standard Uma Maheshwar pose. To the left of the central image the god and his consort is a smaller image in the standard pose. The temple was originally built in 1673(some source say 1655) with four roofs until it was badly damaged by the earthquake of 1934. The bell to the right was cast in 1895 by “Gillett & Johnston Founders, Corydon”.

Jal Binayak Temple

2011-09-16T08:02:00.001-07:00

Jal Binayak Temple ( Jal means water & Binayak is Lord Ganesh ), just below the Chobar Gorge / Manjushree Park, On the riverbank, One of the valley's most important Lord Ganesh shrine. Ganesh is one of the most popularly worshiped forms of divinity - as a remover of obstacles and the embodiment of good luck. He is the most beloved and revered of all the Hindu gods, and is always invoked first in any Hindu ceremony or festival. Ganesh is represented as a short, pot-bellied man with an elephant’s head with one tusk, four arms and a yellow skin. His vehicle is a tiny mouse.

Temple was built in the early 20th century. Present temple has been constructed in 1603 AD. On temple's eastern platform there is an aged & worn image of lord Shiva & Parvati in Uma-Maheshwor Pose, which predated temple by 500yrs, Although there was probably a temple here even earlier. The temple's Lord Ganesh image is very likeness to the elephant-headed huge rock. The triple roofed temple’s strut depicts eight Bhairav and eight Ashta Matrikas (Mother Goodness) with whom Lord Ganesh often appears. On the lower roof Lord Ganesh himself appears on some of the struts, with beautiful female figures standing beside him & tiny, brightly painted erotic depictions below. A bronze of Lord Ganesh Bahan 'vehicle' a Rat stands respectfully in the courtyard and face the shrine.

Chilancho Vihar / Stupa

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Chilancho stupa is located on the southern tip of the hill. The Stupa was built in 1509 in its present form after a Stupa of the same name in west Patan. It stands on a stepped platform surrounded by four smaller Stupas. All five are lavishly decorated with statues of the Dhyani Buddhas.

At the foot of the main Stupa inhabited Aksobhya, Buddha of the East, a shrine like building that is guarded by two small lions. Some buildings nearby with extremely attractive traditional facades were once part of a palace and monastery, the stupa had completely enclosed.

The wonderfully restored main monastery is situated on the south side. The archway above the entrance is an unusual Nepal for trio of eight-armed, three-headed characters in the type of Rajput princes. In the entrance are two stone lions and a bell.

Adinath Lokeshwar Temple of kirtipur

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Adinath Lokeshwar is honored by Buddhists as a form of the Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara and by Hindus as Surya the Sun God. . Six figures of the Buddha are lined up beneath the temple's golden torana .His temple in Chobar stands at the highest point of the village on a site already in use in Licchavi times (some small votive stupas still survive). The temple once possessed a figure of Matsyendranath, but it was stolen by Bhopas and taken to Kerang.

The shikhara-style shrine in front of the temple has a Shiva lingam and is also said to be the entrance to a cave leading through the mountain to the Chobar Gorge. The three-storied pagoda, situated on the west side of the monastery courtyard and built originally in the 15th century, was reconstructed in 1640.

The frontage is decorated with pots, pans and water jugs hung there by young couples seeking to ensure a happy marriage. So many are wed that the utensils have to be taken down every ten years to make way for fresh ones.

Kirtipur, A glorious town

2011-09-16T07:36:00.000-07:00

Many places within the valley and indeed the close ones from the main city have remained isolated and unexplored. One such place is Kirtipur, a town that is very close from Kathmandu City but still far from the reach of tourism activities. Spread in 14 hectares of land, Kirtipur is located 5 km from the center of Kathmandu. In Nepali dialect Kirtipur means "a glorious town". Looking down from its natural order it has been the scen of many historic battels and many important moments in Nepal's history. History says that the ancient city Kirtipur was founded by Shiva Deva between 1099 AD and 1126 AD and during the reign of the Malla Kingdom in the 15th century the city was developed for human settlement.
The town is an ancient town, which consists of remarkable historical values and ethics. It is still an open museum of religion, culture and tradition and glorious work of Newari crafts and architecture. With majority of Newari community, the city house about 43.000 people approximately according to the data of year 2003. Kirtipur town is harmonical convergence of Buddhist and Hindus.

Bagh Bhairav

The town is an ancient town, which consists of remarkable historical values and ethics. It is still an open museum of religion, culture and tradition and glorious work of Newari crafts and architecture.

