Blog
-
Kartik Nach, a traditional dance-drama performed in Lalitpur, takes place on a public platform in front of the seventeenth-century Patan Durbar Square, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and has been continuing for nearly 400 years. This unique art form, which blends dance, drama, and music, was first staged in 1641 AD by King Siddhinarasingh Malla. Over time, it became a significant piece of intangible heritage, nurtured by three generations of Malla kings. King Siddhinarasingh began…
-
Mha Puja, celebrated on the fourth day of Tihar by the Newacommunity of Nepal, is a unique ritual dedicated to self-purification and renewal. It is believed to cleanse the body and spirit of negative and evil forces, preparing individuals for a prosperous and healthy future. This festival also coincides with New Year’s Day in the Nepal Sambat calendar, adding an extra layer of significance as it marks a fresh start to the year. The ritual…
-
No matter how robust or advanced the structures we build are, if they encroach on a river’s natural path, they are bound to fail. Nature always reclaims its course, and ignoring this fundamental truth leads to serious consequences. Engineering designs must be based not just on technical expertise, but also on a deep understanding of natural systems like rivers, flood patterns, and soil behavior. When we overlook these factors, the result is often structural failures,…
-
Man, this year’s been a wet one in Nepal, and it’s really thrown a wrench into our construction schedules. All that rain makes it tough for both the crew and the machines to keep things moving.
-
If you’re traveling in or out of Nagdhunga, the main entrance to Kathmandu, getting stuck in traffic is almost a given. If you don’t hit traffic, consider yourself lucky. While there are several government plans to fix this daily issue, none have actually started yet. The condition of this major highway, the only one that connects the capital with the rest of the country, is terrible. The road is cluttered with buildings and structures that…
-
Working inside a hydropower tunnel is always a challenging and often uncomfortable experience, but it becomes even more difficult when working with certain foreign contractors. Their disregard for health and safety protocols can be beyond comprehension. Over the years, we’ve witnessed numerous tragic accidents inside these tunnels, many of them fatal, due to the lack of proper safety measures. Given this, I urge everyone involved in tunnel work whether engineers, laborers, or contractors to cooperate…
-
Bhoto Jatra marks the final day of the festival of Bungadya (Rato Machhendranath), one of the most important cultural events in the city of Lalitpur. On this special day, thousands of people from Lalitpur and neighboring districts gather at the Jawalakhel ground for a dry picnic, turning the area into a lively social space. Families and friends share meals outdoors, creating a festive atmosphere under the scorching sun, right next to one of the city’s…
-
This visit remains etched in my memory for the worst possible reason. It was the day I almost lost my life.
-
This time, work took us to the remote northern part of Sankhuwasabha district for feasibility study of a hydroelectric project. As I remember, there are only very few sites as rugged and physically demanding as this one. It took us a solid six days from the time we landed at Tumlingtar Airport to finally reach the headworks site of the proposed project. With no human settlements in sight, we had to camp in tents most…