"Stop the fear"

#12605315

1 August 2025

Members of the Madhesh Agri-Water Movement Struggle Committee protest in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 1, 2025, against the government's inaction in addressing and solving the issue of drought in Madhesh province of Nepal. Despite being in August, mid-way to the peak monsoon season, much of the farmland across Madhesh remains dry. Seedlings wither from a lack of water, and many farmers fear they may have to buy rice this year. Due to the expanse of its cultivated land, Madhesh is Nepal's top agricultural production zone. It produces 25.3 percent of the country's total paddy, 32.1 percent of its wheat, 77.1 percent of mangoes, 66.5 percent of sugarcane, 22.1 percent of oilseeds, 37 percent of pulses, 57.9 percent of fish, 18.12 percent of milk, and 21.93 percent of bananas. These crucial crops and livestock outputs are now threatened due to insufficient rains. Of the 542,580 hectares of arable land in the province, 362,344 hectares are allocated for summer paddy, and 20,839 hectares for spring paddy. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery contribute the highest share--36.73 percent--to Madhesh's GDP. However, spring planting (March to April) is abandoned this year due to drought. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development show that only 51 percent of the paddy fields in Madhesh are planted this summer.

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#12605316

1 August 2025

Members of the Madhesh Agri-Water Movement Struggle Committee protest in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 1, 2025, against the government's inaction in addressing and solving the issue of drought in Madhesh province of Nepal. Despite being in August, mid-way to the peak monsoon season, much of the farmland across Madhesh remains dry. Seedlings wither from a lack of water, and many farmers fear they may have to buy rice this year. Due to the expanse of its cultivated land, Madhesh is Nepal's top agricultural production zone. It produces 25.3 percent of the country's total paddy, 32.1 percent of its wheat, 77.1 percent of mangoes, 66.5 percent of sugarcane, 22.1 percent of oilseeds, 37 percent of pulses, 57.9 percent of fish, 18.12 percent of milk, and 21.93 percent of bananas. These crucial crops and livestock outputs are now threatened due to insufficient rains. Of the 542,580 hectares of arable land in the province, 362,344 hectares are allocated for summer paddy, and 20,839 hectares for spring paddy. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery contribute the highest share--36.73 percent--to Madhesh's GDP. However, spring planting (March to April) is abandoned this year due to drought. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development show that only 51 percent of the paddy fields in Madhesh are planted this summer.

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#12605317

1 August 2025

Members of the Madhesh Agri-Water Movement Struggle Committee protest in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 1, 2025, against the government's inaction in addressing and solving the issue of drought in Madhesh province of Nepal. Despite being in August, mid-way to the peak monsoon season, much of the farmland across Madhesh remains dry. Seedlings wither from a lack of water, and many farmers fear they may have to buy rice this year. Due to the expanse of its cultivated land, Madhesh is Nepal's top agricultural production zone. It produces 25.3 percent of the country's total paddy, 32.1 percent of its wheat, 77.1 percent of mangoes, 66.5 percent of sugarcane, 22.1 percent of oilseeds, 37 percent of pulses, 57.9 percent of fish, 18.12 percent of milk, and 21.93 percent of bananas. These crucial crops and livestock outputs are now threatened due to insufficient rains. Of the 542,580 hectares of arable land in the province, 362,344 hectares are allocated for summer paddy, and 20,839 hectares for spring paddy. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery contribute the highest share--36.73 percent--to Madhesh's GDP. However, spring planting (March to April) is abandoned this year due to drought. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development show that only 51 percent of the paddy fields in Madhesh are planted this summer.

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#12605318

1 August 2025

Members of the Madhesh Agri-Water Movement Struggle Committee protest in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 1, 2025, against the government's inaction in addressing and solving the issue of drought in Madhesh province of Nepal. Despite being in August, mid-way to the peak monsoon season, much of the farmland across Madhesh remains dry. Seedlings wither from a lack of water, and many farmers fear they may have to buy rice this year. Due to the expanse of its cultivated land, Madhesh is Nepal's top agricultural production zone. It produces 25.3 percent of the country's total paddy, 32.1 percent of its wheat, 77.1 percent of mangoes, 66.5 percent of sugarcane, 22.1 percent of oilseeds, 37 percent of pulses, 57.9 percent of fish, 18.12 percent of milk, and 21.93 percent of bananas. These crucial crops and livestock outputs are now threatened due to insufficient rains. Of the 542,580 hectares of arable land in the province, 362,344 hectares are allocated for summer paddy, and 20,839 hectares for spring paddy. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery contribute the highest share--36.73 percent--to Madhesh's GDP. However, spring planting (March to April) is abandoned this year due to drought. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development show that only 51 percent of the paddy fields in Madhesh are planted this summer.

