KATHMANDU: While Nepal’s state-controlled media downplayed reports of Maoist violence so that the army could host its traditional new year’s bash on Sunday (April 14), the country’s leading astrologers were saying that the new year, Bikram era 2059, will be worse than the preceding year.

The massacre at the royal palace on June 1 last is being seen as the most striking event of the year gone by. King Birendra, Queen Aishwarya and eight other members of the royal family lost their lives in an unprecedented shootout allegedly carried out by Crown Prince Dipendra.

The new year is unlikely to be beneficial to Nepal, forecasts royal astrologer Mangal Raj Joshi.

The planetary position of Mars and Saturn, sitting close to each other, is not indicative of a good period ahead.

Joshi’s interpretations are being shared by several other Nepali astrologers writing weekly columns in major newspapers.

From their point of view, Nepal may see its worst phase of the new year in the days between April 27 and May 20.

On the international front, Nepal’s astrologers predict a bitter border conflict between India and Pakistan over Kashmir.

On the Israel-Palestinian conflict, Sharma forecasts that war will reach a decisive phase in a not-too-distant future.

Western powers are likely to launch a new offensive against Iraq, prompting Muslim nations to forge greater unity, he added.

Sights and effects of suicide squads will cease to be extraordinary events, according to the astrologer.