Lantern Festival Celebrated in Patan

EDUCAST, The Chinese Embassy in Nepal organised a Lantern Festival in Patan, Lalitpur, to mark the Chinese New Year, highlighting the long-standing friendship between Nepal and China. The ceremony was held at the historic Patan Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and featured cultural performances by artists from both countries, showcasing traditional songs and dances.

Speaking at the event, Minister for Law and Justice Anil Kumar Sinha said that festivals and cultural exchanges strengthen people-to-people relations and deepen mutual understanding between nations. He noted that Nepal and China share ties from antiquity, and that their modern diplomatic relationship is based on mutual respect, cooperation, and development partnership.

Referring to the Trans-Himalayan Multidimensional Connectivity Network, Minister Sinha lauded China’s assistance in Nepal’s development and infrastructure sectors. Newly appointed Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Zhang Maoming also extended New Year greetings and stressed the importance of people-level relations in strengthening bilateral ties. He said Nepal and China are ancient civilisational nations and that mutual learning is key to development.

Ambassador Zhang further said the Global Civilisation Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, aims to promote shared progress and human development. He pledged to work toward implementing agreements signed by leaders of the two countries for a shared future of prosperity.

Meanwhile, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari warned against publishing opinion poll results related to the upcoming House of Representatives election, saying it could mislead voters and discourage candidates. Addressing an interaction with social media groups and content creators, he said the election code of conduct is meant to ensure free and fair polls, not restrict freedom of expression.

Bhandari urged the media and digital creators to avoid spreading misinformation, including AI-generated content. Election Commission Secretary Krishna Bahadur Raut said artists and creators are goodwill ambassadors for voter education. Humorist Manoj Gajurel and former Miss Nepal contestant Nanu Singh Thakuri also called for sharing credible, factual information to ensure a successful election.