Submit your Article

The “Navaratri,” a nine-night festival celebrated as Bada Dashain, has officially begun today, marking a significant occasion for Hindus across the world. 

Ghatasthapana takes place on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, which is the first day of the bright half of the lunar month Ashoj or Kartik. 

As per the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, the auspicious time for Ghatasthapana this year is set for 11:47 am today. 

During this sacred hour, devotees worship the deity Shailaputri. 

The festival is a time to honor various deities, including Bhramacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalaratri, Mahagauri, and Siddhidrati. 

The first day is dedicated to worshipping Shailaputri through Vedic rituals and preparing for Jamara (barley shoots) by sowing maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil and cow dung to encourage germination. 

Additionally, prayers are offered to Durga Bhavani, the goddess of power, today. 

The germination of the auspicious “Jamara” also begins at Hanumandhoka Dashain Ghar, following Vedic traditions. 

The committee has designated 10:26 am as the most favorable time for Dashain tika on October 21 (Kartik 4) this year.

With Dashain, the biggest festival of Nepal, approaching, crowds have gathered at ticket counters in New Bus Park, Kathmandu as advance booking for bus travel opens from today.

There is a queue-up of passengers at ticket counters to secure tickets for long and short route vehicles. 

President of Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, Punya Prasad Sitaula, said advance ticket booking has been opened for long and short-route public vehicles providing services across the country. 

Meanwhile, Chief of New Bus Park Police Sector, Shankar Shrestha, said that strong security arrangements have been placed at New Bus Park as well as other areas in view of any untoward incidents  during festivals.

As informed, plain-police police personnel have been mobilized for the same. 

Department of Transport Management at the Nepal Police, and transport entrepreneurs and workers on Tuesday decided to open advance ticket booking for festival target transport services. 

The Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is set to install and operate traditional 'linge ping' (swing) at various tourist destinations across the country during Dashain festival in a bid to link the country's traditional cultures and festivities with tourism promotion.

The traditional swing is especially associated with the Dashain festival. 

It is usually made by erecting two tall, strong wooden or bamboo poles and tying a long rope between them. 

A wooden seat is installed on the rope at the bottom where people sit and swing high above the ground. 

The Tourism Heritage and Tourism Development Division of the NTB said that the swings would be installed in Kathmandu Valley and other tourist destinations in collaboration with local governments and tourism-related organizations to promote cultural tourism.

To implement this plan, the Board is coordinating efforts with the Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Kirtipur Municipality, Changunarayan Municipality, Bhaktapur Tourism Development Committee, Thamel Tourism Development Committee, Himalayan Rescue Association, Trekking Agencies’ Association of Nepal (TAAN), Hotel Association Nepal, Hotel Entrepreneurs Federation and hotel and tourism associations in various provinces, informed the Board. 

Under the agreements signed among the stakeholders, the traditional swings will be set up at selected tourist destinations and operated throughout the Dashain festival.

Priority will be given to locations that attract large numbers of visitors. 

Also places that are deemed suitable for cultural activities will be accorded priority for installation of linge ping.

The agreement also requires the concerned local governments and organizations to ensure necessary safety measures, manage crowds and take steps to minimize the risk of accidents during the operation of the swings.

The stakeholders will also be responsible for dismantling the swings after the Dashain festivities and restoring the sites to their original condition, it is stated in the agreement. 

The Board said that the initiative aims to preserve and promote Nepal’s traditional culture, customs and festivals while further fostering cultural tourism. 

Ticket booking for passengers travelling home for this year's Dashain will open on October 9.   

A meeting held today between the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs and the Department of Transportation Management made the decision to this effect. 

Federation Chair Punya Prasad Sitaula and Department's Director General Rajeev Pokharel represented their respective sides at the meeting. 

Speaking after the meeting, Director General Pokharel said the Department is committed to making public transportation during Dashain safe, accessible, and well-managed. 

During the festival especially in Dashain, there is a significant increase in the number of passengers travelling from Kathmandu Valley to their hometowns. 