The town is not only of historic importance but is also important from the artistic point of view. Some of the finest temples, Chaityas and Stupas of valley are scattered through this typically built Newari City. Surrounded by stone sculptures, masterpieces of Nepalese art, these shrines are the hub of festivals and religious ceremonies (Jatras).
Bagh Bhairav Temple is dedicated to God Bhairav in the form of a tiger. This god is regarded as the guardian of Kirtipur and the locals call it Ajudeu, a grandfather god. This temple was constructed between 1099AD-1126AD by Shiva Deva. The temple lies at the height of 1405m from sea level, from wher a beautiful view of Kathmandu valley can be seen. The three-storey temple is rectangular and lies within the area of 1500 sq.m. The weapons like swords and shields are showcased in the front roof of the temple. These weapons are said to be presented by Newar troops after their defeat by Late King Prithivi Narayan Shah. The temples were renovated in the years 1515AD, 1803 AD, 1850AD and 1961AD.
Uma Maheshwor Temple is another famous temple of Kirtipur. It is also known as Bhavani Shankar Temple and lies on one of the highest points of the town. It lies at 1414m altitude and was built in the year 1655AD by Vshwanath Raurta. Standing by the temple, one can enjoy the beautiful landscape of the valley including the Himalayan ranges.
As it lies on the high altitude, it has to be renovated time and again because the wind at this place is quit violent and extreme and has blown away the roofs several times.

Images of kirtipur

2011-09-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

Add caption

Indrayani Jatra of Kiritpur

2011-09-16T03:42:00.000-07:00

Indrayani Jatra:
The colorful Indrayani Jatra celebrated in Kirtipur 6 km to the southwest of Kathmandu, is designed to propitiate Indrayani Jatra, one of the Ajimas (mother Goddesses) who protect the valley. The three day festival happens around Indrayani's two shrines, one in the town center and the other outside the ancient township. The first day see a procession with musical bands in which the deity's image is carried on a kept here for the town center to the second shrine. It is kept here for the next two days so that the faithful can pay homage. On the third day, the goddess is carried back to the main shrine accompanied by the palanquin of Ganesh, the god of good fortune. The Indrayani Jatra is one of the most important festivals held in Kirtipur.

Photos during indrayani jatra of kirtipur :


boys in traditional dress

having fun of kindrayani jatra

The Festivals of Kirtipur

2011-09-16T03:24:00.000-07:00

The Festivals of Kirtipur

Kirtipur is a town built in the traditional Newari style — thick clusters of houses. Each cluster is a “neighborhood” centered around an open area called a tole. There are several toles in Kirtipur town and each has its own shrine to the elephant-headed god Ganesh, lord of good fortune and remover of obstacles.

The most important tole is called Layaku tole. It was the town’s center during the Malla period and here the colorful jatras and public functions are still held. Many of the festivals to Kirtipur’s gods and goddesses include festive processions — each follows its own traditional path through the byways of the old town.

Bagh Bhairav Jatra is performed on the first day of the month of Bhadra (August/September). An image of Bagh Bhairav, especially made for the festival, is carried through the streets with traditional bands, drummers and dancers, followed by devotees chanting bhajans and kirtans. The procession winds through the streets along the borders of the ancient principality of Kirtipur.

Indrayani jatra is held every year in the month of Marga (November/December). Indrayani is a mother goddess much honored by the Newar people. During this festival, the people of seven surrounding villages participate. The image of the goddess is carried in a palanquin through the streets of the upper half of the town, starting from Deodhoka Indrayani Tole and ending in the wide square of Layaku Tole. Indrayani’s palanquin is preceded by another small palanquin of Ganesh, the god of wisdom and success.

Buddha Jayanti is celebrated every year on the full moon day of Baisakha (April/May). On this day Buddha was born in Lumbini, about 300 km. southwest of Kathmandu Valley. This festival is celebrated with great joy by the Buddhist people of Kirtipur. In the morning a procession goes through the streets of the town to Chilancho Vihar to pay homage to Lord Buddha.

Gai Jatra, the Procession of the Cows, is observed for three days in the month of Shrawan (July/August). Cows, or children dressed as stylized cows, walk with small family processions through the streets. Families who have lost a loved one participate, for the sacred cow will lead the deceased person through the Gates of Judgement. Among the smaller summertime festivals held in Kirtipur is the festival of Gathu Pyakhan, the festival of gardener, which takes place once every twelve years! A unique custom prevalent in Kirtipur during the summer festival season is that of feeding the frogs, called in Newari byan ja nakegu.

Kirtipur, with its temples, stupas and colorful festivals, is in many ways the model of a traditional Newari town. It is unique in that it sits atop a hill, for most old towns were built on plateaus above flowing rivers. Thus hilltop Kirtipur has perhaps the best Himalayan views than any town in the Valley. From its highest point, the Uma-Maheswara temple at 1418 meters, gives an enchanting view of the Valley. From the west to the east one can see Ganesh Himal (7606 m), Langtang (7234 m), Gauri Shankar (7134 m) and Cho Oyu (8201 m), among many. In clear weather even Mt. Everest ,(8848 m) is visible in the east.

