Galaxy S4 hits Nepali shelves

The wait for the most-anticipated smartphone is now over. International Marketing Services (IMS), the sole authorised distributor of Samsung mobile phones for Nepal, took the wraps off the iconic Samsung Galaxy S4 on Sunday. IMS President Dikesh Malhotra unveiled the smartphone amid a programme in Kathmandu.

According to company, Samsung Galaxy S4 is designed to get users closer to what matters in life and bring their world together. “This sleek and innovative smartphone makes every moment of life very meaningful. It understands the value of relationships, enabling true connections with friends and family,” the company said. “It believes in the importance of an effortless user experience, making your life easier and hassle-free. And, it enriches your life, helping take care of your well-being.”

The beauty of the phone, according to IMS, is the highly-crafted design encompassing a larger screen size and longer battery power, minimized bezel and a slim shape. The latest offering from Samsung sports a five-inch HD super AMOLED display with improved 1080p resolution, larger than that in the preceding Galaxy S III model. It runs Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean Operating System (OS), which has been mated with a 1.6 GHz Octa core or 1.9 GHz quad core processor along with Exynos five Octa 5410 chipset.

As for the memory, the handset comes with a 1GB RAM and 16 GB internal storage which can be expanded up to 64 GB through a micro SD card. Samsung has powered this new device with a 13 mega-pixel rear camera with auto focus and LED flash which can take pictures with a maximum resolution of 4128 x 3096 pixels. It has been backed by a 2 mega-pixel front-facing secondary camera.

Other camera features are dual shot, simultaneous HD video and image recording, geo-tagging, touch focus, face and smile detection, image stabilisation and high dynamic range (HDR) photography.

Other smart features of the device include eye-tracking, gesture capabilities, S Health and S Voice Drive. ‘Smart Stay’ uses the front camera to detect whether users are looking at the screen and turns off the screen automatically if the users are not looking at the screen. And, ‘Smart Scroll’ allows users to scroll by just tilting the device, up or down.

The S Voice Drive application is specially designed for cars and allows drivers to use built-in navigation system as well as make calls, send messages, and check weather updates. In addition to the usual Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, the phone has toggles for call-blocking mode and eye-tracking gestures. It comes with an integrated optical reader that can scan Quick Response (QR) codes, turn business cards into texts, and translate with S Translator.

IMS has said the customers can avail the handset in two colour options — black mist and white frost — and it comes preloaded with Ncell data voucher with 1 GB data per month for three months. The value added insurance offer is now available through Everest Insurance and EMI is available to credit cardholders of Nabil and Laxmi banks. Moreover, the existing owners of genuine Samsung Galaxy SII and Galaxy SIII can upgrade to Galaxy S IV including a free flip cover via the exchange facility at Samsung Premium Brand shop, Sherpa Mall.

On the occasion of the new smartphone’s launch, the IMS Chairman Deepak Malhotra announced the formation of DM Foundation, a philanthropic humanitarian services initiative. The foundation will initially receive Rs 1,000 from the sale of every Galaxy S4 smartphone. In times to come, the funds accumulated with the foundation will be used to provide help and assistance to differently abled, aged and destitute as well as victims of natural disasters.

source: the kathmandu post,6 may 2013

New Loadshedding schedule from 5 May, 2013

New Loadshedding schedule has just arrived which will be effective from 5 may, 2013 (Sunday). 8 hrs/day now

Virgin Mobile opens pre-booking for Galaxy S4

The wait for Samsung Galaxy S4 is over, as Virgin Mobile, in association with International Marketing Services (IMS), the authorized dealer of Samsung mobile phones for Nepal, and Ncell, is opening pre-booking for the much-awaited Korean phone in Nepal. The phone will be launched in the local market on May 5.

According to Vivek Sharma Dhandh, managing director of Virgin Mobile, pre-booking for Samsung Galaxy S4 is opening from Sunday.

IMS Chairman Deepak Malhotra said that the phone will be launched in Nepal on May 5 but customers can place orders for the phone at Virgin Mobile from Sunday.

The Galaxy S4 sports a 5-inch HD super AMOLED display with improved resolution at 1080p which is slightly larger than Galaxy S3 that has 4.8-inch display.

The phone runs on Android 4.2.2 operating system -- the latest version of Jelly Bean -- and is powered by a 1.6 GHz octa core or 1.9 GHz quad core processor with Exynos 5 Octa 5410 chipset.

“Though the phone comes with processors of different capacities, the one we are launching in Nepal has 1.9 GHz quad core processor,” said Sharma.

S4 comes with power VR SGX 544 MP3 graphics processing unit, 2GB RAM and internal memory of 16 GB which can be expanded by another 64 GB.

The phone is powered by a 13-mega-pixel auto focus primary camera with a resolution of 4128x3096 pixels, LED flash that allows dual shots, simultaneous high-definition (HD) video and image recording and geo-tagging. Other features include: touch focus, face and smile detection, image stabilization and high dynamic range (HDR) photography. Users can make video calls with the help of 2-mega-pixel front camera.

The phone, with a strong battery of 2600 mAh, has features such as eye tracking, gesture recognition capabilities, S Health and S Voice Drive, among others.

According to the company, ´Smart Stay´, also known as ´Smart Pause´, is a new feature in the S4 that uses the front camera to pause videos if users are looking away from the screen.

Another feature ´Smart Scroll´ enables automatic scrolling of pages upon tilting the phone in different directions.

S Health, a calorie-counter or a pedometer, is another new feature in the phone. It uses sensors like accelerometer and barometer to track of steps, jogs, hops, jolts, snacks, and perspiration.

Likewise, the S Voice Drive app, specially designed for cars, allows drivers to use built-in navigation system and make calls, send messages and check the weather.
Besides the usual toggles for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and GPS, the phone also has toggles for call-blocking and eye-tracking modes. It has integrated optical reader that can scan Quick Response (QR) codes, turn business cards into text and translate with S Translator.

Sharma said that Galaxy S4 will be available for Rs 71,900 in the local market. The phones come with one-year insurance and 1GB free data for three months from Ncell.

Virgin Mobile will be extending free phone covers to those who book the cell phones in advance.

source: republica,27 april 2013

Nokia Lumia 620 now available in Nepal

Nokia has introduced Nokia Lumia 620, the third range of Windows Phone 8 smartphones, in the Nepali market. Nokia Lumia 620 offers a more fun, youthful appeal and compact design, according to a press statement.

The phone comes with 512MB RAM and 8GB mass memory (micro SD support of up to 64GB) with 7GB free Microsoft SkyDrive storage.

Nokia Lumia 620 uses a new dual-shot color technique to deliver a variety of striking color and texture effects. With seven different exchangeable shells to choose from, people can adapt the look of their 3.8-inch TFT WVGA 800x480 display to their own personal taste and style, says the statement.

“We continue to execute on our strategy of reaching new audiences and new markets. With its innovative design, the latest Windows Phone 8 software and signature experiences from Nokia, like Nokia lenses, Nokia Maps and Nokia Music, Nokia Lumia 620 is a highly competitive smartphone at this price point,” the statement quotes Jo Harlow, executive vice president, Nokia Smart Devices, as saying.

Nokia Lumia 620 is available in a range of colors including, lime green, orange, magenta, yellow, cyan, white and black. It is available in Nepali market for Rs 23,960, says the statement.

