New Delhi (NVI): Nepal capital Kathmandu is unlikely to witness the traditional festivals which fall in spring season amid the coronavirus pandemic and strict restrictions by the government.
Festivals like Bhaktapur’s Bisket Jatra is celebrated in Kathmandu Valley during this time of the year, reports Nepali Times. Machhindranath and Patan festivals are also celebrated in Nepal capital during the spring season, besides Ram Nawami and Chaite Dasain which this year falls on Wednesday and Thursday.
However, the administration is most likely to mute or cancel the festivities amid the pandemic situation all over the world, which has made social distancing mandatory.
In April every year, the head priest in Kathmandu prepares for the Bisket Jatra which includes the construction of a three-story pagoda-style chariot, reports Nepali Times. Just like Jagannath Rath yatra in India, the chariot procession in Nepal is attended by thousands of people, who surround the diety in big numbers.
Due to the COVID-19 lockdown in various parts of the world including Nepal, it is all quiet in Kathmandu. In a high-level meeting yesterday, the Nepal Government also extended lockdown by a week. The lockdown which was imposed on March 24 and was to reach maturity on March 31, will be effective till April 7 now.
Meanwhile, over 12,00 tourists stranded in various parts in Nepal have been rescued. A total of 1,255 stranded tourists have been evacuated from 19 destinations across the country, according to the data compiled by the Nepal Tourism Board.
They were successful in bringing 158 people stranded in Lukla, including international and domestic tourists. Fifty-six of them were evacuated by Tara Air, 51 by Summit Air while the other 51 by Sita Air on Sunday, according to media reports.
Nepal Tourism Board has been successful in rescuing a total of 1,255 travelers within the country. NTB has given top priority in following the health and safety guidelines set by the government during all rescue operations.
While NTB carried out its rescue operation at Lukla, Pokhara, Taplejung, Jomsom, Muktinath, Langtang, Manaslu, Gorkha, Lete, Beshisahar, Kande, Sankhuwasahba, Jhapa, Beni and Jhinudanda. They estimated that about 10 thousand tourists were stranded in various parts of the country.
A total of 913 tourists have been flown back to their respective. The Chartered flights operated by France and Germany have already flown back its citizens from the Himalayan nation.
So far, five people have been infected from COVID-19 in Nepal, with no death case so far.
