World Cancer Day | Skanda Sasti | Achala Saptami

World cancer day
2025

Uniting our voices and taking action
The theme for World Cancer Day 2025–2027 is "United by Unique". The theme focuses on people-centered care and the stories of those affected by cancer.

2025, is the ultimate year of voices and taking actions. This year, World cancer day strongly demands our commitment for a cancer-free world. The most crucial effort against cancer is determining who are you and what will you do against this pandemic? Let's create a solidarity against cancer and create a change in our neighborhood, community, and cities.

World cancer day is an international day observed for raising awareness and encouraging treatment, detection, and prevention of cancer. This is also a global initiative that targets supporting the cancer community, minimize the the global burden of cancer prevalence, advocate for gender equity, and to ensure that the integration of cancer will be done in global and national development agendas and strategic planning. This day of February 4th is a single initiative where an entire world can gather together to fight against the global epidemic of cancer.

Before some decades, cancer was a rarely heard disease in Nepal but these years it's been a common phenomenon of death. Let's just relook, how many neighbors, dear ones, relatives, family members, and friends have we lost due to cancer? The cancer epidemic is rapidly expanding and we all are under the radar of cancer. However, the early detection of cancer and proper treatment can avoid cancer-related death and deliver a normal life to the people, so every February 4th of the year is globally driven by the motive of raising awareness and commitment against cancer.

Considerable facts about the global cancer epidemic.
Every year almost 9.6 million people die from cancer.

This is more than HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis combined. This is the second leading cause of death on this planet.

It is projected that by 2030, cancer-related deaths will hit 13 million every year. More than one-third of the cancer cases are preventable and the remaining one third can be treated if diagnosed in its earlier stage, by early detection and treatment we can save 3.6 million lives per year.

So this is the time to act against cancer, it’s a high time to speak out and stand up for a cancer-free world. World cancer day delivers a global message to the world and asks to catalyze the government, personal and collective actions against cancer. Cancer has been a major cause of death on this planet and its increasing trend will sooner have a devastating impact upon the world population. This day aims to save millions of preventable deaths each year by raising awareness against cancer, raising education about cancer, and sensitize governments and individuals across the world to fight against the cancer epidemic.

The medical science that studies cancer is called "Oncology" and cancer is called "ArbudRog" in Nepali and Hindi.

What is cancer?
Cancer refers to a large number of disease characterized by the development of the large number of abnormal cells that divides uncontrollably. This development dictates the infiltration and destruction of normal body tissues. Normally cancer holds the ability to spread throughout the body.

The risk factors of cancer are your age, your habits, your family history, health conditions, and the environment you live and work.

To how prevent cancer generally?
Stop smoking, avoid excessive sun exposure, eat a healthy diet, exercise most days of a week, maintain a healthy weight, drink alcohol in moderation if you choose to drink, schedule cancer screening tests, and ask your physician about immunizations are considerably the generic steps in preventing cancer.

Today we know more about cancer than ever before, through investing in research, innovation, and root causes, knowledge, and interventions, we have witnessed extraordinary breakthroughs. The more we know and raise awareness, the more we can progress in reducing risk factors, increasing prevention, and improving cancer diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and care.

Commenced in 2000, world cancer day has grown into a positive movement for everyone, everywhere to join hands together for a single voice against cancer in combating the greatest health challenges in the history of mankind.

Together we can reach the target of reducing the number of premature deaths from cancer and non-communicable diseases by one-third by 2030.

Join us on 4 February and speak out and stand up for a cancer-free world.
Our time to act is now.

Skanda Sasthi



Skanda is the name of Kumar Kartikeya, elder son of Lord Shiva
Skanda, the eldest son of Lord Shiva, also known as Kumar Kartikeya. Kumar Kartikeya is worshiped on the 6th day of Skanda. Skanda Shashti is celebrated every month on the sixth day of Shukla Paksha.

It is believed that if one can remember Kumar Kartikeya and mother Parvati by fasting and worshiping on this day, the obstacles will be removed.

The Mantra for Skanda Puja

देव सेनापते स्कन्द कार्तिकेय भवोद्भव, कुमार गुह गांगेय शक्तिहस्त नमोस्तु ते॥
ऊँ ऐं हुं क्षुं क्लीं कुमाराय नमः
ऊँ नमः पिनाकिने इहागच्छ इहातिष्ठ
ऊँ नमः पशुपतये

Today worship is started by setting up a lamp urn and setting up an idol of Lord Ganesha.
May the glory of Skanda Shashti alleviate the sufferings of all.

Achala Saptami



Also called Rath Saptami and Arogya Saptami

Winter is coming down, The sun (Surya Narayan) has gone in Uttarayana's direction. After the descent begins, many traditions are developed to absorb the energy and speed of the sun. The Tithi of Saptami today is very important and this Saptami is known as Achala Saptami i.e. Rath Saptami and Arogya Saptami.

This day, which falls on the seventh day of Magh Shukla Paksha, is also believed to be the date of birth of Lord Surya. It is said that fasting and worshiping on this day will bring health, happiness, and positive energy.

It is believed that the seven horses of Lord Surya would enthrone Lord Surya on the divine chariot/ Rath on this day and start running all year round, hence this tithi is also called Rath Saptami.

Bratkatha of Achala Saptami
Durbasa rishi visited lord Krishna and during his visit, Lord Krishna's son Shambha humiliated Durbasa for his weak body and physics. Upon his anger, Rishi Durbasa cursed Shambha to have ailments and afflictions in his body.
Later, realizing the mistake of his son, Lord Krishna asked his son to fast on Achala Saptami and rever lord Sun.
Later, the son grants him rid of all afflictions.

Achala Saptami thus became more important to mankind.

Best wishes to all on today's special tithi.

-Suyog Dhakal