Neoteric Nepal and Paramount Electronics are the authorized distributors of Nokia phones for Nepal.

source:republica,27 april 2013

Colors launches Xfactor Idol 4.0

Teletalk — the sole authorised distributor of Colors mobile in the country — has added a new touchscreen Android smartphone — ‘Xfactor Idol 4.0’ — in its famous Xfactor series.

The Xfactor Idol 4.0 fulfills the demand of those users who want to purchase their first touchscreen Android phone that has a large screen, is packed with various features and at the same time is also quite affordable .

The Xfactor Idol 4.0 Android smartphone is a dual-sim smartphone that comes with a huge 4” QVGA touchscreen and is powered by the popular Android 2.3 operating system.

The smartphone has 256MB RAM with 1GHz processor, and has several features like wi-fi, Bluetooth, inbuilt FM radio, and audio/video player.

The gadget allows extended memory of up to 32GB and has a long lasting battery power of 1350mAh.

The Android featured smartphone also has a 0.3 megapixel front facing camera that is a rare and welcome addition among the other phones in the category, the company said.

The Xfactor Idol 4.0 Android smartphone comes with a free 4GB memory card and is available in two colours — black and white.

The company will provide a one-year warranty on mobile handset and six-month warranty on battery and charger.

source: the himalayan times,25 april 2013

Nagmani launches touch-screen laptop from Asus

Nagmani International, the sole authorised distributor of Asus for Nepal, has introduced a new laptop computer — the Asus VivoBook S-400 CA.

The new product from the Taiwanese electronics major is sleek in design, weighs less and will cater to the demand of high-end gadget seekers and those travelling frequently, according to the company. Moreover, its fascinating touch-screen sets the product apart from similar other products.

“We have been receiving frequent queries about the product ever since its launch in the international market,” said Super Shrestha, product manager - Asus at Nagmani International.  “It has been a week since we launched the product here and the response so far has been encouraging.”

Shrestha expressed his confidence about the device’s performance, saying gadget aficionados in Nepal want a laptop computer having touch-screen facility. The emergence of Asus as a prominent laptop maker globally and its strengthening presence in the domestic market will help this new product here, he said.

The new Asus VivoBook runs Windows 8 Operating System (OS) and features powerful third generation Intel Core i5 processor.  It also offers offers 2-second instant on from sleep or hibernate modes. The device features a 14-inch backlight touch-screen display. “Probably, we are the only company to sell touch-screen laptop s in Nepal after Lenovo. This is also an advantageous feature,” Shrestha said. The device’s screen can display visuals in the aspect ratio of 16:9 HD formats.

As for the memory, the latest offering from Asus comes with 4GB RAM and 500GB hard drive with 28GB SSD hard drive, which further enhances the storage capability of the device. It features a HD web camera for clear video chats and is equipped with Sonic Master technology for richer sound experience with wider sonic range, deeper bass and powerful output, the company said.

For connectivity, the device has integrated a wireless adapter for Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 4.0. It, however, does not feature an optical disk drive, the only missing feature.

According to Shrestha, the company has targeted this device at corporate officials, bankers and those working with I/NGOs. “High-end gadget seekers too are our target customers,” Shrestha said, adding the light-weight machine (1.8 kg) will also cater to the demand of frequent travellers. Nagmani International has said the new Asus device is imported from Asus’ Taiwan-based factory and is priced Rs 95,000. The device will be available across the country within the next week.

source: the kathmandu post,26 april 2013

Sony smartphones make formal entry into Nepal

Nepa Hima Trade Link, the sole authorised distributor of Sony home appliances in Nepal, on Monday announced the formal entry of Sony smartphones into the domestic market. Even though cell phones from Sony have been selling in Nepal market for long, there were not any official sellers.

During the ceremony, Nepa Hima Trade Link also announced the launching of five smartphone models from Sony —Xperia Z, Xperia Go, Xperia J, Xperia E and Xperia E dual. Company’s Executive Director Rajesh Tuladhar unveiled the handsets amid a programme in the Capital.

 “We are pleased to introduce smartphones from Sony in Nepal market,” Tuladhar said. “The official entry of the Xperia series of smart phones will add a milestone to the smartphone market of Nepal”. Explaining that nine out of 10 cell phones, globally, are damaged due to water, Tuladhar informed that the Xperia Z and Xperia Go are water resistant and dust proof, and thus would cater to a large number of smartphone seekers. “Users of these phones need not worry about using it with wet hands or in dusty conditions,” he added.

Highlighting the key features of Z series of smartphones, Masao Matsui of Sony said that the new phones have assembled half a century of innovation carried out by other Sony devices such as TVs, cameras, music systems and gaming devices to create a super phone experience that truly stands out. “The newly introduced Z series of smartphones have become a global success. And in Nepal too, we will cooperate with Nepa Hima to make it a success,” he added.

The Sony Xperia Z features a five inch full HD 1080p reality display screen with a mobile Bravia Engine 2. The device which runs on Android Ice Cream Sandwich Operating System (OS) features a snapdragon S4 pro quad-core processor. For better image, it has got a 13-mega-pixel fast capture camera. Likewise, battery stamina mode is another interesting feature of the device which increases the cell phone’s standby time by more than four times.

People can broadcast content from smartphone to Smart TVs through Wi-Fi connection, or send tunes to speaker through Bluetooth. The device’s ‘Throw’ technology enables the smartphone to connect wirelessly to other devices.

The other device to be unveiled at the event is Xperia J, which is powered by Android Ice Cream Sandwich OS and one GHz processor. Along with four-inch display, it features a five mega-pixel camera along with LED flash. Xperia Go water and dust resistance phone offers the same OS, processing unit and camera. However, at 3.2 inches its screen size is smaller compared to other Xperia models. The dual SIM device from Sony , Xperia E (GSM+GSM) and the other featuring single SIM slot, Xperia E too are powered by the Ice Cream Sandwich OS, one GHz processor and 3.2 mega-pixel camera.Nepa Hima has priced Xperia Z at Rs 66, 999, Xperia Go at Rs 24, 499, Xperia J at Rs 24, 999, Xperia E at Rs 15, 499 and E Dual at Rs 17, 499. The devices come with a one-year warranty in software, hardware and six-month warranty in battery.

source: the kathmandu post,23 april 2013

Best Android phones to get this spring

LG Optimus G Pro

Nexus 4

Sony Xperia Z

Samsung Galaxy S4

HTC ONE

Spring is in full bloom and as everything starts to get green and cheerful, you may look at your old phone and think it’s about time to bring change into your life. Luckily, this is one of the best times to get a new device.

Some of the biggest phone manufacturer have just released their brand new 2013 flagship devices, and it just so happens that all of them run on Android. Apple’s iPhone traditionally gets a refresh much later in the year, and the same goes for Windows Phone.

And while previously picking between say iOS or Android was a choice between style and geekery, Google’s ecosystem has evolved so much in the past 12 months that it’s perfectly safe to say that you can get gorgeous devices on it.

We have listed our top five picks for new devices that are already available or coming in just a couple of days. Take a look at them, and let us know - which one would you get?

1. HTC One
HTC wanted a comeback and it brought its best with the HTC One. It is a brilliant device in virtually every aspect. Coming with a beautiful aluminum body that fits almost organically in the hand, it has a great and vivid, extremely sharp 4.7-inch screen. The stereo front speaker bring a small revolution in smartphone sound that you’ll appreciate instantly when you hear it. Performance is flawless on the new Snapdragon 600 quad-core chip.

2. Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung didn't exactly catch us by surprise with the Galaxy S4. However, it's the flawless implementation of all the features that makes the Galaxy S4 the superb smartphone that it is. Design-wise, the latest Samsung flagship is nothing special. It looks OK and is comfortable to hold. We're more than happy to see that Samsung has managed to make the smartphone even smaller than the GS III, which is a remarkable achievement, considering the bigger screen.

3. LG Optimus G Pro
The LG Optimus G Pro is a brilliantly timed device. Coming nearly half a year after the Note II, it manages to take advantage and stuff in an extremely crisp 1080p 5.5-inch screen that is very vivid and impressive. The G Pro is not for everyone, but for those who enjoy the big screens it would offer a flawless performance and a great camera. Phablet lovers, this should be your choice this spring.

4. Nexus 4
The Nexus 4 might have launched a few months ago but it only recently started shipping in volume on the Google Play store. Most importantly, though, it has remained extremely competitive in price. Its a compact and practical decision. It has a 4.7-inch 720p screen and realistically looking it is almost impossible to justify a 1080p display on a phone, so that’s definitely not a flaw. What’s more the Nexus 4 is the first to get the latest Android updates, and the most affordable of all devices in this list.

5. Sony Xperia Z
The Sony Xperia Z was the first 2013 flagship. It was the first of many more with a 5-inch 1080p display, but while we were disappointed with the quality of that screen, the device had one more ace up its sleeve - it was water and dust resistant. With the thought of summer, beaches and swimming, and the possibility to take the Xperia Z with you wherever you go (you can also shoot videos and images underwater), we are very tempted to get it. The handset also has a decent 13-megapixel Exmor RS camera that performs well in low light.

source:phonearena.com,17 april 2013

When is a big screen TOO big? Samsung unveils the aptly named Mega-phone with 6.3inch screen

It is the biggest smartphone on sale, with a giant 6.3inch screen.Samsung's new Mega Galaxy handset look more like a tablet than a phone - and has already been slammed as 'just too big'.

Samsung hopes the big design will appeal to commuters and others who regularly watch films on their gadgets.

'The newest addition to the Galaxy family balances an optimal viewing experience on a 6.3-inch HD screen, yet is ultra-thin and portable enough to put into a pocket or hold in one hand,' the firm said.

'The GALAXY Mega offers a mix of popular smartphone and tablet features such as an effortless user experience, a split screen, multitasking between video and other apps and more.'

It claims video and web browsing will be the main uses for the Mega.'We are aware of a great potential in the bigger screen for extensive viewing multimedia, web browsing, and more,' said JK Shin of Samsung.'We are excited to provide another choice to meet our consumers’ varying lifestyles, all while maintaining the high-quality features of the award-winning GALAXY series.'

However, experts are less impressed.Rik Henderson of Pocket Lint said 'The screen size of the Galaxy Note works as you take notes - but the Mega is just a massive phone, it's just too big.

'However, I think we'll see an arms race to get to that size, there's a real blurring of the lines between phones and tablets now.

'But for consumers, I think its a fad - it's just too big.'Samsung helped popularise the so-called 'phablet' category - in which phones approach tablet dimensions - with its original 5.3in Galaxy Note, which was released in 2011.

Analysts have deemed a 'phablet' is a mobile gadget with a screen more than 5inches diagonally.

The word comes from blending phone and tablet.Samsung's Galaxy Note was the first popular 'phablet', but others are expected to follow this year.Experts have predicted that 2013 could be the year of the 'phablet'.

Analysts claim the emergence of so-called 'giant mobile' which blend tablets and mobile phones, will lead to a whole new category of gadgets.

The upshot is a market for phablets that will quadruple in value to $135 billion in three years, according to analysts at Barclays.

Shipments of gadgets that are 5 inches or bigger in screen size will surge by nearly nine-fold to 228 million during the same period, though estimates vary because no one can agree on where smartphones stop and phablets start.

But that's the point, some say.'I think phone size was a preconceived notion based on voice usage,' said John Berns, a Singapore-based executive who works in the information technology industry.

source: Dailymail.co.uk

Bisket Jatra/Sindoor Jatra

photo courtesy: the kathmandu post/republica/kantipur

Fully loaded SUV for the price of a sedan

Looking for an SUV (Sports Utility Vehicle) at an affordable price? If yes, waiting for two more months might be a wise decision for you as Go Automobiles, the sole authorised distributor of American auto-major Ford is gearing up to introduce Ford Ecosport, one of the popular models, by the first week of June. According to the company, the vehicle will be available in both petrol as well as diesel option.
“We are eager to introduce the Ecosport in domestic market. As this SUV is likely to be priced very reasonably, it will have a huge advantage over competitors,” said Deepesh Shakya, sales manager at Go Automobiles, adding that the vehicle will be positioned in such a way that it can take on both SUVs and sedan cars.

The entry of Ecosport is expected to further tighten the domestic SUV market, with the vehicle likely to take on models like Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mahindra XUV 500, Chevrolet Captiva and Volkswagen Tiguan, among others. And Go Automobiles is pinning hopes on the vehicle to become number one SUV seller in the domestic market. “Not only SUVs but we will also be aiming at people wanting to upgrade from sedan cars to SUVs,” Shakya added.

Ecosport is equipped with a 1.0ltr three-cylinder Ecoboost engine that derives a maximum power output of 118 bhp and 170 nm at 1,500 rpm.Similarly, the diesel variant comes with a four-cylinder 1.5ltr, 8V SOHC engine which churns out maximum power output of 90 bhp at 3,750 rpm and 204 nm at 2,000 rpm. The vehicles come with five-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission system. There are high chances that the SUV might be launched in Nepal in both manual and automatic transmission systems.

Despite being an SUV, the Ecosport has an advantage in terms of fuel efficiency. According to Ford India, the vehicle’s 1.0ltr petrol engine is 20 percent more efficient than a 1.6ltr petrol engine even though it produces a similar amount of power. As per ARAI certification, the petrol variant gives a mileage of 16 km per litre in city conditions and 20km per litre on the highway. The diesel variant too is efficient in comparison to other vehicles in this category, with a mileage of around 15km per litre in the city and 17-18 km per litre on the highway.

The powerful Ford engine gives the petrol variant of Ecosport to go from 0 to 100 kmph in less than 10 seconds with a top speed of around 170 kmph. The diesel variant which has a top speed of 160 kmph takes less than 12 seconds to go from 0 to 100 kmph.

Adding to the comfort quotient of Ecosport are power windows, air conditioning, central locking system, remote boot and fuel filler system, rear wiper, rear defogger, rear armrest with cup holder and both side electric door mirror.

Equally impressive are its safety features. The SUV is armed with burglar alarm, front and side curtain airbags, Anti-Lock Braking System (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), traction control and Hill Launch Assist (HLA) system.However, the most intriguing factor about Ecosport is its price. According to Shakya, the entry-level Ecosport variant is likely to cost around Rs 4 million. The company has stated that the new vehicle is likely to cater to the demand of mid-level bankers, travel agency operators and businessmen, among others.

source: the kathmandu post,16 april 2013

Nepal-made smartphones hit market

Motif Engineering has become the first domestic company to assemble smartphones in Nepal. It currently designs mobile phones, assembles them and develops applications in the country.

