Goats replace polls in Nepal's new plans

As the fortnight-long festival of Dashain started Friday, amid political uncertainty, Nepalese began traditional celebrations with animal sacrifices and feasts in which mutton is the main delicacy.

According to media reports, even top political leaders are letting their hair down and celebrating.

Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, sacked twice for failing to hold elections, has bought six goats and a generous amount of liquor to wine and dine guests, a Nepali tabloid said.

Another daily said that after 13 long years, the father of Nepal's Maoist chief Prachanda is fervently hoping to be reunited with his son.

Muktinath Dahal, the 82-year-old farmer father, is finally looking forward to celebrating the festival with his son who had remained underground for more than a decade.

Opposition leader Pashupati Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, whose Rastriya Prajatantra Party is opposing the Maoist bid to abolish the monarchy through a parliament vote next week, will be leaving for New Delhi soon to celebrate the festival there with his royal relatives, the Naya Patrika daily said.

Rana is the husband of Usha Scindia, sister of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje.

The Ranas' youngest daughter Devyani, once known as the woman whom Nepal's slain crown prince Dipendra wanted to marry, is now married to Aishwarya Singh, the grandson of Indian Human Resources Minister Arjun Singh.

During Dashain, long-distance buses in Nepal are often seen speeding away packed with passengers as well as goats.

The Hindu temples are littered with blood, animal entrails and heads of sacrificed goats.

Though Nepal was declared a secular state last year, it remains virtually a hardcore Hindu nation with the prime minister attending all Hindu festivals as head of state.

A group of animal lovers, however, began a campaign Friday asking for an end to animal sacrifices.

They took out a motorcycle rally in the capital, carrying banners that said: "Stop the cruelty against animals".

There were mixed reactions to the traditional festival in Maoist camps.

Over 30,000 young men and women belonging to the rebels' guerrilla army, the People's Liberation Army, have been living in 28 makeshift camps since the Maoists signed a truce last year and ended their 10-year "people's war".

Many of the guerrillas, who were branded as terrorists during the period and hunted down by security forces, have not celebrated the festival with their families for years.

Now some want to go home but either do not have leave or the money for the fare.

Some say the party is their priority and they will continue their work in the camps during the festival.

The mood of the festival will be affected by the happenings in parliament next week where a special session started Thursday to decide on King Gyanendra's fate and a new election system.

For two days from Sunday, legislators will debate the Maoist proposal that the 238-year-old monarchy be abolished immediately. The vote is expected Tuesday.

The Maoists are likely to suffer a stinging defeat with only two minor communist parties supporting them.

But if they lose, the rebels have threatened to pull the government down, form a parallel government and start a new revolt, albeit a "peaceful" one.

(IANS)

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