Christopher Sharma

A dozen young people will be baptised on Christmas Eve in Kathmandu's Assumption Cathedral. Many reasons are behind their decision they told AsiaNews, ranging from discriminatory Hindu traditions to the Missionaries of Mother Teresa who “care for the needy”.

Delhi has blocked goods exported to the country since 20 September. The population is suffering from severe shortages of food and basic necessities. The famous Hindu festival of Dashain and Diwali celebrated in a low key. Entrepreneurs expect industrial recovery due to Christmas sales. Many catechumens will be baptized on Christmas Eve.

The Ministry of Education reports that at least 14 schools associated to India illegally operating in the Nepalese territory. The institutions have not provided the necessary documents to register in the country. Professor: "The government should have first transferred students to other schools. Now their future is at risk. "

Surrogacy was legalized in September 2014, but without an effective regulation. In September 2015, the Supreme Court banned the practice of renting wombs. Nepal had become a hub of "reproductive tourism", like India and Thailand. Immigration Department director: "Only parents who have already paid for their children, can return home."

From New Jersey, Maggie Doyne visited Nepal in 2006. After seeing the extreme poverty of women and children, she decided to spend her savings to start a school and a home in Surkhet District. “I found my happiness and realised the presence of God in my dream to serve the needy people and community” and “raise awareness about Nepal’s situation at the international level”.

The price of purified urine is six times that of milk. Hindus, especially older ones, believe it can cure diseases and bring well-being. “It is hard to believe but it is true,” says a cattle owner. “Not only sick people but healthy people too” drink urine.

State firewood stocks go on sale. Tree cutting is set to go ahead to meet demand. Some Nepalis wait up to 14 hours to buy a kilo. “We are queueing up for survival,” said one. “We spent many days with water and beaten rice,” said another. For two months, India has been enforcing an unofficial embargo against the Himalayan nation.

The five day festival is synonymous with the lighting of colored lights, candles and lamps. This year, less than half of Hindus devotees will be able to light up the evening. The supply of energy from India fell by over 90%. The population now forced to eat raw foods. Hindu faithful: "it no longer makes sense to celebrate because there is no joy. People are living in darkness and uncertainty".

Nepal is calling on the international community to intervene to break the deadlock. For more than 45 days, India has imposed an embargo on exports to the Himalayan nation. As a result, humanitarian agencies are unable to deliver aid to earthquake victims. after meeting with Indian PM Modi, Nepal’s foreign minister said, “the Indian government turned a deaf ear” to the country’s plight. Overseas Nepalis plan demonstrations before UN offices.

Ashish Kumar Ram, 25, was hit by a fatal gunshot from Nepali police. He was taking part in a protest by ethnic Madhesi who opposed the constitution promulgated 81 days ago. Meanwhile, India’s unofficial trade embargo against Nepal is now in its 40th day. For Kathmandu, India is violating its sovereignty by infiltrating “thousands of plainclothes agents".

A delegation from Nepal has signed an agreement for the supply of oil with Beijing, effectively breaking India’s 37 day embargo and 40 year monopoly on exports to Nepal. Terai minorities: "This agreement robs us of any influence." Election of the first female president.

More than half of Nepal’s Christians cannot go to church. Priests and pastors invite the faithful to pray, read the Gospel and engage in missionary outreach in their own neighbourhoods. Fuel shortages make travel hard for poor catechumens. Kathmandu and Beijing are set to sign an agreement today for regular fuel supplies through Nepal’s northern border.