It has so far designed and assembled four different models of mobile phones, including Motif Ultimate, Motif Eyon, Motif Ultimate Plus and Motif Hero, which have already been introduced in the domestic market.

According to the company, Ultimate, Eyon and Ultimate Plus are smartphones, while Hero is a feature phone.

"We decided to design and assemble mobile phones in Nepal to provide quality products at affordable prices to Nepalis and reduce the country´s dependence on low-quality Chinese phones," said Surendra Manadhar, managing director of Motif Engineering.

Manandhar further said he has hired a group of engineers and application developers to design and assemble mobile phones in the country.

Motif Ultimate and Ultimate Plus are dual SIM smartphones (WCDMA+GSM) with WVGA TFT LCD screen. Manandhar said both the phones come with MTK6577 Dual Core 1.2 GHz Cortex A9 processor, Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean operating system, WiFi and WiFi Access Point (AP).

The phones have 4GB ROM and 512 MB RAM expandable to up to 32 GB through micro SD card. The phones support 3G, EDGE and GPRS. The phones have a 5-mega pixel primary camera with LED flash, while the secondary camera is of 0.3 mega pixel.

The difference between Ultimate and Ultimate Plus is that Ultimate boasts a 5.2-inch screen with resolution of 480x800 pixels, while Ultimate Plus comes with a 5.5-inch screen with resolution of 480x854 pixels.

The company has priced Ultimate at Rs 20,000 while Ultimate Plus is available for Rs 22,000. Only operating systems on these phones come with one-year warranty.

Eyon, on the other hand, is an entry level dual SIM (GSM+GSM) smartphone which comes with a 3.5-inch HVGA TFT LCD screen with resolution of 320x480 pixels. The phone runs on Android 2.3.6 Ginger Bread which can be upgraded to Ice Cream Sandwich on demand and has 1 Ghz processor.

The phone has 256 MB ROM and 512 MB RAM expandable to up to 32 GB through micro SD card.

The phone supports WiFi, EDGE and GPRS. The phone is equipped with a primary 2-mega pixel camera with LED flash and the secondary camera of 0.3 mega pixel.

Eyon is available for Rs 8,000 Hero, meanwhile, is a dual SIM (GSM+GSM) feature phone assembled by the company. The phone has 64 MB ROM and 128 MB RAM expandable to up to 8 GB through micro SD card.

The phone is equipped with a primary 0.3-mega pixel camera with LED flash. Hero supports Java script and EDGE. The company is selling the phone at Rs 2,800.

"We have currently produced 500 units of these phones and are planning to increase production as per the demand in the market," said Manandhar, adding that the company has capacity of manufacturing 1,000 units of phones a month.

The company is providing 15 percent discount on all models of Motif phones at the ongoing ICT Electronics Branding Expo 2013 which will last till Saturday.

source: republica,11 april 2013

Int'l Musikfilm Festival celebrating legendary musicians

Bringing film and music together and celebrating the great musicians, International Musikfilm Festival is scheduled to begin today in Kathmandu. The five day festival is being organized by Tuborg Stage and will be held at various music outlets in the capital ending on April 14.

The festival starts with the screening of Pink Floyd at Pompei today at Moksh, Jhamsikhel. It will screen rare films at different venues till April 14. After every screening, a live band will play selected songs of the legendary bands featured in the film, states the press release.

The press release further states that it has an exciting array of films for audiences. People can watch films about celebrated musicians like Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison and Kurt Cobain during the festival. Uprising: Hip Hop & LA Riots, a film about the genre’s introduction to the mainstream, will also be screened during the festival.

The festival will be screening Jimi Hendrix at Purple Haze, Thamel; Ornette Coleman at Kathmandu Jazz Conservatory, Jhamsikhel; Ice-T, Rodney King a.o. hip hop legends at House of Music , Thamel; Brian Jonestown´s Massacre at Tings Tea Lounge, Lazimpat; Janis Joplin at Backyard Food & Joint, Jhamsikhel; Kurt Cobain at Reggae Pub, Thamel; Charlie ´Bird´ Parker at White Horse, Baluwatar; Jim Morrison & The Doors at Fluid Bar, Thamel; and Baile Funk with Mr Catra at Sattya, Jawlakhel.

source: republica,9 april 2013

ICT Info-Trade Fair kicks off in Capital

ICT Info-Trade Fair 2013, one of the prominent IT fairs in the country, opened at Exhibition Hall, Bhrikuti Mandap on Tuesday. The five-day fair was inaugurated by cultural expert Satya Mohan Joshi. The Information Communication and Technology Association of Nepal (ICT) is the organiser of the event.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, president of the ICT Association Sishir Upadhyay said that it was necessary to develop the ICT sector in order to develop the country. He also urged the government to increase its focus on the sector and get serious on making the country prosperous through the medium of IT.

“There is a need to trim the digital divide between people. We aim to increase the access of the general people to the ICT sector through events like this,” Upadhyay said.

The annual ICT fair has been initiated with the aim of making people aware about the availability of the latest IT products and showcasing world class technology to the people. There are 87 stalls from 70 companies at the expo. Unlike other general expos, the ICT Expo has very well managed with decorated stalls adding to the overall ambience.

Global and local brands are offering a wide range of products like laptop computers, desktop computers, servers, touch pads, sound systems, networking systems, security equipment, printers, home appliances, smartphones and projectors, among various others. In addition, there are various IT accessories and power products available.

Addressing the ceremony, director general of the Department of IT Kapil Dev Shrestha thanked the organizers for their initiative to develop Nepal’s ICT sector and their efforts to enhance the reach of rural people in the ICT sector and develop Nepal as an outsourcing hub.

Meanwhile, the association felicitated senior media personality Hari Sharan Shrestha, senior engineer Bijay Krishna Shrestha and former managing director of Nepal Telecom Sugat Ratna Kansakar for their contribution to the development of the country’s ICT sector. The ICT Association also donated computers to Navadurga Secondary School, Achham, Thati Lower Secondary School, Achham, Pashupati Higher Secondary School, Bajura and Badhyammadhu Higher Secondary School, Achham.

The expo is expected to draw 250,000 to 275,000 visitors during the five days it will last. Tickets for the event have been priced at Rs 50 for the general public and Rs 25 for students producing identity cards. SLC-appeared students with admission cards will be admitted free of cost.

source: the kathmandu post,10 april 2013

Bisket festival begins in Bhaktapur

Bhaktapur: The historically and culturally important festival Bisket jatra of Bhaktapur began on Wednesday as per the tantric rituals with the advent of the new year of Bikram Sambat.

The festival that runs for nine days and eight nights in Bhaktapur , starts four days before the New Year day and runs after five days of the New Year.

On the first day of the Bisket Jatra today, the festival began with traditional rituals by worshiping Bhairav Nath this morning, the Guthi Sansthan said.

This morning, local residents worshiped Bhairav and Bhairav chariot is pulled from the five-story temple at Taumadhi from afternoon after special worship by Taleju Naike Narendra Prasad Joshi by putting Khadga in the Bhairav chariot, accompanied with traditional band music after the sword is submitted to main priest of Taleju, after government sponsored puja of Bhairav and Betal by the Guthi Sansthan. The festival is being celebrated since the Lichchhabi times.

source: The Kathmandu post,10 april 2013

Yamaha Ray has arrived

The much touted Yamaha Ray scooter has finally arrived in the Nepal market. MAW Enterprises, the sole authorised distributor of Yamaha in Nepal, took the wraps off the stylish two-wheeler on Monday, heralding the entry of Yamaha in the country’s scooter market.