Kirtipur can be easily reached within half an hour by hiring a taxi from any place of Kathmandu city. Taxis can go up as far as Bagh Bhairav temple in the heart of the town. There is regular bus service from Ratna Park to Kirtipur, though the buses are often quite crowded. Conducted tours can also be arranged by travel agencies. One of the nicest day walks of the Valley is down the hill from Kirtipur and through the fields to Kathmandu, crossing the Bagmati river at an old foot bridge. You might want to divert to have a look at the Kirtipur campus of Tribhuvan University, Nepal’s largest educational institution. The walk takes a couple of hours.

Kirtipur, easily accessible from Kathmandu, is a place to see and understand the traditional life of the Newars, the old people of the Valley. The town is full of life from sunrise to sunset. One can see womenfolk washing their clothes and utensils by the stone-lined ponds. Nursing mothers sit along the streets enjoying the warm sun. At harvest time the squares of the town are a beehive of activity as jyapus (farmers) sort, dry and thresh their crops. Chillies, onions and garlics hang from the windows of the old houses.

Kirtipur is a unique place, a place of history, of working people and of fine temples and sculptures. Looking from Kathmandu, you can see it there in the south, sitting on its hill. And Kirtipur looks down, upon the changing, growing Kathmandu Valley, watching the history of the Valley roll by beneath the unchanging curtain of the Himalaya.

The story of Kirtipur unification

2011-09-15T05:37:00.000-07:00

It's just 6km from Kathmandu's city centre, but historic Kirtipur may as well be many centuries away.
The picturesque ridge-top town has always fallen between the cracks of the tourist towns of Bhaktapur and Patan. And despite the proximity, one gets the feeling time has passed Kirtipur by.
Kirtipur was the first of the Valley's kingdoms to be attacked by Prithbi Narayan Shah. The resolute inhabitants held out till 1768 after three fierce sieges by the Gorkhalis. Unlike Patan and Kathmandu, Kirtipur is naturally protected on all sides.
Despite the ravages of time, past battles and earthquakes the medieval features of this fortress kingdom are still intact. The ancient town is an open museum for religion, cultural tradition and exceptional Newari craft and architecture. The sounds of women using ugha to beat rice and the whirr of the tan as threads are woven into cloth have all but disappeared elsewhere, but survive in Kirtipur.
At the 600-year-old Bagh Bhairab temple the swords and shields, remnants of the battle against Prithbi Narayan Shah, are proudly displayed and remind visitors of the courage of the defenders.
Up the hill is the Uma Maheswor temple, from where there is a sweeping view of the valley and the mountains beyond.
Kirtipur's glorious history comes right down to the present times: the activism of its inhabitants and the nearby university ushered in democracy in 1990 and in April 2006 with peaceful protests that inspired the nation to stand up against an autocratic monarchy.

A LAND OF OLD AND NEW: A young girl swings free across Kirtipur's skyline

A kitchen hand prepares to winnow freshly pounded rice at Nawa Lahana

The Jugal Himal range and the valley as seen from Uma Maheswor Temple,
the highest point in Kirtipur

A monk rests in peaceful solitude at the Sri Kirti Bihar.

Women weed mustard fields near Naya Bajar

Antique swords and shields used during the battle against Prithvi Narayan Shah hang in the Bagh Bhairab Temple

Nawa Lahana is an open museum cum restaurant

Battle of Kirtipur

2011-09-15T05:14:00.000-07:00

The battle for kirtipur

Prithvi Narayan Shah employed a strategy involving a blockade of the Kathmandu Valley, and subsequently took over the surrounding settlements and strategic positions around the valley. In the next two years (during 1745-46) he captured Mahadevpokhari, Pharping, Chitlang, Dharmasthali, Naldrum, Siranchok and Shivapuri. He then focused his attention on Kirtipur and Makawanpur, two palaces which were also strategic military targets. Kirtipur was in an elevated position with a fort surrounded by walls and jungles, an ideal place to make inroads into the valley. Shah thought that if he could take over Kirtipur, occupying the rest of the valley would be much easier. On 4 December 1757 he made his first attack on Kirtipur. In this war he lost his strong general Kalu pandey which was a great loss for gorkha. Kalu Pandey had told him that it was not the right time to attack Kritpur. His body was buried in Kirtipur. Prithvi Narayan Shah himself was nearly killed in the battle. As a result, the Gorkha army, having lost a great deal of morale, was defeated. It is said that as revenge for his two earlier defeats, The Gorkha army was repelled again in August 1764.

After two defeats, the Gorkha army changed its strategy again and surrounded Kirtipur during the harvest season, effectively laying siege to the stronghold. The Gorkha army also took over the nearby Balaju fort. After several months of this blockade, the people of Kirtipur could not even get water to drink and were forced to surrender to the Gorkha army on 17 March 1766. This time the Gorkha army took over Kirtipur without a fight. Prithvi Narayan Shah had his army cut off the noses and lips of many people of Kirtipur.