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#12605319

1 August 2025

Members of the Madhesh Agri-Water Movement Struggle Committee protest in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 1, 2025, against the government's inaction in addressing and solving the issue of drought in Madhesh province of Nepal. Despite being in August, mid-way to the peak monsoon season, much of the farmland across Madhesh remains dry. Seedlings wither from a lack of water, and many farmers fear they may have to buy rice this year. Due to the expanse of its cultivated land, Madhesh is Nepal's top agricultural production zone. It produces 25.3 percent of the country's total paddy, 32.1 percent of its wheat, 77.1 percent of mangoes, 66.5 percent of sugarcane, 22.1 percent of oilseeds, 37 percent of pulses, 57.9 percent of fish, 18.12 percent of milk, and 21.93 percent of bananas. These crucial crops and livestock outputs are now threatened due to insufficient rains. Of the 542,580 hectares of arable land in the province, 362,344 hectares are allocated for summer paddy, and 20,839 hectares for spring paddy. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery contribute the highest share--36.73 percent--to Madhesh's GDP. However, spring planting (March to April) is abandoned this year due to drought. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development show that only 51 percent of the paddy fields in Madhesh are planted this summer.

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#12605320

1 August 2025

Members of the Madhesh Agri-Water Movement Struggle Committee protest in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 1, 2025, against the government's inaction in addressing and solving the issue of drought in Madhesh province of Nepal. Despite being in August, mid-way to the peak monsoon season, much of the farmland across Madhesh remains dry. Seedlings wither from a lack of water, and many farmers fear they may have to buy rice this year. Due to the expanse of its cultivated land, Madhesh is Nepal's top agricultural production zone. It produces 25.3 percent of the country's total paddy, 32.1 percent of its wheat, 77.1 percent of mangoes, 66.5 percent of sugarcane, 22.1 percent of oilseeds, 37 percent of pulses, 57.9 percent of fish, 18.12 percent of milk, and 21.93 percent of bananas. These crucial crops and livestock outputs are now threatened due to insufficient rains. Of the 542,580 hectares of arable land in the province, 362,344 hectares are allocated for summer paddy, and 20,839 hectares for spring paddy. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery contribute the highest share--36.73 percent--to Madhesh's GDP. However, spring planting (March to April) is abandoned this year due to drought. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development show that only 51 percent of the paddy fields in Madhesh are planted this summer.

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#12605321

1 August 2025

Members of the Madhesh Agri-Water Movement Struggle Committee protest in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 1, 2025, against the government's inaction in addressing and solving the issue of drought in Madhesh province of Nepal. Despite being in August, mid-way to the peak monsoon season, much of the farmland across Madhesh remains dry. Seedlings wither from a lack of water, and many farmers fear they may have to buy rice this year. Due to the expanse of its cultivated land, Madhesh is Nepal's top agricultural production zone. It produces 25.3 percent of the country's total paddy, 32.1 percent of its wheat, 77.1 percent of mangoes, 66.5 percent of sugarcane, 22.1 percent of oilseeds, 37 percent of pulses, 57.9 percent of fish, 18.12 percent of milk, and 21.93 percent of bananas. These crucial crops and livestock outputs are now threatened due to insufficient rains. Of the 542,580 hectares of arable land in the province, 362,344 hectares are allocated for summer paddy, and 20,839 hectares for spring paddy. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery contribute the highest share--36.73 percent--to Madhesh's GDP. However, spring planting (March to April) is abandoned this year due to drought. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development show that only 51 percent of the paddy fields in Madhesh are planted this summer.