Meanwhile, actress Namrata Shrestha was named the goodwill ambassador for the Yamaha Ray in Nepal at the same event.

“Young, stylish and fresh, this is what the Yamaha Ray is all about. With Ray, we have got a good product and we are sure about its feat here,” said Suraj Manandhar, business head, Yamaha division at MAW Enterprises. According to him, the two-wheeler not only looks good, it is also economical with a mileage of 40 kpl on the streets of Kathmandu.   

The Yamaha Ray offers the best in class acceleration, easy handling and manoeuvrability and good fuel efficiency, added Manandhar. Other special features of this stylish machine include comfortable seat with smartly positioned grab bar, spacious under-seat storage, dynamic headlight, crystal lens panel, longer rear fender, stylish taillight, telescopic suspension, inner box and easy leg shield, among others. 

The new Yamaha scooter has a powerful 113 cc air-cooled four-stroke SOHC engine that can churn out a maximum power of 7.1 ps at 7,500 rpm and a peak torque of 8.1 nm at 5,000 rpm. Likewise, the engine’s intake/exhaust systems and new transmission settings have been optimized for performance in the traffic and road conditions of Nepal.

Yamaha has also taken care of safety features in the Ray. The machine is equipped with 130 mm drum brakes and 10-in wide zappers tyres, which provide superior road grip. In addition, the well-designed grab-rails at the rear, which come blended with a hip-stopper, prove increased comfort and safety for the person sitting behind. MAW Enterprises has introduced the Ray at an introductory price of Rs 158,900. The two-wheeler is available in four colour options — plush pink, shining blue, purple pastel and grey grandeur.

source: the kathmandu post,10 april 2013

'Badhshala' finally to hit screens

Audiences can now watch “Badhshala” in theatres on April 19. The film was scheduled to be released on March 8 across the nation but was held back due to the army’s issue with the film’s use of army uniform.

Towards the end of January, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) had written to the Ministry of Information and Communications instructing it to ban the screening of the film, stating that the filmmaker had not sought permission from Nepal Army to use the uniform before filming.

The filmmakers then requested the army to watch the film before making any decision and had even said that they would approach the court to seek justice. Manoj Pandit, director of the film said, “The army sent a no-objection letter last Monday after which the Censor Board watched the film on Friday. ‘Badhshala’ was finally passed through the Censor Board yesterday.”

Pandit confirmed the release date of the film on April 19 and said, “I would like to request everyone who comes to watch ‘Badhshala’ to come with an open mind. I hope they don’t carry the last few months’ issues of the film with me. Without any prejudice or expectations, I’m sure they will enjoy the film more.”

The film was released in the UK and Australia towards the end of March and was well received by audiences there. It is also set to be released in the US in a couple of days.

The film stars Anup Baral, Dayahang Rai, Sarita Giri, Saugat Malla, Arpan Thapa, and Samuna KC.

source:repubica,3 april 2013

Facebook unveils its 'home' on Android phone

AGENCE FRANCE PRESSE
SAN FRANCISCO, April 4: Facebook unveils its "home" on the Android smartphone Thursday, a move expected to tie the leading social network´s services tightly into mobile software.

Invitations to a press event at Facebook´s main campus in the Silicon Valley city of Menlo Park rekindled talk of a "Facebook phone," but analysts say the social network wants to spread roots across the Android platform.

Facebook´s invitation says only: "Come See Our New Home On Android."

Technology news site TechCrunch predicted the announcement would be a modified version of Android with "deep native Facebook functionality" on a phone made by Taiwan´s HTC.

Android, the free mobile operating system from Google, accounted for 51.2 percent of US smartphone sales in the three-month period ending in February, according to freshly-released survey results from Kantar Worldpanel ComTech.

Android added 5.9 percentage points from a year earlier, while Apple´s share fell 3.5 points to 43.5 percent.

Windows Phone, boosted by the new operating system introduced last year from Microsoft, increased its share to 4.1 percent.

Facebook has made a priority of following its more than one billion members onto smartphones and tablet computers, tailoring services and money-making ads for mobile devices.

"It is really clear from the stats and my own personal intuition that a lot of energy in the ecosystem is going to mobile, not desktop (computers)," Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg said in September.

"That is the future."

Zuckerberg rejected suggestions that Facebook would make its own smartphone, adamant that the company had no intention of stepping into the fiercely competitive handset hardware arena.

"Apple, Google, everyone builds phones -- we are going in the opposite direction," Zuckerberg said at the time.

"We want to build a system deeply integrated in every device people want to use."

HTC forming an alliance with Facebook makes sense since the handset maker could capitalize on the social network´s marketing power in an Android arena dominated by Samsung, according to Silicon Valley analyst Rob Enderle.

"It is not so much a Facebook phone as imagined by Zuckerberg as it is a lifeline for HTC, which needs a champion device and got Facebook to back it," Enderle said.

"The market has been gravitating toward Samsung," the analyst continued. "This device is to take the emphasis back to HTC and provide them with a flagship phone that users can get excited about."

If Facebook had been eager to build its own phone, it could have reached out to close partner Microsoft, which owns a small stake in the social network, Enderle reasoned.

A feature of Windows mobile software is integration with Facebook. HTC is among the electronics companies that make Windows-powered smartphones, increasing likelihood that a Facebook-centric handset features a tie into the software titan´s Bing Internet search engine.

A Facebook-focused phone´s goal would be to make it intuitive to shop, search, post or do other tasks using the social network´s services.

"You will see a phone laid out to address the many ways that you can get into Facebook," Enderle said."A main page with a Facebook feel and your news feed nicely displayed, and optimized to allow you to live in Facebook much like you live in iTunes when you are on the iPhone."

If reports are correct, the device will help Facebook more easily connect with mobile users, and -- importantly -- deliver more ads in the fast-growing segment.

The research firm eMarketer said US mobile advertising spending grew 178 percent last year to $4.11 billion, a market that nearly tripled last year.

Google took more than half of those revenues, but Facebook´s share in growing: eMarketer said the social network accounted for 9.5 percent of mobile ad revenues in 2012 and is expected to take 13.2 percent this year.

In the mobile display market, however, Facebook is on top, projected to grab nearly $3 in $10 this year, the research firm said.

12th Higher Education and Career Fair 2013

12th Higher Education and Career Fair 2013 organized by Direction Nepal is an Education and Career guidance expo.

EVENT PROFILE
"12th Higher Education and Career Fair 2013" is the best education exhibition which provides a big opportunity to students to gain information about the emerging career options in various fields of education and to choose the best course as well as best institute.

It is an event where Colleges, Universities and Educational Institutions from various places come to meet specifically with student applicants to their courses, Institution. Students and parents have a good opportunity to meet & interact directly with education providers of engineering, management, medical and other professional courses.They can also avail free career counseling.

This year, Direction Nepal P. Ltd. conceptualized to bring all the national & international educational institutions together for more effective, productive and close interaction in-between them .They also can share their knowledge & experiences by formulating result-oriented strategies to serve the evolving needs of the country’s educational sector under the brand name “9 th Higher Education & Career Fair 2011”.