Kirtipur Local Cultural Activism and the Production of Public Meaning

2011-09-14T19:20:00.000-07:00

This contribution studies Nepal’s democratic transition as it is articulated and interpreted in local cultural production. The town of Kirtipur is a good case of this. Cultural activism voicing both political and ethnic issues is a longstanding tradition here, and is tied in with other ways of creating public history. To give an example, the names of the four Kirtipur martyrs (shahid) of the Jana Andolan of 1990 are perpetuated not only in memorialising cultural programs but also in the very name of a successful local school.

Kirtipur cultural activists have navigated through the sometimes turbulent years of post-pancayat Nepal, actively relating to events such as the Jana Andolans and their aftermaths, the Gyanendra era with its curfews, and the advent of the Maovadis. Commenting, arguing, and reflecting upon such events but also upon more general social and cultural conditions, they have performed from makeshift local stages such as a water tank or a crossroads as well as on more formal stages in Kathmandu. As they go by, they forge links and make alliances with people (songwriters, dance directors, in theatre) and organisations (cultural, educational, political) who operate on a translocal or national level. But still the Kirtipur scene remains very much a locally situated practice.

Beside the ”live” cultural programs, the output of this practice includes media artifacts such as cassettes, cds, video-cds, and recordings and visualisations for broadcasting purposes. In both media artifacts and live programs, songs are the single most important component. New songs are continuously devised, but the Kirtipur cultural activists also draw upon an accumulated, large repertory from which items can be mobilised when the situation so calls for.

Grounded in in both historical and local/national contexts, my analysis of this cultural practice and these cultural products aim for the stories they tell about, and the meanings they give to, the sociopolitical conditions, developments and events of the recent decades. My contribution builds upon familiarity with cultural activism, in Kirtipur and on a more national (i.e. Kathmandu) level, and the empirical material has been collected in 2010 as well as intermittently throughout the transition period (and back into the late days of the pancayat era). The data include song texts as copied in notebooks, printed or the like; songs as sung at programs or demonstrated at home (and recorded by me) but also as preserved on local recordings or brought out on commercially available cassettes, cds and videos; programs as observed live and as seen on local recordings. In my study of the local production of public meaning here, not only texts, but also musical resources such as melodies and instruments and the non-verbal statements in dress and dance will be ”decoded”. And finally, not only the artifacts but also the practice of cultural activism itself (as observed and as inferred from interview data) will be ”read” as a running commentary on Nepal’s democratic transition. The very decision to stage a program or write a song at a particular moment can be understood as a statement on how that transition is seen to proceed.

The story of Kirtipur

2011-09-14T19:16:00.001-07:00

Kirtipur

It is a small town, eight kilometers southwest of Kathmandu on the top of a hill; Tribhuvan University is located at the foot of the hill. This historic town has many things to offer like old shrines and temples, old houses, the people typically dressed in old traditional customs, people working on ancient loom etc.

(pop. 35,000) is situated on a ridge 6 km southwest of Kathmandu. The ancient township is a natural fortress and has a proud and courageous history. The Chilamchu stupa and the temple of Bagh Bhairav are major sights here. Kirtipur offers quaint streets lined with artistic houses and temple squares. The people are known for their skill in building and weaving.

Perched on twin hillocks and clinging to a saddle about 5 km south west of Kathmandu lies the village of Kirtipur. A long flight of steps leads up to Kirtipur from the valley floor and a motorable road goes part way up the hill. Steep paths link brick houses built on terraces. The villagers dressed in traditional costume work on ancient looms. The people are well known for their strength and valour. Many historical battles were fought and won by the inhabitants of Kirtipur.

Kirtipur

Among the old kingdoms of the valley, Kirtipur is the least talked about although the invading Gorkha army thought it important enough to capture first in 1766. After the invasion, it was named Naskatipur 'City of cut noses' as it is said the Shah king decreed that the noses of all male adults be cut off. This was revenge for the killing of the king's best and favourite general named Kalu Panday. The town sits on a hill overlooking Kathmandu city and is 5 km away towards the south- west. The Bagmati river flows by the approach road to the town and the Tribhuwan University lies on the way up. The Himalayas can be seen in the distance between Kathmandu's surrounding hills.

Most of the inhabitants are either farmers or weavers. The Kirtipur Cottage Industry is flourishing and people can be seen working on their handlooms. The tiny city was once walled in and traces of this wall can still be seen. There are many interesting temples around the town. One of them is the Buddhist vihara known as Chilanchu Vihar. There are other monasteries surrounding it. Shrines of interest are the three- tiered Uma Maheshwar temple, with the standing Shiva and Parvati. The Bagh Bhairav temple is well known for the swords and shields that once belonged to the defenders of the city. They can be seen hanging on the walls.

There are many buses plying the Kathmandu-Kirtipur route but some go only up to the Tribhuwan University. The buses take the Dakshinkali road but about 1km from the ring road they turn right towards Kirtipur. Thereafter, it is an uphill ride.

