Nepal Smiles-First

Photo by: Dipesh Shrestha

Local women of Patan are all smiles as they pull the chariot of Rato Macchendranath in Lagankhel.

Nepal Smiles-Third

Photo by: Bharat Gurung

A young girl from Ghansi Kuwa in Tanahun smiles for the camera.

Nepal Smiles-Second

Photo by: Bijay Gajmer

Two women share a light moment on the cell phone.

Sports 2nd Prize

Photo by: Sanjeev Kumar Moktan

Children play hop-skip in Marpha, Mustang. This childhood indulgence is a dying sport in urban areas as modern indoor games have taken their place.

Sports 3rd Prize

Photo by: Angad Dhakal

The homecoming National Cricket Team led by captain Paras Khadka are received by fans and well wishers after their historic participation and stellar performance at the T-20 World Cup 2014.

Sports 1st Prize

Photo by: Manoj Paudel

Wrestlers battle it out in an open-air competition in Dahnkauli, Kapilvastu.

Sports

Photo by: Rawjendra KC.

Two boxers exchange punches during the nationwide Novice boxing Championship held in Kathmandu. Championship bouts consists of 12 rounds and non-championship bouts consists of 10 rounds. An amateur bout however consists of four and the number of rounds gradually increases as the boxer turns pro.

Sports

Photo by: Bikash Dware

Two elephants vie for the ball in Chitwan.

Sports

Photo by: Yatra Thulung Rai

ANFA Dharan (black) and Nepal Police Club’s players struggle for the possession of the ball during their match in the 16th Budha Subba Gold Cup hosted by ANFA Dharan

Sports

Photo by: Sajeen Maharjan

A young girl takes a penalty shot as a young boy readies to defend the makeshift post.

Sports

Photo by: Nischal Oli

A participant takes her time before taking a dive in the Begnas Taal during the Himalayan Rush International Triathlon Championship.

Sports

Photo by: Kiran Pandey

River guide trainees practice raft flip drills during a white water rafting course in the Sunkoshi River. Nepal is a popular destination for water adventure sports.

Sports

Photo by: Shankar Bir Byanjankar

A Korean cyclist attempts an extreme downhill in an international downhill challenge hosted by Nepal.

Sports

Photo by: Surya Sunuwar

Football fans take shelter from the rain as they watch the final match of the Under 16 SAFF Championship between Nepal and India in Dasarath Rangasala.

Sports

Photo by: Sunil Sharma

Participants of the Tenzing Hillary Everest Marathon start their race from Gorakshep, near Khumbu Icefall. Nepalis continue to dominate top positions in this annual event, which is needless to say the world’s highest altitude marathon.

Sports

Photo by: Pemba Sherpa

National Football Team’s Captain Anil Gurung attempts a header which was later converted to a goal by Bharat Khawas during the SAFF Championship hosted by Nepal.

Sports

Photo by: Bijay Gajmer

Long jump athlete Keshari Chaudhari in action during the 6th National Games held in Dhangadi, Kailali.

Sports

Photo by: Sumit Shrestha

A solider of the Nepal Army Cavalry Unit slices a watermelon during a function held in Tundikhel to mark Ghoda Jatra.

Sports

Photo by: Dipesh Shrestha

Swimmer Tika Thapa in action during the 17th National Swimming Championship held at Satdobato Swimming Complex.

Sports

Photo by: Sumit Shrestha

Swimmer Tika Thapa in action during the 17th National Swimming Championship held at Satdobato Swimming Complex.

News

Photo by: NImesh Jung Rai

A couple travelling with their child hurry their way out of a cab after Maoist cadres suddenly start to vandalize vehicles in Putalisadak. The violent reactions were against the arrest of their colleague Ram Prasad Adhikari (Fugel Prakaran) and forced a half-day shutdown in the capital and Gorkha demanding his immediate release.

Sports

Photo by: Nawa Bijay Shrestha

A kid attempts to defend the wickets as he strikes the ball.

Sports

Photo by: Pemba Sherpa

Players from Bangladesh and India struggle it out for possession of the ball

News

Photo by: Lekh Nath Khatiwada

An old couple with disabilities find themselves in discomfort after heavy downpour floods the Gaushala road.

News

Photo by: Prakash Lama

Supporters of Khum Bahadur Khadka celebrate his release from prison with a garland weighing 111 kg. Khadka had served 14 months in prison after he was found guilty of abusing his power as the minister for Physical Planning and Works by embezzling a huge amount of state fund. October 2013.