More importantly, with its thoughtfully designed concept and state-of-the-art facilities, the aspiring students will get an extremely informative and viable opportunity to know the best ways to brighten their future, where as the fairwill also tremendously help all the educational institutions who are looking for young, dynamic and energetic employees.

OBJECTIVES
The vital objectives of this expo are as follows:
> To create the greater awareness about the quality education
> To educate the public about the various field of education and its latest trends.
> To preserve, promote & exchange the products/services related to the Education.
> To bring together Educational industry players and professionals to interact,transact and explore unlimited business opportunities.
> To meet the needs of the rising demands of the Educational industries.
> To provide a venue for educational institutions from all around the world for updating perfection and innovations.

TOP 10 REASONS TO ATTEND IN “12th Higher Education & Career Fair 2013”
1) Discover the latest subject matter related to education and its returns.
2) Face-to-Face Meetings with different institutions
3) Find out “Show Specials” including Free distribution and Discounts
4) Network with other Successful institutions
5) Convenient, One-Stop platform for education seekers
6) Unique Competitive choosing Opportunities
7) Develop Key Business Relationships
8) Meet the “Best New Product” Candidates
9) Media feed generation about the event
10)Budget-Friendly: Minimum Cost to Attend!

EXHIBITOR PROFILE
> Universities
> Colleges
> Science and Technology
> Journalism and Mass Communication
> Art and Design School
> Music School
> Educational Clubs and Associations
> Recruitment Agencies
> Tourism and Hospitality
> Private companies
> Educational Loan Pr
> Abroad Study Consu
> Training Institute
> Psychological Couns
> Libraries
> Research Institution
> Development Traini
> Grooming Institutions
> Government Sector

VISITOR PROFILE
> University and College Students
> High School Students
> Parents & Teachers
> Fresh Graduates
> Training Specialists
> Human Resource Managers
> Culture and Education Departments of Embassies,
> Representatives of Government Departments,
> Educational Institutions
> Trade & Professional Associations & Organizations,
> Journalists & Broadcasters
> Educational Content Providers
> Publishers
> Agents
> Distributor

Venues & Dates:
> Itahari 9~11 Jestha, 2070 (23~25 May, 2014)
> Janakpur 14~16 Jestha, 2070 (28~30 May, 2014)
> Birgunj 18~20 Jestha, 2070 (1~3 June, 2013) &
> Butwal 23~25 Jestha, 2070 (6~8 June, 2013)

Stall Booking/Inquiry:
Call: 977-1-4259976-77/4238183-84

Nagarik eduFair 2013

The British College presents Nagarik eduFair 2013 in association with array international.

Date:
11-13 July 2013,Bhrikutimandap, Kathmandu

Ambition Education and Career Expo 2013

Ambition Education and Career Expo 2013 is a 4- day education and career guidance expo.It is the one the most happening hub for students, parents, mentors, educational institutions and career consultants.

Ambition 2013 is everything anyone would expect an education and career exposition to be.

Event Details:
Ambition Education and Career Expo 2013
Venue: Bhrikutimandap Exhibition Hall, Kathmandu
Date: 13-16 June 2013

6th ICT Info-Trade Fair 2013

ICT Association of Nepal will organise the ICT Electronics Branding Expo 2013 and sixth `ICT Info-Trade Fair' in Bhrikuti Mandap, Kathmandu, on April 9-13.

It is providing the platform to motivate people to get in touch with the latest and most innovative technology. The companies will have opportunity to promote their business as well as display their product.

The fiveday long expo will basically target students who have appeared for their SLC exams and will provide them with special discounts.

For more Inquiry:
Program Coordinator: Mr.C.N Upadhyay
Phone:4419290
Email: ictnepal@live.com

3rd International Nepal Tattoo Convention 2013

This three day tattoo festival hosted by the world NEPAL TATTOO PVT LTD together with MOHAN'S TATTOO INN and MU'AZ ENTERTAINMENT captures the true essence of the body art lifestyle.

Come get tattooed on the spot by over 70 national and international tattoo artists!  These artists will be tattooing starting Friday and will continue all the way through Sunday. Now is your chance to get amazing work at great prices.

If you would like to pre-book your tattoo appointments please visit our attending artist page and contact the artists directly.  Many of them do not book appointments ahead of time.  For those artists it is recommended to pick up a weekend pass, show up early Friday to check out all the artists’ portfolios and speak with them about what you are looking for.  This allows you more time to see all the artists and get your appointment booked early before the madness begins.

Three days of convention is a festival to celebrate this unique ancient body art. Interactions with artists from all around the world, cultural programs, seminars, competitions and of course after parties. Nepal Tattoo Convention is also an opportunity to mix work and pleasure as our artists travel and explore the beauty of Nepal. This year we will design travel packages to cater your interest ranging from extreme sports to treks to spiritual tours and many more

Venue:
Hotel Yak and Yeti, Durbarmarg, Kathmandu

Kantipur HISSAN Edu Fair 2013

Kantipur HISSAN Edu Fair 2013,one the Nepal's largest Education Fair,  is jointly organized by the  leading medis house Kantipur Publications and Higher Secondary School's Association of Nepal (HISSAN) to promote Nepalese educational Institutions.

Event Details
Date: 16-19 May 2013
Time: 10 AM to 6 PM
Venue:Bhrikuti Mandap Exhibition hall

Exhibitors
> +2 Colleges/HS Schools
> A level /IB colleges
> CTEVT affiliated colleges
> Medical and Engineering Colleges
> Business Schools
> Hotel Management Colleges
> Law Schools
> Nursing colleges
> Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
> Foriegn Affiliated COlleges
> CA institutes
> Entrance Preparatory Institutes
> Nepalese Universities

NLHDA-Kantipur Real Estate Expo 2013

Kantipur Publications on Thursday joined hands with Nepal Land and Housing Development Association (NLHDA) for the NLHDA-Kantipur Real Estate Expo. The four-day exhibition scheduled to start April 2 aims to convey information related to the realty sector.

The agreement was signed by NLHDA General Secretary Min Man Shrestha and Kantipur Publications Chief Marketing Officer Mahesh Swar.

During the signing event, Swar said the agreement is aimed at giving momentum to the realty sector that is currently facing a slowdown.

NLHDA organizes the fair every year and it is the first time Kantipur is co-hosting the event. According to the organiser, visitors at the fair will be provided information about the real estate sector.

Date: May 2,2013 to May 5,2013

source: The Kathmandu Post,29 March 2013

Mahindra Centuro, Pantero bikes launched

SG Global has introduced two new models of Mahindra motorcycles in the Nepali market.

The subsidiary of Shanker Group unveiled Mahindra Centuro and Pantero amid a function in the capital on Wednesday. SG Global was so far selling Mahindra scooters in the Nepali market.

“The new 110cc motorcycles are different from other motorcycles in their class and have a host of category innovation,” Sandeep Singh, senior general manager-exports of Mahindra Two Wheelers, said.

Both Pantero and Centuro sport an intelligent Micro Chip ignited-5 Curve (MCi-5) engine which smartly adjusts itself to the rider´s need for great pick-up or good mileage on the go.

“With the launch of intelligent and innovative bikes, we are confident that the Nepali customer will be delighted to ride such bikes,” Shahil Agrawal, managing director of SG Global, said at the launching ceremony.