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#12605322

1 August 2025

Members of the Madhesh Agri-Water Movement Struggle Committee protest in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 1, 2025, against the government's inaction in addressing and solving the issue of drought in Madhesh province of Nepal. Despite being in August, mid-way to the peak monsoon season, much of the farmland across Madhesh remains dry. Seedlings wither from a lack of water, and many farmers fear they may have to buy rice this year. Due to the expanse of its cultivated land, Madhesh is Nepal's top agricultural production zone. It produces 25.3 percent of the country's total paddy, 32.1 percent of its wheat, 77.1 percent of mangoes, 66.5 percent of sugarcane, 22.1 percent of oilseeds, 37 percent of pulses, 57.9 percent of fish, 18.12 percent of milk, and 21.93 percent of bananas. These crucial crops and livestock outputs are now threatened due to insufficient rains. Of the 542,580 hectares of arable land in the province, 362,344 hectares are allocated for summer paddy, and 20,839 hectares for spring paddy. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery contribute the highest share--36.73 percent--to Madhesh's GDP. However, spring planting (March to April) is abandoned this year due to drought. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development show that only 51 percent of the paddy fields in Madhesh are planted this summer.

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#12605323

1 August 2025

Members of the Madhesh Agri-Water Movement Struggle Committee protest in Kathmandu, Nepal, on August 1, 2025, against the government's inaction in addressing and solving the issue of drought in Madhesh province of Nepal. Despite being in August, mid-way to the peak monsoon season, much of the farmland across Madhesh remains dry. Seedlings wither from a lack of water, and many farmers fear they may have to buy rice this year. Due to the expanse of its cultivated land, Madhesh is Nepal's top agricultural production zone. It produces 25.3 percent of the country's total paddy, 32.1 percent of its wheat, 77.1 percent of mangoes, 66.5 percent of sugarcane, 22.1 percent of oilseeds, 37 percent of pulses, 57.9 percent of fish, 18.12 percent of milk, and 21.93 percent of bananas. These crucial crops and livestock outputs are now threatened due to insufficient rains. Of the 542,580 hectares of arable land in the province, 362,344 hectares are allocated for summer paddy, and 20,839 hectares for spring paddy. Agriculture, forestry, and fishery contribute the highest share--36.73 percent--to Madhesh's GDP. However, spring planting (March to April) is abandoned this year due to drought. Data from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development show that only 51 percent of the paddy fields in Madhesh are planted this summer.

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#12577874

23 July 2025

People prepare the parts for the effigy of ''Ghantakarna'' using hay-straws in Bhaktapur, Nepal, on July 23, 2025. Falling on Trayodashi (the third day) of the month of Shrawan (July/August), Ghantakarna Chaturdasi is celebrated in memory of the mythical demon Ghantakarna's death. According to legends, the demon Ghantakarna terrorizes villagers by stealing children and women from the village and demands money and other gifts as ransom for their release. His body is painted in red, blue, and black, and he wears a pair of bells on his ears. He looks very scary, and every time he moves, the bells jingle. He gets his name from the bells on his ears, with Ghanta meaning 'bell' and Karna meaning 'ears'. The fear of the dreadful monster keeps people inside their homes most of the time. Even during the planting season, they do not dare to leave their homes. However, one day, a large number of frogs come to the village and begin to croak near Ghantakarna's place. He becomes furious, but the frogs do not stop. They croak even louder, and when he tries to catch them, they jump into the water. He, too, jumps into the water without realizing that it is a swamp and soon starts to drown. The frogs swarm around his head, and he drowns to death. In this way, the frogs save the village and the villagers from the demon. Effigies built at the turnings and roadways of the locality are later dragged and burnt to ashes in areas that lie far from the residential areas, mostly at the crossroads. This festival is also celebrated as a symbol of cleanliness, even though the garbage inside and outside the house is cleaned and disposed of in a systematic manner. This festival is celebrated by cleaning the garbage, calling it a ghost to get rid of it, as it does not pay attention to sanitation during the planting period, and various insects cause grief at this time.

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#12577878

23 July 2025

People prepare the parts for the effigy of ''Ghantakarna'' using hay-straws in Bhaktapur, Nepal, on July 23, 2025. Falling on Trayodashi (the third day) of the month of Shrawan (July/August), Ghantakarna Chaturdasi is celebrated in memory of the mythical demon Ghantakarna's death. According to legends, the demon Ghantakarna terrorizes villagers by stealing children and women from the village and demands money and other gifts as ransom for their release. His body is painted in red, blue, and black, and he wears a pair of bells on his ears. He looks very scary, and every time he moves, the bells jingle. He gets his name from the bells on his ears, with Ghanta meaning 'bell' and Karna meaning 'ears'. The fear of the dreadful monster keeps people inside their homes most of the time. Even during the planting season, they do not dare to leave their homes. However, one day, a large number of frogs come to the village and begin to croak near Ghantakarna's place. He becomes furious, but the frogs do not stop. They croak even louder, and when he tries to catch them, they jump into the water. He, too, jumps into the water without realizing that it is a swamp and soon starts to drown. The frogs swarm around his head, and he drowns to death. In this way, the frogs save the village and the villagers from the demon. Effigies built at the turnings and roadways of the locality are later dragged and burnt to ashes in areas that lie far from the residential areas, mostly at the crossroads. This festival is also celebrated as a symbol of cleanliness, even though the garbage inside and outside the house is cleaned and disposed of in a systematic manner. This festival is celebrated by cleaning the garbage, calling it a ghost to get rid of it, as it does not pay attention to sanitation during the planting period, and various insects cause grief at this time.

