REPLACING TRADITIONAL SYSTEM BHATTAS, BHANDARIS WILL BE PAID FROM SUNDAY AT PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE

MORE THAN 100KG NEPALI HASH SEIZED EVEN IN LHASA
Kathmandu, 3 April: Customs office in Tibetan capital of Lhasa seized contraband, including drugs, ivory, pangolin carcasses and pashmina wool worth nearly Rs 533 million last year. Chinese news agency Xinhua also reported that one of the largest cases involved
In smuggling of 100.56 kg cannabis resin from Nepal that was seized on
March 22, 2011. The cannabis resin was being taken to Shenzhen, a city near Hong Kong, Nirmal Shrestha reports in The Kathmandu Post from Hong Kong.
Xinhua quoted Wang Wenxi, chief of Lhasa customs, as saying the case allowed police to bust a cross-border smuggling ring and to maintain the market order. Besides illegal drugs, Lhasa customs also confiscated 72.25 kg of ivory, 5.4 kg of pangolin carcasses and 267.7 kg of pashmina wool.
The customs officials also seized Tibetan antelope cashmere being smuggled through the Zham port to Nepal on September 13. One suspect was also arrested.
Nirmalhari Adhikari, chief of Tatopani Customs Office on Nepal side, said they were actively involved in the task of checking cross-border smuggling, noting that the Tatopani customs have confiscated a huge quantity of contraband, including red sandalwood, pangolin carcasses and illegal drugs.
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SALARY FOR PASHUPATI BHATTAS, BHANDARIS REPLACING TRADITIONAL SYSTEM FROM SUNDAY

Kathmandu, 3 April: Bhattas and bhandaris of Pashupatinath temple will be appointed Sunday with monthly salary ranging from Rs, 300,00 to Rs 167,300, Arjun
Subedi writes in Nagarik
Traditionally, bhattas and bhandaris shared offerings.
A traditional system will be replaced.
Daily records of offerings will be kept and deposited in the temple treasury for transparency.
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