Candle Lighting at Mandala Circle
20 September (4 Asoj), 6 pm

Citizens of Kathmandu are meeting at the Mandala Circle at Maiti Ghar at 6 pm on 20 September (4 Asoj) to light candles in memory of the ten thousand souls who have lost their lives in the last eight years of violence in the country.

The event is being organised by the Himsa Birodh Abhiyan (Campaign against Violence), an ad-hoc group of citizens who believe that the people have had enough.

Those who come to the Mandala Circle will light candles at dusk and hear a flute and a violin playing in tandem. They will contemplate the gravity of the loss the people have faced through a large banner which contains ten thousand marks to represent ten thousand souls.

The candle-lighting ceremony is also a prelude of a massive gathering planned the next day at Basantapur, Kathmandu Darbar Square.

Citizens by thethousand are expected to congregate amidst the pagoda temples of Basantapur at 8 am on Tuesday, 21 September (5 Asoj). The day is also the
World Peace Day.

Contact: Tel 5553767
Email: ahimsanp@hotmail.com

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Notice
Himsa Birodh, Shanti Athot Rally
21 September, 8 am

A large assembly is planned at the heart of Kathmandu on 21 September (5 Asoj) to protest the use of violence for political purpose. The gathering will speak for the people across the hills and plains of Nepal, who reject violence and want peace and goodwill to return.

The gathering is being organised by the Himsa Birodh Abhiyan (Campaign against Violence), an ad-hoc group of citizens who believe that the people have had enough.

Citizens will congregate at the temple courtyard of Basantapur, beneath the Shiva- Parvati Mandir, bringing with them placards that express abhorrence of the violence that has become a daily feature of life across the countryside.

It is expected that the size of the gathering will be large. The organisers say that the theme of "anti-violence" has been chosen for its all-encompassing message of peace un-tainted by political bias.

The rally at Basantapur is one of many events that are being spontaneously organised across Kathmandu Valley and the country on 21 September, World Peace Day.

Contact: Tel 5553767
Email: ahimsanp@hotmail.com

Symlyn:

Thank you for bringing us this news. Those many of us who denounce acts of violence support you. May the soul of those dead rest in peace; our thoughts and prayers are with you.

In the last one year, I -- as a well-meaning, liberal citizen -- have been to so many of these peace rallies, peace-themed music concerts and other assorted peace-related lectures, seminars, discussions and what not in Nepal . . . that, after having seen hardly any results emanating from all those efforts, I am getting increasingly dismissive about this sort of YET another peace rally "in the heart of Kathmandu".

I mean, at all of these events, you meet the same group of people (NGO-types, journalists, artists, politicians, expats, people whose primary self-image is that of
"civil society members") . . . all of who mouth the same 'copy and paste' type of platitudes . . . and we all have chiya and samosa afterward, and then go on to plan ANOTHER peace jaatra . . . .

My frustration is compounded by the fact that I can't suggest a good alternative to all these peace jaatras . . . and onward we go, with one peace rally after another, while the prospects for peace recede further and further.

Look at the impotent phrasing of the organiser's language: "The organisers say that the theme of "anti-violence" has been chosen for its all-encompassing message of peace un-tainted by political bias."

I mean, give me a break.
Who are we kidding?

The violence that's been raging on in Nepal IS political, dammit!
It's a shame to remain a political eunuch when 10,000-plus citizens have already died.

oohi
"sleepless in KTM"
ashu

Who is not frustrated?

At least we can bash the Maoists and politically responsible people here in sajha, who are creating a big mess in Nepal.

The morning when I read the news of the 12 Nepalese slian in Iraq, I did see the picture of 11 nepalese killed and lying on the ground. I didn't want to watch the slitting of the neck of the first nepalese brother on internet video. But apparently in Nepal almost all the poeple including mothers watched the video stream of that beahding event. when my mother described me the video she watched.... well, I thought her narration of the beheading is even lot more vicious than if i actually had watched the video myself.

All the Nepalese press failed in one thing. They failed to interview the Mothers of Nepal and run into thier newspapers. That's a great disrepect to our mothers for not letting them express their feelings about the incident. It's only the Mother who can feel what's it's like losing her son. And 10,000+ have been killed in Nepal. And out nepalese press is numb. These buggers don't know what to run in their papers... isn't this what the newspaper should be doing to restore the peace in Nepal?

I like the move, whatsoever, it was for atleast good reason. It is enough to bring people together for common agenda. Thanx for those Brothers and Sister for holding at aleast on candle to reciprocate the peace throughout. Ashu Dai, it just a begining, whatever is the theme choosen, the purpose is to bring PEACE and has been accomplished peacefully.

yes, another chija bhojan like ashu said, but hey, wahts wrong on doing something good again and again..hope this peace rally goes well, and hope we dont see another BOMB BISPOT the next day...

and for all those writers who have been writing abt the voilence and wirting very, very artistic artilcles, here is a nice quote i found by ashu..

"The violence that's been raging on in Nepal IS political, dammit! "

btw, ashu, u look like tom cruise on that pic..way to go..:P