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#12577873

23 July 2025

A man prepares clothing for the effigy of ''Ghantakarna'' while marking 'Gathemangal' in Bhaktapur, Nepal, on July 23, 2025. This festival, also known as Ghantakarna Chaturdasi, falls on Trayodashi (the third day) of the month of Shrawan (July/August) and is celebrated in memory of the mythical demon Ghantakarna's death. According to legends, the demon Ghantakarna terrorizes villagers by stealing children and women from the village and demands money and other gifts as ransom for their release. His body is painted in red, blue, and black, and he wears a pair of bells on his ears. He looks very scary, and every time he moves, the bells jingle. He gets his name from the bells on his ears, with Ghanta meaning 'bell' and Karna meaning 'ears'. The fear of the dreadful monster keeps people inside their homes most of the time. Even during the planting season, they do not dare to leave their homes. However, one day, a large number of frogs come to the village and begin to croak near Ghantakarna's place. He becomes furious, but the frogs do not stop. They croak even louder, and when he tries to catch them, they jump into the water. He also jumps into the water without realizing that it is a swamp and soon starts to drown. The frogs swarm around his head, and he drowns to death. In this way, the frogs save the village and the villagers from the demon. Effigies built at the turnings and roadways of the locality are later dragged and burned to ashes in areas far from residential areas, mostly at crossroads. This festival is also celebrated as a symbol of cleanliness, as the garbage inside and outside the house is cleaned and disposed of systematically. This festival is celebrated by cleaning the garbage, calling it a ghost to get rid of it, as it does not pay attention to sanitation during the planting period, and various insects cause grief at this time.

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#12577876

23 July 2025

Men prepare clothing for the effigy of ''Ghantakarna'' while marking 'Gathemangal' in Bhaktapur, Nepal, on July 23, 2025. Falling on Trayodashi (the third day) of the month of Shrawan (July/August), which is also known as Ghantakarna Chaturdasi, this festival is celebrated in memory of the mythical demon Ghantakarna's death. According to legends, the demon Ghantakarna terrorizes villagers by stealing children and women from the village and demands money and other gifts as ransom for their release. His body is painted in red, blue, and black, and he wears a pair of bells on his ears. He looks very scary, and every time he moves, the bells jingle. He gets his name from the bells on his ears, with 'Ghanta' meaning 'bell' and 'Karna' meaning 'ears'. The fear of the dreadful monster keeps people inside their homes most of the time. Even during the planting season, they do not dare to leave their homes. However, one day, a large number of frogs come to the village and begin to croak near Ghantakarna's place. He becomes furious, but the frogs do not stop. They croak even louder, and when he tries to catch them, they jump into the water. He also jumps into the water without realizing that it is a swamp and soon starts to drown. The frogs swarm around his head, and he drowns to death. In this way, the frogs save the village and the villagers from the demon. Effigies built at the turnings and roadways of the locality are later dragged and burned to ashes in areas that lie far from the residential areas, mostly at the crossroads. This festival is also celebrated as a symbol of cleanliness, even though the garbage inside and outside the house is cleaned and disposed of in a systematic manner. This festival is celebrated by cleaning the garbage, calling it a ghost to get rid of it, as it does not pay attention to sanitation during the planting period, and various insects cause grief at this time.