According to the company, Pantero is targeted at young first time buyers who want a great riding experience. “The bike is the most maneuverable bike in its class; it is capable of handling bad roads and traffic with ease,” said Singh.

Pantero has features like LED pilot and tail lamps for added safety, digital dashboard, and choke on handle bar making it easier for the customers. The digital dashboard has speedometer, fuel gauge, tachometer, clock and an in-built capability to indicate the distance traveled in one trip. The bike with 13.7 liter fuel tank delivers maximum power of 8.5 Bhp at 7500 rpm and a mileage of 79.5 km per liter as per the test conducted by Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI).

Pantero is available in four different colors: Fiery Red, Sterling Silver, Blazing Black and Cool Black. Pantero with digital dashboard costs Rs 149,900, while the one with analog dashboard is available at Rs 146,900.

“Centuro sports a host of patented category innovations like central locking anti theft system with engine immobilizer, a remote 96-bit encrypted flip key and digital dashboard with service due indicator and distance-to-empty fuel calculator,” said Singh.

According to the company, the flip key has been designed in such a way that it is impossible to start the bike with a duplicate key. “If somebody tries to use duplicate key, the alarm rings,” a statement issued by SG Global said.

The bike has ´Find Me Lamps´ feature that helps the owner to easily find the bike when located in crowded area. The bike delivers a maximum power of 8.5 Bhp at 7500 rpm and maximum torque of 8.5 Nm at 5500 rpm.

The company has claimed that the bike has best in class ground clearance of 173 mm with a seat height of 800 mm and a maintenance free battery.

According to the company, Pantero will be available in the market from Thursday while Centuro will be available after some time. The company is yet to fix the price of Centuro.

source: republica,3 april 2013

The state of Nepali economy

RUPAK D SHARMA

On January 7, a group of unidentified men vandalized an SUV that Rajan Singh Bhandari, the CEO of Citizens Bank International, was traveling on in Kathmandu.

On March 22, another group of people attacked BK Shrestha, the managing director of Hotel Radisson.

Although both of these prominent personalities in the Nepali business community did not sustain any major injuries, the attacks reflect the security situation in the country which has become a major concern for businesspersons and investors.

Successive governments that ruled Nepal over the years have all talking about mobilizing domestic and foreign investment to create jobs, raising people´s living standards and making the country economically prosperous. But they have so far failed to improve the country´s law and order situation, which is a basic minimum to boost investor confidence.

What is even more upsetting is that some of the leading political parties are directly engaged in polluting the business and investment environment.

In late December and early January, the Mohan Baidya-led Communist Party of Nepal -Maoist demanded millions of rupees from the business community as donation to hold its general convention. At around the same time, Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), a ruling party at that time, launched a similar extortion drive citing it needed close to Rs 50 million to finance its convention.

When a major party in the ruling coalition -- whose senior member held the prime minister´s post at that time -- engages in such dirty tactics to extort money, what can the business community expect from others?

The Nepali business community is already knee-deep in problems.

Take for instance power cuts of up to 18 hours per day that have prevented many industries from operating at full capacity. Then there are the frequent government changes that lead to frequent changes in policies. Add to these the security issue and the private sector starts losing investment appetite.

Little wonder, the contribution of private investment to GDP fell to 15.3 percent in the fiscal year to mid-July 2012 from 18 percent five years ago, when the decade-long insurgency came to an end and Maoist combatants entered mainstream politics.

Lately, the number of cottage and small industries has dropped to around 6,050 from 17,722 of around seven years ago, eliminating hundreds of thousands of jobs. And the contribution of the manufacturing sector -- a mass job creator -- to the GDP has fallen to 6.2 percent from 8.2 percent a decade ago.

In this scenario, the only thing that is keeping the economy afloat is remittance sent by Nepalis toiling in the Gulf countries and Malaysia.

Workers´ remittances rose by 19.6 percent to Rs 225.06 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year to February 11. Although remittance has played a key role in reducing absolute poverty, a huge chunk of that money goes on to finance consumption, rather than capital formation process. And since Nepal is a net importer of most of the consumable products, it could be said that incoming remittance is being used to finance imports.

Nepal imported Rs 316.21 billion worth of merchandise items in the seven-month period, up 24 percent from the same period last fiscal year. This compares with a meager 5.6 percent rise in merchandise exports worth Rs 44.98 billion in the same period.

This discrepancy widened Nepal´s trade deficit -- the difference between exports and imports of merchandise goods -- by 27.7 percent in the seven-month period to Rs 271.22 billion, while causing the current account -- the difference between exports and imports of goods and services -- to post a deficit of Rs 1.71 billion.

To alter the situation, Nepal needs to open more industries of its own and lower its dependence on foreign countries. But since private sector confidence is at low point that is not happening.

At a time when the private sector is not pouring money into the economy, the government should have ramped up spending to build various infrastructures that the country needs to lure investment. Yet the government´s capital spending is always low, which is hurting Nepal´s development endeavors and costing the economy a lot.

The government´s capital spending stood at around Rs 10 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year, which is 20 percent of the budget allocated for the purpose.

One of the reasons for the low spending of capital budget this year is the inability of the government to introduce a full budget due to political wrangling. This forced the government to create capital expenditure targets based on what was actually spent last fiscal year without allocating funds for new projects.

The government had spent only around 73 percent of last fiscal year´s capital budget. This meant it had to create a ceiling based on this spending for this fiscal year. Because of this constraint, many projects did not receive adequate funds, forcing them to postpone investment plans. As a result most of the funds collected by the government in taxes lied idle in its coffers. And this, in turn, created liquidity strains in the banking sector.

As cash piled up in the government´s treasury, excess liquidity in the banking system dipped to around Rs 8 billion last month and the interbank lending rate shot up to 6.79 percent, forcing banks to increase lending rates.

Although the situation normalized after the government released several billion rupees of pension fund amount, the low capital spending of the government is expected to hit this year´s GDP growth rate.

The International Monetary Fund has already revised its earlier GDP growth rate estimate of 3.8 percent for this year to 3 percent, as against 4.6 percent of last year. Even the central bank has revised its economic growth rate target to 4.1 percent for the fiscal year 2012/13 from 5.5 percent.

Lately, the formation of a technocrat government earlier this month to hold elections has offered ray of hope, as it can still come up with a full budget for the current fiscal year and boost capital spending. The sooner the full budget is introduced, the better for a flagging economy.

source: republica,5 April 2013

Best KCM hangout spots

Students of Kathmandu College of Management (KCM) in Gwarko are currently waiting for their college cafeteria to restart its services. Meanwhile, the students have been regularly hanging out at the food joints in the locality.

Ghumti Khaja Ghar
It’s all veggie at Ghumti. Despite the fact that it doesn’t serve mass favorites such as buff momos, the place is quite popular among students for Chauchau Sandeko, Waiwai/Rara Fry, Veg Momos, and Roti Alu. A little further from the downhill by the college’s main entrance and after a sharp turn, Ghumti is originally just ‘Khaja Ghar’ but got its name from the turn that leads to the small shuttered space. Students don’t mind standing out and eating because the food is so good.

Blue Moon Food Land
Blue Moon is exactly opposite to Ghumti, is spacious and serves Samosa Tarkari, Buff Momo, Alu Paratha, Pani Puri and “10 Rupyako Kulfi.”