News

Photo by: Prakash Timilsina

Students affiliated to Community Party of Nepal-Maoist try to set a running government vehicle on fire during their protest against rising petrol prices. The students even sprinkled petrol on the driver. March 2014.

Sports

Photo by: Subash Bahadur Bista

Children occupy the streets to play cricket during a shutdown called by a political party. Open spaces including playgrounds are insufficient in the capital city thanks to unplanned urbanization.

News

Photo by: Dipesh Shrestha

Radha Khadgi, mother of 8-year-old Samir Khadgi, a victim of the bomb blast during the second Constituent Assembly election, speaks to journalists as the seriously injured boy recovers from trauma and injury at Bir Hospital. November 2013.

News

Photo by: Prakash Timilsina

Members of the Senior Citizens Struggle Committee occupy the Min Bhawan junction to pressurize the government to ensure the 50% discount on transport fares as per the Senior Citizen Act 2006. Their other demands include a monthly social security allowance of Rs 3000 from the current allowance of Rs 500. Five senior citizens have died in the protests that started on March 7, 2013. April 2014.

News

Photo by: Pramod Shakya

Thousands of devotees participate in Nepal’s biggest religious procession – Dipankha Yatra, which crisscrosses major Tantric, Buddhist and Hindu shrines in Patan and Kathmandu. 2013.

News

Photo by: Dwarika Prasad Kafle

A nurse is rescued from a building in Kantipath which caught fire in its upper floors.

News

Photo by: Bijay Gajmer

An addict smokes marijuana in an abandoned building in the capital. The National Institute on Drug Abuse states that the majority of drug addicts in Nepal are between 16 to 20 years of age.

News

Photo by: Bijay Gajmer

Child mortality rate is high in Nepal especially in the far west region, where the under-five mortality rate for every 1000 births is 86 compared to the national rate of 54.

News

Photo by: Krishna Chandra Neupane

Local people join hands with Nepal Army and Nepal Police personnel to rescue injured people after a bus veered off the bridge and into the Madi River in Damauali. July 2013.

News

Photo by: Kiran Pandey

Threatened locals walk past the sinkholes in Thuli Besi in Armala VDC, Kaski. November 2013.

News

Photo by: Prakash Lama

A medical student points her finger on the face of a riot police personnel during demonstrations demanding an end to corruption in the medical education. January 2014.

News

Photo by: Sanjeev Kumar Moktan

A forest in Basantapur near Siddha Baba Mandir in Butwal is consumed by a wildfire. Wildfires are natural phenomenon and are triggered by hot and dry climate across the country.

News-Jury Mention

Photo by: Navesh Chitrakar

Family members use airport trolleys to transport the dead body of a Nepali migrant worker Pradip Bhandari, who according to his brother was killed in a workplace mishap in Malaysia. As per Department of Foreign Employment, some 3015 Nepali migrant workers died between mid-2006 to April 2014 with the highest number of deaths in Malaysia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Fifty-three Nepali workers died in Qatar between January and April 13 this year alone according to The Guardian. October 2013

News

Photo by: Sunil Pradhan

Nepal Police personnel try to control the hooligans during Rato Macchendranath Jatra. Jestha 2070.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Probin K

A Newari woman adorns herself in traditional attire during Gai Jatra.

News

Photo by: Bijay Rai

Firemen along with Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Nepal Armed Police personnel try to douse the fire that started in the squatter area in Sinamangal. March 2014.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Bikash Dware

A woman enjoys splashing mud to her friends during Asar 15 celebrations.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Hemanta Shrestha

A young girl enjoys a light moment while performing Ihi rituals in Baglamukhi Mandir, Patan.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Bijay Gajmer

A boy chases pigeons in Basantapur Durbar Square.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Aaditya Chand

Two boys play in the mud during Asar 15 celebrations.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Kiran Pandey

A Newari woman adorns herself in traditional attire during Gai Jatra.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Laxmi Prasad Ngakhushi

A young girl adorned as Goddess Kumari during the annual Kumari Puja in Basantapur Durbar Square.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Sanjeev Kumar Moktan

Two girls enjoy a splash in the mud in Parbash, Palpa as their guardians tend to the field.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Sumit Shrestha

Nepali Muslims exchange Eid-Mubarak wishes to each other after their prayers at Jame Masjid in Kathmandu.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Sumangal Mishra

A kid smiles as she takes a peek through her cusped hands.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Susheel Kumar Shrestha

A local boy enjoys his turn on the swing during Tihar in Lapsephedi VDC near Jarsing Pouwa.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Navesh Chitrakar

A girl smiles as she hugs a tree while participating in an attempt to break the Guiness World Record for the most number of people hugging trees for two minutes to mark the World Environment Day. A record number of 2001 people from different walks of life took part in the event on June 5, 2014 and created a new world record.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Sambid Bilas Pant

Children from Shree Champa Devi Secondary School smile for the camera as they enjoy their excursion to Chamapdevi Mandir.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Ajay Maharjan

“Happiness is real when shared.”