Nepal Bhasa(Newari language in kirtiput)

2011-09-14T18:58:00.000-07:00

General Background of Language

A language is a dynamic set of visual, auditory or tactile symbols of communication and the elements used to manipulate them. Language also refers to the use of such system as a general phenomenon. It is the most powerful and widely used means of communication. It is regarded as a specific possession of human beings to express and exchange feelings, opinions, desires and many more things from one member to another in community.
There are varieties of language spoken by various people living in various place and parts of the world. Almost all the languages are equally efficient and effective for communication messages. However all the languages are not equally widespread to be used by various people.
Of all the languages in the world, English deserves to be regarded as the world language. In the context of Nepal, Nepali language is a dominant language. Unlike Nepali, other languages such as Newar, Magar, Tamang, Rai, Bhojpuri, etc. are indigenous language and they are used in a particular people.
The main concern of the language here is one of the indigenous language i. e Newar language. The natives of this language prefer to use Newa Bhaye or Nepal Bhasa. As other language, it has also phonetic features. This language is chiefly used by the natives of this language locally.
How can we Learn Nepal Bhasa
To learn any language, a learner has to learn the sound system of that language initially. Since speech sounds are the product of human anatomy and physiology, sound systems cannot be fully understood unless they studied in a wider linguistic context. A language learner for instance must master for production and perception of the sands of a given language. He/she must also however learn when to use these sounds.
For this purpose, the requirements of the basic things of Nepal bhasa are presented through phonetic symbols and diacritic marks.
Swar Varna of Nepal Bhasa with illustration.
अ |a|

In Nepal Bhasa	अन (ana)	अजि (aji)	असामी (amāsī)
In Nepali	त्यहाँ (tyahān)	बज्यै (bajyai)	अम्बा (ambā)
In English	there	grandmother	guava

आ |ā|

In Nepal Bhasa	आख: (ākha)	आजु (āju)	आ: (ā:)
In Nepali	अक्षर (akshar)	लक्ष्य (lakshya)	अहिले (ahile)
In English	letter	aim	now

इ |i|

In Nepal Bhasa	इकु (iku)	इपिं (ipi)	इहिपा: (ihipā:)
In Nepali	रिंगटा (ringatā)	तिनीहरु (tiniharu)	विवाह (bibāha)
In English	dizziness	they	wedding

ई |ī|

In Nepal Bhasa	ईका (īkā)	ई (ī)	ई (ī)
In Nepali	सर्स्यू	समय (samaya)	थकू (thka)
In English	yellow mustard seed	time	spittle

उ |u|

In Nepal Bhasa	उखे (ukhe)	उज्या (ujya)	उसाँय् (usãy)
In Nepali	उता (utā)	अलि पर (ali para)	सञ्चो (san^cho)
In English	there	a bit far	fine/well

ऊ |ū|

In Nepal Bhasa	ऊ (ū)	ऊ (ū)
In Nepali	भुक्छ (bhukcha)	त्यो (tyo)
In English	dog barks	that

ए |e|

In Nepal Bhasa	एला (elā)	एका:रा (eka:rā)	एक (eka)
In Nepali	अलैंची	एकोहोरो (ekohoro)	एक (eka) एउटा (euta)
In English	cardamom	single minded	one

ऐ |eI|

In Nepal Bhasa	ऐसा (eisā)	ऐक: (eka:)	ऐधो
In Nepali	रुन्चे (runche)	कट (kat)	जाँड
In English	addicted to crying	fermented mash, dreg	white wine / beer

ओ |o|
The vowel is not available in Nepal Bhasa. However the consonant |w| is pronounced as ओ(o).

औ |au|

In Nepal Bhasa	औकै (aukai)	औचा (aucha)
In Nepali	आँखाको ढकनीमा आउने खटिरा	आँख्ला (ānkhlā)
In English	a sty

अं |a|

In Nepal Bhasa	अं (a)	अं	अंग (anga)
In Nepali	आँप (āpa)	हो (ho)	भित्ता (vitta)
In English	mango	yes	wall

अ: |a|

In Nepal Bhasa	अ:पु	अ:बलय	अ: ख:
In Nepali	सजिलो (sajilo)	उहिले (uhile)	उल्टो (ulto)
In English	easy	long ago	opposite

Kirtipur -my born place

2011-09-14T08:38:00.001-07:00

Kirtipur municipality, is situated on the bank of Bagmati River in the southwest corner of Kathmandu valley almost 7km far from the main city of Kathmandu. It covers 25248 ropanies. Its boundary is, in east -Bagmati river, west- Machhegoun VDC, north -kathmandu metropolitant and south- Chalnakhel VDC.

This kirtipur site is announced as municipality in 2053 chaitra 18th. Before announced as municipality there is 8 VCDs. Combination of these 8 VCDs made kirtipur municipality. These VDCs are Palifal, Chithu Bihar, Panga Bishnu Devi, Panga Balkumari, Layaku, Bahirigoun, Chovar and Champadevi VCDs respectively. Within kirtipur municipality there are 19 wards.

