Sithi Nakha is a traditional indigenous cultural festival of the residents of Kathmandu Valley and nearby districts like Kavre, Makwanpur etc. Sithi Nakha falls on sixth day of the bright half of the month of Jetha (MAY/JUN). It is celebrated at the onset of the rainy season. People believe that the rulers of water Nagas (Snake) leave the wells for other destinations, as the water reduces because of the driest period of the year. So during this period time, the Local Newar community cleans ponds, rivers banks, historic importance stone spouts, and dug wells in their locality as festival of cleaning water sources. It is perceived as ?Local Nepali Water Day?and ?Environment Festival? of the Newar community in valley.

This year it occurred on June 4. Marking Sithi Nakha, Government of Nepal the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers has decided to organize a two-day nationwide clean-up campaign on June 4 and 5 with the theme ?Clean Village and Clean City, Only Wish of All Nepalese ?with a view to encouraging people to act on environmental degradation at the local level which was concluded by marking the World Environment Day 2014.?Raise Your Voice, Not the Sea level?.

The Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Political parties, Civil society, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Local Youth clubs, Mothers groups, Social organisations participated in the clean-up program of all 35 wards in Kathmandu district. ?The KMC office, coordinated with more than 300 youth clubs, schools and other groups, where nearly 50,000 people participated in their cleanup campaign.? Said Hari Kunwar, Chief of Environment Department of KMC.(The Republic Media, 2014).

 I participated in the following city cleanup program from Patan, Lalitpur. From Saugal Stone Spot the cleaning program was started. Chief District Officers, Lalitpur Sub Metropilitan Officials, Social Organizations, Civil Society and Local from Thapahiti, Hakha, Mangal Bazar, Sundhara more than 1000 enthusiastically participated in the program. We cleaned up Sundhara (Golden) Stone Spouts, Sugal Spout, Thapahiti Spouts. After the program I went home to celebrate the Ritual festival at home. We eat typically a Newari Dish  called Bara( Wo: in Newari) made of maas, black lentil, and mugi, kidney beans, kasu, small peas ground, which highly contain proteins. This day it the major food for the day. Neighbour, Relatives, Friends are called to mark the festival.

So I celebrate my World environment Day 2014 a day before on June 4, celebrating traditional festival and cleaning our water resources of community area before monsoon. I am pleased that government addressed and emphasis this festival nationwide for people participation for environmental conservation.