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Sambid Bilas Pant

Children from Shree Champa Devi Secondary School break into laughter as they pose for the camera.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Angad Dhakal

A kid smiles as she takes a peek through her cusped hands.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Yatra Thulung Rai

A Black Buck jumps in the forests of Khailapur in Baridya, far-west Nepal. Baridya is the last wild sanctuary in Nepal and is home to a number of exotic wildlife including the Royal Bengal Tigers.

Nepal Smiles

Photo by: Sambid Bilas Pant

A young girl in Basantapur Durbar Square smiles for the camera.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Santosh Manandhar

Annapurna Base Camp is one of the most sought after trekking route in Nepal and offers visitors a unique opportunity to experience Gurung culture and nature’s splendid splendors.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Bikash

A spider weaves a trap.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Bikram Rai

Birds take shelter atop a tree as the sun sets in Tau Daha.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Haishab Kishor Shrestha

A wild horse grazes by a serene pool in the Mustang region of Nepal.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Rajesh Dongol

A python wraps its coil around the mouse to squeeze its breath out before devouring it all down.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Birendra Bajracharya

Sagarmatha, known to the world as Mt. Everest, the world’s highest mountain basks in the morning glory.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Birendra Bajracharya

Pheriche Valley in all its glory as dawn sheds its first light.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Laxmi Prasad Ngakhushi

The forbidden kingdom of Lo Manthang has always fascinated the world with its vibrant colours, unique culture and architecture. In recent times, the interest in Lo Manthang region has increased with archaeological discoveries of a vibrant past often dubbed as the cave civilization.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Sumit Shrestha

A Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) in Tau Daha tosses a catfish before gulping it down. The Great Cormorants can dive considerable depths but they often feed in shallow waters.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Dipesh Shrestha

Two rhesus macaque monkeys perform acrobatics as they seek solace from the heat in the Bagmati River. Kathmandu’s temperature has witnessed a gradual rise in the past decade.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Mahesh Bajracharya

Early bird catches the fish in this case.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Aaditya Chand

A surreal sight of rocks on the way to Tilicho Taal, located near Manang in the Annapurna Region.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Sumit Shrestha

A male Baya Weaver (Ploceus philippinus) commonly known as the weaverbird chases another weaver from its hanging nest. Male weaverbirds build nests to attract females and defend their nests with aggression against intruders.

Daily Life

Photo by: Bibek Raj Shrestha

A young girl readies the orders of customers in a small sweetshop in Dattatreya Square, Bhaktapur.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Ayush Man Kayastha Nepal

Birds bond and show their affection for each other by regurgitating food.

Daily Life

Photo by: Rajendra Tarakini

An old man carries fodder in remote Nepal.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Dev Dongol

The Milky Way as seen over Khumbu Glacier located in the Khumbu region of northeastern Nepal between Sagarmatha and the Lhotse-Nuptse region. The glacier paves the way to Everest Base Camp and is the world’s highest glacier with elevations ranging from 4900m to 7600m at its terminus.

Daily Life

Photo by: Subhadra Shree Rajbhandari

Life is hard for folks who live in remote Baliya village in Chisapani, Kailali.

Nature and Wildlife

Photo by: Subash Bahadur Bista

Two elephant calves play with each other.

Daily Life

Photo by: Sailendra Kharel

A villager from the Chepang community in Mashkharka, Dhading carries bamboo strips fetched from the forest. The Chepangs make doko out of the bamboo strips, which is their seasonal source of income to survive the winter.

Daily Life

Photo by: NImesh Jung Rai

A young boy uses doko to catch fish in a moss laden Nag Pokhari in Kathmandu

Daily Life

Photo by: NImesh Jung Rai

A pedestrian struggles his way through the Maitighar-Koteswar road. The road expansion drive around town has been poorly managed and has only contributed to air pollution and heavy smog.

Daily Life

Photo by: Samir Baral

Despite restrictions to bathe and wash laundry in Phewa Taal, awareness to safeguard the ecological sanctity of the lake seems to have made no progress.