According to 1991 census, there are 31338 population where male constitutes 16080 and female constitute 15258 respectively. The following table shows the situation of population. In this municipality, the settlement is dominated by the Newars. Non-newars as Bhramin, KCS(Khatri-Chhetries), Kami, Damain, Sarki, Tamang are also settled. Most of the people used to speak Newari language.

The main occupation of dewellers of this area is agriculture. But the establishment of Tribhuvan University and Horticulture Research station captured large plot of agricultural land from the dwellers. So the people have now become either landless or having a small size of farming land. Therefore agriculture alone cannot meet the minimum needs of the household.To the members of the family especially male started to work for wages in jobs that are not directly obtained through the inheritance of older generation such as in governmental service, in private sectors or to sell their physical labour in the labour market as a dakarmi (masons) and Sikarmo (carpenters). The female member of the family are busy in household chores and work in their farming land mostly. Some are engaged in income generation activities such as handloom industry, knitting, tailoring, carpet industry etc and marginal females are engaged in governmental service.

Social And Culture in Kirtipur

Newari society is a culturally dominant community and has some of the silent features that distinguish their society. They have their own rich cultural traditions and rituals, which is able to get continuity in present time. They feel really proud to perform traditional tasks such as celebrating different feast and festivals related to certain god and goddess as well as arrangement of Bhoj regularly on different occasions. Among the silent features of Newari community, Guthi institution is most famous. Guthi institution controlled and regulated ritual and social life of people of their society. It is noticed that each and every newars are member of at least in one Guthi. Everyone enrolled his or her name in certain Guthis. According to G.S Nepali “the manifest function of such Guthis is the fulfillment of some secular or religious interests, they have the latent function of preserving the norms and values of the community.” (The Newars, 191)

The Guthi institution plays vital role in society as well as binds the newar together. Each and everyone must follow all it’s rules and regulations of their respective guthi. If any imposed it’s sanctions, defaulting person or household results in complete social boycott, through the denial of participation in the group events and feasts and services to be rendered by there respective institution which becomes quite miserable social life of defaulted person or household.

There is especially one ritual function called Burha-Junko (Ratharohan) was practices in Newar community which is however, not to be found among other ethnic groups of nepal. This ritual function is performed to give honor to old people of certain age. It is held thrice in the lifetime of an individual called Bhima-Ratha Rohan, Ashwa-Ratha Rohan and Swarga-Ratha Rohan respectively. After the completion of first Burha-Junko ceremony a person is believed to enter upon the first stage of divinity and he gives up taking active interest in family affairs. People look upon him with the utmost awe and his blessings are much sought before a new project is to be stated. After completion of third Burha-Junko he is worshipped as a semi-divine being. In this research area, people celebrate many festivals. Among them Dashain, Tihar, Gai Jatra, Sat Gounley Jatra (Jatra of seven villages), Mageh Sangranti, Chaitya Dashain and Siddhinakha are famous festivals. Hindu and Buddhist both religions are in practices. In newar social organization both religions groups exist and have mutual toleration and respect between the two religious groups. Bagh Bhairab, Uma Maheswor, Bishnu Devi, Bal Kumari, Chilancho Buddha Stupa, Champa Devi, Jal Binayak, Loknath (Chovar) and Kirti Bihar are the most religiously important spots where Newars and non-Newars both are permitted to exist.

Kirtipur and beyond kirtipur

2011-09-14T08:31:00.000-07:00

On a lazy Saturday afternoon I decided to kill some time by visiting western parts of the Kathmandu valley that is not necessarily on the tourist map. I decided to visit Mathathirtha VDC, then head south and east to Macchegaon VDC and move on to Kirtipur Municipality, which is one of the five municipalities within the Kathmandu Valley. In order to reach Mathathirtha VDC and its waterspouts, I first reached Kalanki Chowk, and headed west on the Kalanki-Thankot Highway for some two kilometers to Sattungal. I took a left here and headed south and west towards the famous Mathathirtha waterspouts. These waterspouts are visited by thousands of people where they bathe during the Nepali version of “Mother’s Day” which falls in late Spring. Then I headed south and east towards Machhegaon. Macchegaon is a VDC that lies somewhere between Mathathirtha VDC and Kirtipur Municipality. At Macchegaon I visited Bishnu Devi Temple and Macche Narayan Temple. Then I headed east towards Kirtipur Municipality and spent some time at the Kirtipur Thai Pagoda and the famous Baag Bhairab Temple – a landmark easily identified in Kirtipur vicinity.

