About 500 naked 'babas,' orthodox followers of the Hindu god Shiva, are in the Nepali capital to celebrate Mahashivaratri, the deity's birthday. However, their nudity, drug use and harassing demands for money have made the situation unbearable for residents. The government counters by saying that "the traditional practice has gone on for centuries," pledging "to intervene, if they exaggerate".
Siddhanta Chhetri, 25, just received his First Communion. Looking at his journey of faith, he calls on others "to go to church and talk to the priests." Many of his Hindu peers "live a barren spirituality, are confused about their future and often fall into drugs."
Fatal accidents and other troubles, including safety issues, have left the Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) with a single plane. "We do not have the money to buy a new aircraft, or manufacture a new one," company spokesman says.
Every year, tribal Newaris celebrate a unique a fertility rite as a step towards the real "marriage". Critics view the practice as "superstition" and consider it a shortcut to child marriage.
As they celebrate the start of the Year of the Horse, thousands of refugees want Nepali authorities to acknowledge their religious and cultural freedom. Instead, the Nepali government has so far denied Tibetan exiles their right to assembly. A Tibetan thanks the pope because "he always supports peace, dialogue and freedom." Nepal's ethnic Tamang also celebrate the Lunar New Year.
In the districts of western Nepal, giving birth is still the main cause of death. With deep-rooted Buddhist and Hindu traditions barring women from going to the hospital, children are still born in dark barns. A young woman talks to AsiaNews about her dramatic experience.
Catholics launched a programme in 2013 to great success. Dozens of letters from both adults and children reach the programme with stories about their conversion. For the first time since the fall of the monarchy, state-owned Radio Nepal broadcasts Christian programmes.
In the past six months, Nepali police made several arrests and seized 46 kilos of the precious metal in connection with the highly profitable activity. Chinese President Xi Jinping's anti-corruption policies are to blame for the growing illegal trade. With India as the main point of destination for Chinese gold, Nepal has become the major transit point for smuggling.
UNESCO, the Nepali government and experts from various world universities start a dig in Siddhartha's birthplace. His year birth is moved up by two centuries earlier.
Chandi Rai, a recently elected Communist member of Nepal's constituent assembly, talks to AsiaNews about his conversion. Born into a family from the Kirat ethnic minority, he claims that true democracy can only exists with religious freedom.
Since 2000, more than 7,500 Nepalis working in Arab countries have died under suspicious circumstances: 3,500 in Saudi Arabia alone, 65 since October 2013. Kathmandu launches an investigation to shed light on the deaths. Doctors and human rights groups blame torture and violence against foreign workers.
On Christmas night, hundreds of people of all faiths attended Mass at Kathmandu's Assumption Cathedral. Compared to the past, this year Hindus and Buddhists also experienced the spiritual aspect of the celebrations. Christianity's non-discrimination attracts other communities.
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