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#12577880

23 July 2025

People carry the effigy of ''Ghantakarna'' to the crossroads to set it on fire while celebrating ''Gathemangal'' in Bhaktapur, Nepal, on July 23, 2025. This festival, which falls on Trayodashi (the third day) of the month of Shrawan (July/August), is also known as Ghantakarna Chaturdasi and is celebrated in memory of the mythical demon Ghantakarna's death. According to legends, the demon Ghantakarna terrorizes villagers by stealing children and women from the village and demands money and other gifts as ransom for their release. His body is painted in red, blue, and black, and he wears a pair of bells on his ears. He looks very scary, and every time he moves, the bells jingle. He gets his name from the bells on his ears, with Ghanta meaning 'bell' and Karna meaning 'ears'. The fear of this dreadful monster keeps people inside their homes most of the time. Even during the planting season, they do not dare to leave their homes. However, one day, a large number of frogs come to the village and begin to croak near Ghantakarna's place. He becomes furious, but the frogs do not stop. They croak even louder, and when he tries to catch them, they jump into the water. He also jumps into the water without realizing that it is a swamp and soon starts to drown. The frogs swarm around his head, and he drowns to death. In this way, the frogs save the village and the villagers from the demon. Effigies built at the turnings and roadways of the locality are later dragged and burnt to ashes in areas far from the residential areas, mostly at the crossroads. This festival is also celebrated as a symbol of cleanliness, even though the garbage inside and outside the house is cleaned and disposed of in a systematic manner. This festival is celebrated by cleaning the garbage, calling it a ghost to get rid of it, as it does not pay attention to sanitation during the planting period, and various insects cause grief at this time.

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#12577872

23 July 2025

People set fire to the effigy of ''Ghantakarna'' at a crossroad while celebrating ''Gathemangal'' in Bhaktapur, Nepal, on July 23, 2025. This festival, which falls on Trayodashi (the third day) of the month of Shrawan (July/August), is also known as Ghantakarna Chaturdasi and is celebrated in memory of the mythical demon Ghantakarna's death. According to legends, the demon Ghantakarna terrorizes villagers by stealing children and women from the village and demands money and other gifts as ransom for their release. His body is painted in red, blue, and black, and he wears a pair of bells on his ears. He looks very scary, and every time he moves, the bells jingle. He gets his name from the bells on his ears, with Ghanta meaning 'bell' and Karna meaning 'ears'. The fear of this dreadful monster keeps people inside their homes most of the time. Even during the planting season, they do not dare to leave their homes. However, one day, a large number of frogs come to the village and begin to croak near Ghantakarna's place. He becomes furious, but the frogs do not stop. They croak even louder, and when he tries to catch them, they jump into the water. He also jumps into the water without realizing that it is a swamp and soon starts to drown. The frogs swarm around his head, and he drowns to death. In this way, the frogs save the village and the villagers from the demon. Effigies built at the turnings and roadways of the locality are later dragged and burnt to ashes in areas far from residential areas, mostly at crossroads. This festival is also celebrated as a symbol of cleanliness, even though the garbage inside and outside the house is cleaned and disposed of in a systematic manner. This festival is celebrated by cleaning the garbage, calling it a ghost to get rid of it, as it does not pay attention to sanitation during the planting period, and various insects cause grief at this time.

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#12577875

23 July 2025

A woman buys metal rings on the day of Gathemangal in Bhaktapur, Nepal, on July 23, 2025. This festival, also known as Ghantakarna Chaturdasi, falls on Trayodashi (the third day) of the month of Shrawan (July/August) and is celebrated in memory of the mythical demon Ghantakarna's death. According to legends, the demon Ghantakarna terrorizes villagers by stealing children and women from the village and demands money and other gifts as ransom for their release. His body is painted in red, blue, and black, and he wears a pair of bells on his ears. He looks very scary, and every time he moves, the bells jingle. He gets his name from the bells on his ears, with 'Ghanta' meaning 'bell' and 'Karna' meaning 'ears'. The fear of this dreadful monster keeps people inside their homes most of the time. Even during the planting season, they do not dare to leave their homes. However, one day, a large number of frogs come to the village and begin to croak near Ghantakarna's place. He becomes furious, but the frogs do not stop. They croak even louder, and when he tries to catch them, they jump into the water. He also jumps into the water without realizing that it is a swamp and soon starts to drown. The frogs swarm around his head, and he drowns to death. In this way, the frogs save the village and the villagers from the demon. Effigies built at the turnings and roadways of the locality are later dragged and burnt to ashes in areas far from residential areas, mostly at crossroads. This festival is also celebrated as a symbol of cleanliness, even though the garbage inside and outside the house is cleaned and disposed of in a systematic manner. This festival is celebrated by cleaning the garbage, calling it a ghost to get rid of it, as it does not pay attention to sanitation during the planting period, and various insects cause grief at this time.

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