A Boy at the Gates of Matatirtha Waterspouts

Matatirtha Temple and the Waterspouts

In Macchegaon VDC lie two famous temples – Bishnu Devi Temple and Macche Narayan Temple. Macchegaon Temple is dedicated to the first avatar of Vishnu, Matsya the fish. Thus, the temple is fittingly placed in the middle of a pond. Matsya helped rescue Manu, the progenitors of the human race from a great flood. The metaphysical aspects of the temple design cannot be more obvious.

Macche Narayan Temple

The Statue of Garuda at Macche Narayan Temple

Bishnudevi Temple which lies Nextdoors to Macche Narayan Temple

In Kirtipur, there is a nice pagoda built with the assistance of Thai Airlines.

Motorbikes and Electricity Poles

Thai Pagoda at Kirtipur

The Pagoda

The Monastery with Tribhuvan University on the Background

Bagh Bhairab Temple

In the Courtyard of Bagh Bhairab Temple

The Gate of Bagh Bhairab Temple

The first Kirtipur women school

2011-09-14T03:17:00.000-07:00

(Housewife) Woman School is the first female educational institution established by the chief members of Kipu Saving and Credit Co- Operative Society Ltd. in 2063. It lies in the heart of Kirtipur municipality which is located at Samal Dhoka, Kirtipur-6. This institution is mainly established to those women who were compelled to discontinue their study and to those who were unable to get education in their childhood due to the socio-economical or political problems and so on. It is a non-profit service oriented institution that constantly provides access to quality educational and career developing opportunities for the women or housewives.This institution has been providing a quality education in good learning environment to the participants since its inception. It is being a right centre of learning for adult women whichinspires them to learn many things in their daily lives. It also inspires the participants to meet the challenges of the 21st century.

Many more women have not got opportunity to step in school's premise during their school age. They are not empowered sufficiently to contribute in national development effort being disadvantaged of women in our society in this century too. It is because of disparity mainly found in the case of gender. The cases of gender discrimination are found everywhere in spite of the question of their involvement in every

walks of life are needed. In our socio-economic structure women are ruined all the time in their domestic affairs however many of them can have leisure for certain time and use it to step along the ladder of formal education to accomplish the gate of higher education with these views to launch efforts along the path of empowerment and development, this school was established in 2063-10-9 to provide formal education with professional skill development training.

Objective of Kirtipur (Housewife) Woman School

This institution has the following objectives:

Helping drop-outs and deprived women (esp. from education due to various reasons) by providing the opportunities to achieve secondary level education.
Importing quality education to the participants in a good environment and to instill in them a sense of self-discipline and confidence so that they nature themselves into responsible and confident citizens of the country.
Organizing different programmes to develop the participants or women's social status and to awaken them about the health education, woman and child rights.
Examining the women's health regularly.

Initial stage of it

With the realization of the need of fema

le education, the members of Kipu Saving and Credit co- operative society Ltd. They Set up this school with fifty participants, three teachers and three rooms with no office. Some of the participants were from non-formal school who had already acquired basic things however; most of the participants were illiterate. They could neither write even a single letter nor recognize or read. The participants were divided into three sections of the same grade that was pre one. The participants were collected through the share holders or general members of the co-operative society.In the very beginning, the participants were taught to make circle, lines, "ka", "kha"... a, b, c, d, etc respectively. They hardly learnt them. Initially, the teachers felt how the participants would learn as they could not recognize the letters and couldn't memorize what they were taught. The participants took much interest in learning however. They got progress in their learning in no time. The students were evaluated orally and in written form and were graded in every three or six months on the grounds of their interests, regularly and capacity.

All the participants had to pay for their study. They had to buy the necessary educational materials like books, copies, pencils, etc themselves. The payment was reasonable. They were supposed to pay nominal charge. All the furniture needed for the school and other requirements were arranged by the co-operative society, itself. The main source of school was the participant's payment and the direct and indirect help of the co-operative society. On the course of time, Kirtipur municipality supported it financially to run continuously and academically.

Challenges

Everything is dynamic in this modern age. Every person or institution has to widen their thoughts, plans, etc to face any challenges. While conducting any program, a person or institution face different challenges. In the same way, this school has also been facing many challenges since its inception. It was a challenge for the members of this institute to set up this school. Most of the neighbors of the members of co-operative society and the teachers told them that they were gone mad and they were not working good social af fair instead they were trying to demolish the women of this society. They didn't care to the backbiters. They devoted their busy time to set up this school. It is gradually getting social fame, respect and status in no time.

Some more challenges:

Giving access to education to all the illiterate woman of the community.
Providing quality education in free of cost.
Regulariging the participants.
Providing access to education on the grouds of their interests, needs and level.
Providing practical based classes such as computer class, etc.

Social reputation

Kirtipur Woman School, the only one woman school of the Kirtipur area, has been established as a model of woman school in this area. Initially the natives of Kirtipur who knew about the establishment of school used to talk about and used to say to the participants sarcastically. Most of the participants used to come this school with their own interest and with their family's force. Some of the participants used to tell their friends or neighbors that they were going to market/ visit their relative/ office, etc as their friends or neighbors used sarcastic words to them if they happened to know that they were going to school. But with the time, the inhabitants of this area have realized the importance of education. Nowadays, they thank the members of co-operatives and the contributors-principal and teachers of this school. They are supporting to advertise the school and collecting the students.