Best Food Café (BFC)
BFC is across the road from KCM, next to B&B Hospital. “Moderate price range but relatively expensive” is how a student chose to describe BFC. Although a fast food joint, ironically the café is infamous for slow service. But their Naan Tarkari makes up for all that.

Didiko Pasal (Fresh Café)
Funnily enough, Didiko Pasal is run by dais. Students assume that the didi probably got married and went away. It’s located by the downhill of KCM and serves Buff Chowmein, Momo, and sandwich and bakery items. One of the main reasons why the pasal is popular is because students, when broke, can order on credit and pay later; and the tea and coffee there are, as students put it, “atti sahi.”

Batuk Bhairav Khaja Ghar
Batuk is where students of KCM go for their ‘after-party’ post-event retreats and celebrations because it’s close to college and cheap. Chhoila, Alu and non-veg items are available here

source: republica,27 march 2013

Tenzin Tseten Bhutia's fashionable sensibilities

Tenzin Tseten Bhutia is pleasant to talk to and the conversation flows freely. After working for Himalayan Couture for six years, he’s now ventured into his own clothing line – Tenzin Tseten Bhutia Creations. The fashion designer has been in Nepal since the early days of fashion and has seen the industry progress. He’s candid about the situation and says, “Nepal isn’t ready for creativity yet.” But Tenzin is still hopeful and a lot wiser.

It’s been around six years since you joined the fashion industry. What was it like then?
There were no particular fashion designers in the scene then. The concept was that tailors were the only people to go to if you needed something stitched. Apart from that, people would talk about the boutiques in Kupondole who were specializing in sarees. There was no media presence in the fashion scene then. I remember Nuzhat Qazi was there to compete with me. (Laughs). It’s only been a year or so that we’ve seen new designers on the rise.

How’s the industry now? Do you think it’s competitive?
No, not at all. We’re still only a handful and I think the new crop of designers is trying to discover what works for them. I thought there were a couple of very good designs during the Trendsetters Fashion Show. But we’ve also seen a few rip-offs, and that’s where the media should come in. I believe that with more young people in the media, there’s been an evolution where fashion reporting is concerned. Since they know what’s going on, they’re keen to report on it. But I think everyone should be responsible and keep an eye on the fashion scene abroad too so that there’s no rip off and no hype over it. Because what will the rest of the designers do? They might come to believe that it’s okay to take someone else’s design and flaunt it as their own.

In your opinion, what does the fashion industry really need at the moment?
There’s a very important gap that can only be filled by textile designers. There are no textile designers in Nepal and there’s no course for textile designers in the country. Every fashion house, or designer actually, needs a textile designer to work with. They’re the ones who will work on the fabric and enhance the design. They help take the design to the next level, and with a certain design on the material, it becomes exclusive and customers will like that. I hope the fashion institutes will seriously consider adding textile designing to their syllabus.

How has your creative sensibilities evolved?
In the past, I would lean towards ethnicity and have a good dose of culture in my clothes. I worked with brocade and made sure there was a distinct stamp of ethnicity. However, I came to realize that clothes with western silhouettes are more favored and that clothes need to be contemporary. So I’m curbing my tendency to work like I did before and create clothes that my customers will easily love.

Isn’t that bad for your creativity?
In some ways, yes. Nepal isn’t ready for creativity yet. This is also my advice to upcoming designers: try to understand the market and design your clothes accordingly. But I still stick to certain silhouettes that I really prefer. For instance, I prefer the mermaid shape whenever I work with gowns, and when it comes to making skirts, the A line silhouette is what I prefer.

Let’s talk about fashion weeks. How important are they for designers?
I’ve done almost five or six shows this year. Fashion weeks and shows are very important in terms of visibility. We can show our work and that way we can sustain in the market. But when it comes to buyers, I’ll be honest and say that there’s nothing for designers in that respect. In all my years here, I’m yet to meet any buyer, and those designers who say differently aren’t being honest. So doing shows is just a way of remaining in people’s memories.

Also, these days I don’t agree to participate in every show I’m offered. I research the company and their record before I agree to participate. I’ve had some experiences in the past and I’ve learnt it’s wiser to know who you’re working with.

Has it become easier for a freelance designer to sustain himself?
It’s been almost a year. Well, people here mostly order clothes only when they have a special place to go to. So the majority of my clients comprise people residing abroad. They send orders through email and social networking sites. It’s much more affordable for them than for the people here.

As soon as the political situation gets better and the cost of living is stable, then I’m sure the industry will get better.

source: republica,29 march 2013

Festival reflecting way of life in Lalitpur

LALITPUR: Streets of Patan are filled with the smell of Newari dishes and flecked with sparkling colors of traditional costumes even as resounding melodies of folk songs take the visitors back to the historical days.

Lalitpur folks are overwhelmed these days as swarm of visitors throng Lalitpur festival that began on Thursday. The 86 toles, including Lakhel, Managlbazar, Yasoda Mahabihar Bubahal has been decorated in best possible ways.

Sannani Tuladhar, a resident of Lakhel, usually spins cotton on Charkha (spinning wheel). The lady, who is in her early 80s, has often been admired for her expertise by her children, but had never got an opportunity to show her skill to a huge mass. The Lalitpur Mahotsav has given the space to many such artisans who are unknown to the world but have been playing the most significant role to conserve primitive culture.

Lalitpur folks believe they are richer than Kathmandu and Bhaktapur in ways of life. But the locals feel that their effort of conserving the ancient tradition of Newar community hasn´t been appreciated much.

“Kathmandu and Bhaktapur are always in the limelight while we struggle to promote our ethnicity and culture,” says Ashok Maharjan, resident of Mikhabahal.
Mikabahal used to be the place of farmers in the ancient days. But currently, only a handful of people are involved in farming. Malls and supermarkets have been built at the cultivable land owned by his forefathers, he mentioned.

According to Mangal Maharjan, chairman of Jaypu Society of Lalitpur, the locals were asked to bring antiques whatever they have at home to exhibit in the festival. The rare image of God Indra has been displayed. Similarly, visitors can observe the demonstration of how handicrafts are prepared from wood, clay and various metals. The local women are seen making household items using straw and jute.

The exhibits also include idols of Hindu gods and goddesses. Artist Dharma Raj Shakya has built a 16 feet long statue of Lord Ganesha after six days of hard labor. The idol of Lord Buddha and a replica of Patan Gate are the center of attraction for visitors.

The nineteen organizations that came together to organize the event have spent Rs 30 million in the festival and expect to see 1 million visitors in a week, said Jyapu Society Chairperson Maharjan.

Visitors marvel at the pictures of early 20th century depicting the radiance of the ancient Kathmandu Valley when greenery was abound.

“I am mesmerized by these pictures of the Kathmandu Valley,” said Nyamgyal Sayaka of Bouddha. Sayaka belongs to the Sherpa community but she says she finds the Newari dish Bara, Chatamari and Samyebaji simply incomparable.

Meanwhile, the Lalitpur-based living goddess Kumari is busy throughout the day, offering blessings to the devotees. According to the Jyapu Society Chairman Mangal Maharjan, the Kumari goddess will stay at courtyard.

Though this year´s festival was organized after four years, the locals want to give continuity in the next years. Around 400,000 people have visited the festival till Saturday, the third day of the festival, according to the organizers. The festival will conclude on Wednesday.

source: republica,31 march 2013