Daily Life

Photo by: Kiran Pandey

Kathmandu’s traffic comes to a standstill in Sundhara-Ratna Park junction, one of the capital’s major thoroughfares. With the number of private vehicles increasing each year, the government’s road expansion drive has done less to comfort its citizens.

Daily Life

Photo by: Manjil Joshi

A boy carries his sib on his back as he flies a kite

Daily Life-Jury Mention

Photo by: Sampurna Lal Manandhar

A brick kiln laborer works in extreme conditions while loading a truck at Champi, Patan. Most of these laborers are from Terai.

Photo by: Purna Chandra Neupane

Rowing to and fro from school on a kayak is a daily routine for this young girl from Anadu near Phewa Taal.

Daily Life

Photo by: Manish Paudel

Students struggle as they wade through the Banganga River in Kapilvastu with their school bags and bikes.

Daily Life

Photo by: Birendra Raj Bajracharya

A porter carries a massive load on his back as he makes his way to the Everest Base Camp.

Daily Life

Photo by: Bijay Gajmer

A fisherman returns home with his catch after spending a long day in the Sapta Koshi River in Sundari, where fishing is supplementary to traditional agriculture.

Daily Life

Photo by: Dev Dongol

A solitary shepherd guides his cattle for grazing in the limited high pastures of Mustang.

Daily Life

Photo by: Upendra Prasad Lamichhane

A farmer in Patan lays out the harvest from her field to dry in the sun. Kathmandu is the fastest growing South Asian city and this is possibly the last of the agriculture practices in the Valley.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Bibash Karmacharya

Way to mustang

Daily Life

Photo by: Kaushal Raj Sapkota

Caravan is a way of life for many people who dwell with their livestock in the Himalaya. Smoking chillum for these two shepherds from Mugu is a daily affair.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Keshav Thokar

Hindu women queue up to collect sacred water from the Bagmati River by the banks of the Pashupatinath complex during the month long fasting ritual called Madhav Narayan.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Anish Regmi

Youngsters sway to the beat of the music during an event hosted at Basantapur Durbar Square to mark Fagu Purnima, also known as the festival of colours.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Laxman Karmacharya

Devotees throng Changu Narayan mandir to practice rituals of the month-long fasting ritual called Shree Swosthani Brata.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Uma Bista

Breaking the age old tradition practiced only be men, women were recently allowed to receive the holy chhyang flowing out from a pipe adjusted to the giant mask of Sweta Bhairava during the annual Indra Jatra celebrations in the Kathmandu Valley.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Sanjeev Kumar Moktan

Monks perform a kora of the Ashoka Sthambha, which marks the birthplace of Shakyamuni Siddartha Gautam ‘Buddha’ in Lumbini.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Navesh Chitrakar

A woman from the Newar community applies paint on her lips and face and adorns herself as Goddess Kali to participate in a celebration parade to mark the Yomari Punhi. Newars observe the festival to celebrate the first harvest of the season.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Narayan Maharjan

Worshipping Bhairava is an integral part of all tantric cults in the Valley. Almost all chariot processions begin after a special puja to Bhairava, whose mask/paubha is installed on the front of the chariot, this one is of Rato Macchendranath.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Dipesh Shrestha

A family member applies kajal to seven-year-old Yunika Bajracharya, the newly chosen Kumari of Patan before she’s escorted to Kumari Ghar at Agnisal, Patan.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Birendra Raj Bajracharya

The Khumbu region in eastern Nepal draws many tourists visiting Nepal for high altitude trekking

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Manish Paudel

A young Muslim says his prayers on the eve of Eid at a masjid in Birgunj.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Ajaya Manandhar

An infant scribbles alphabets on the walls of a mandir in the Swayambhunath complex during Shree Panchami. On this day, devotees worship Goddess Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge. Children are also taught their first alphabets, which they scribble on the walls.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Bishal Gautam

Local devotees pull the chariot during Bisket Jatra in Bhaktapur.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Ajaya Manandhar

A woman from the Tharu community flaunts her dancing skills during an event hosted in Tundhikhel to mark Maghe/New Year.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Susheel Kumar Shrestha

Jhankris gather and perform their rituals in Dev Ghat, Chitwan on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Rakesh Prasad Chaudhary

Women devotees from the Madhesh community worship the rising sun to mark Chhath celebrations in Jaleswar.

Culture and Tourism

Photo by: Sunil Pradhan

A man carries his mother as she performs rituals during Matatirtha Aunshi, or Mother's Day, at Mata Tirtha mandir.