Aim in future

With the constant determination, the school aims to provide higher secondary level education with vocational education and skill development trainings to the participants so that the students will achieve self-confident, self -reliant and get employment as per their capacity in the society or involvement in social works.

Present Condition

The present condition of this school is shown through the different aspects of the school.

Number of staff Six experienced energetic and qualified teachers including a principal are serving in different sectors to run whole academic activity. There is a non-teaching staff that helps to handle the other activities of the school.
Class Presently, there are six classrooms. The classes are being run from grade pre one to grade five. The school is planning to collect drop-outs to admit in lower and secondary level.
Curriculum and course book The government has not prescribed the curriculum for adult students. So, the school is using the same curriculum designed for community schools, by Janak Education Office Sano Thimi, Bhaktapur. Similarly, the textbooks are being followed on the basis of the curriculum. Besides these course books, we are also using the course book that is taught in non-formal education such as Nayan Goreto, Gaun Besi, etc.
Admission The women above 14 years are admitted on the basis of their certificates or elementary evaluation.
Academic year 3 months and 6 months programmes are taken as an academic year in the elementary level. As the participant moves to the grade like 3 or 4 or 5, a year programme is conducted.
Skilled- Based Education It is providing a skill based classes for the sake of producing self dependent students. For Example ; making hand bag and purse.
Extra-curricular Activities The school is conducting different programs such as inter -quiz contest, debate competition, drawings, cultural programs, etc to develop the student's personality. Similarly, the school is condcting different informative and knowlegeble programmes such as earthquake training, leadership training, etc.
Scholarship Helpless, dalits and poor students are provided full or partial scholarship.

Excursion It organizes excursion programmes to develop the participants' practical knowledge and skill progress.

Health Education With the co-ordination of Kirtipur Phect Hospital, Devdhoka , Kirtipur, it is conducting health classes related to women and child's health once a month regularly in the Phect hospital. Examination System Unit test, terminal examination, direct and indirect evaluation scheme are used time and again. The final written and oral examination are conducted at the end of the session or program.

Economic condition The chief sources of this school are the participant's payment and government aid through District Education Office, Tahachal. The financial contribution of this office also is supporting to run the whole academic activities. It financially got support from Kirtipur municipality a year and half year ago. Therefore, it could make the furniture and other necessities were fulfilled by the municipality's co- ordination. Similarly the kipu credit and saving co-operative Ltd. is still helping by providing building for its sustainability. Without these organizations, the participants and the contributors of this school, the school remains no more.

Achievements

The participants are being able to speak to the teachers and to anybody else without fear and hesitation in Nepali language as most of the students are from Newar community.
The participants are also being able to communicate in English a bit and can understand well if somebody speaks slowly using simple and colloquial language.
The interests and abilities of the participants are not suppressed. They have an opportunity to develop their potential.
The participants keen on drawing the pictures which was ignored by them in the beginning.
The participants are gaining the experiences of student life which they lack in their school age.
Among participants free and self reliant habit is being cultivated.
The participants are not tied with strict rules and regulation. They are free. Some extra -curricular activities are run as their need and interests.
Holidays are given on the grounds of the local affairs and festivals.
It mainly focuses on group learning and learner centered method.
The classrooms are decorated with print rich prepared by the participants themselves.
Appropriate teaching materials are used for making teaching and learning effective.
Participants are being able to read newspaper, magazine, etc. and get understand.
The school is trying to provide technical based education such as computer class to the participants as it is the demand of the time.

Kirtipur Volunteer Society (KVS)

2011-09-14T03:14:00.001-07:00

Kirtipur Volunteer Society (KVS), one of the social organizations, as usual is conducting "Career Hunt Programme" for SLC appeared students. This programme is a joint package of bridge course and extra activities courses which helps the students in developing their career. This year's "Career Hunt Programme" is third version of the yearly programme.

SLC is an "iron gate" between college and school where methods of teaching are completely different. This programme acts like bridge between school and college by giving ideas to adjust in college and teaching in both college's and school's environment. It also helps to get entrance in colleges because of academic package in which English, Science and Maths subjects are taught.

In spite of academic package, this programme also gives extra activities package which includes trainings and workshops in various topics like development concepts and practises, life skill development, adolescent health and gender, project proposal/report writing, communication skills and so on. It also includes career counselling and nature hikes, heritage walks, visits, water walks, etc. They all are taught and guided by various professionals having great experiences.

Coordinator of the programme Sunita Manandhar says, "This programme is in fact a golden opportunity to SLC appeared students because it helps to adjust in colleges, 'hunt' career and most importantly increases level of confidence to expose themselves in front of others.