Articles
![PEACE THROUGH TOURISM, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO NEPAL]()
PEACE THROUGH TOURISM, WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO NEPAL
It was a great privilege to have been invited to say a few words at an event held in Patan's Durbar Square to commemorate this year's International Day of Peace, 21 September, an annual celebration inaugurated by the United Nations in 1981. This year, the event was held under the slogan ‘Invest in Peace—For Everyone, Everywhere, Every Day’. I had been specifically asked to talk on Peace Through Tourism, with particular reference to Nepal: here is the text of my presentation.
Read More![THE DAY THE RIVER ROARED]()
THE DAY THE RIVER ROARED
On the morning of Wednesday, 26 August 2026, a flashflood of unimaginable proportions devastated the valley of the Trishuli River and its settlements in Central Nepal. I wrote this article and compiled the images compiled with the intention of allowing readers, even those with little or no knowledge of that part of Nepal, to gain an insight into what happened, and the impact it is having on the worst affected communities and Nepal as a whole. If you would like to assist the relief efforts, then please click on the link to access details of the official Prime Minister's Relief Fund.
Read More!['SAFE PASSAGE UP & BACK DOWN']()
'SAFE PASSAGE UP & BACK DOWN'
On 30 July 2026, a devastating avalanche on Broad Peak, Pakistan, claimed the lives of ten mountaineers, including Nirmal Purja, aka Nims-dai. How and why did this tragedy happen? Read Louisa Kamal's account after piecing together all the pieces of this sad puzzle.
Read More![THE LEGACY OF H.E. 25th CHOGYE TRICHEN RINPOCHE]()
THE LEGACY OF H.E. 25th CHOGYE TRICHEN RINPOCHE
On the northern edge of the Kathmandu Valley, high above Budhanilkantha, on the wooded lower slopes of the Shivapuri National Park, is a large Buddhist stupa. A favourite picnic spot and TikTok site for young Nepalis, few of them are aware of its correct designation—Jamchen Vijaya Chorten—or its significance. Click on the link to learn more!
Read More![PITRI PAKSHA: FORTNIGHT OF THE ANCESTORS]()
PITRI PAKSHA: FORTNIGHT OF THE ANCESTORS
According to Hindu mythology, Yama, the god of death, takes the soul of a person on the point of departing this world to pitri loka, where they remain for three generations. Once a year, Pitri Paksha (‘fortnight of the ancestors’), aka Sorha Shraddha (‘sixteen [days of] devotion’), provides an opportunity for families to pay homage to their ancestors, either in their homes, in a temple, or at a revered pilgrimage site.
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