According to Pokharel, coordination among the bodies concerned including transport entrepreneurs is necessary to ensure that each aspiring passenger can get tickets conveniently and reach the destination safely and comfortably.

The House of Representatives (HoR), Infrastructure Development Committee has directed the bodies concerned for making the travel of passengers easy, safe, dignified and well-managed in view of the approaching big festivals such as Bada Dashain, Deepawali and Chhath, among others.

Committee President Ashish Gajurel said that the directive was given based on the suggestions, advice, and constructive ideas received after the discussion in today's committee meeting.

He said that instructions have been given to operate sufficient vehicles according to passenger demand during festivals like Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath, operate vehicles from designated bus parks, sell tickets from stipulated places, and ensure passengers board and get off only in safe areas.

The committee has instructed the relevant authorities to arrange services, passenger help desks, and necessary facilitation for persons with disabilities, senior citizens, women, and children.

Keeping in mind the surge in travel during festivals, the committee has called attention of the authorities concerned to assessing road conditions and potential risks in advance, preparing alternative routes, conducting technical checks on vehicles, ensuring drivers get enough rest, and controlling speed.

The meeting directed the relevant bodies to control the practice of carrying more passengers than capacity, ensure effective implementation of the integrated bus park policy, and maintain necessary coordination among the related agencies.

The committee has instructed the ministry to prepare and implement an immediate action plan that makes it easy for travelers to get tickets, ensures the effective enforcement of fares, and has a strong system for addressing complaints, so that situations where travelers can't get tickets, have to pay more than the set fare, or face irregularities or fraud with tickets are prevented.

The committee has decided to select MP Rajunath Pandey as a member of the subcommittee that was earlier set up to make public transportation easier, smoother, more organized, and orderly during festivals like Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath.

It has also instructed the relevant authorities to ensure travelers are not cheated on the price or quality of consumables like drinking water, snacks, and meals in the course of the road travel. 

Tihar, the most awaited festival after Dashain for many, is in the corner. People wait for this festival for many reasons, like lights, colors, and probably money they receive as dakshina. I love them all. But the most important aspect that every Nepali person waits for is the day when we light the house with diyos (traditional oil lamps made with clay). Every year, thousands of diyos are bought by many to light up their house. In the pottery square of Bhaktapur, many potters are seen drying their clay works in the sun. The area is made in such a way where the sun rays don’t fade away till evening. Every shop has divided their area to dry their work in the same ground. Traditionally, people from the Prajapati caste are involved in the work of creating clay and earthenware products. But today, this job is not just limited to the Prajapatis.

Samir Dhonju got into this profession because he was interested in the artistic work that goes into making earthenware goods.  “There was a time when this work was associated with people a certain caste, but things have changed these days. I really enjoy working with clay and making various products,” he says.  Dhonju has been doing this for a year now and he wishes other youths like him to join the profession. “There is certainly a good scope in this line of work, but many young people just don’t want to get their hands dirty,” he adds. Dhonju enjoys the creativity involved in making clay products.  

Shiva Prasad Prajapati, who has continued his family generational profession, says his family shop has existed since the Malla period, making it one of the oldest in his neighborhood. 

“Almost 8 or 9 generations of my family have followed this craft,” he says. For this year’s Tihar festival, he has already made around 200,000 diyos. “I started working before the Dashain festival and I’ve already sent the diyos to the market, which is why there isn’t much rush in my shop,” he says. 
His diyos are delivered to places like Kathmandu, Kavre, and Barhabise.  

Shiva Prasad sells a dozen diyos for Rs 40, while 100 pieces can cost up to Rs 400 depending on demand. He says the clay used in making diyos are not readily available these days. 

“We used to collect the clay from forests around Doleshwor and Suryabinayak, but now it’s illegal. So we have to go through a proper tender process to procure clay these days, which makes it costlier,” he adds. 

Not far away from Shiva Prasad’s shop, Ranjana Prajapati is busy drying freshly made diyos. She started the shop some nine years ago and made a good earning, until people started using electric lights instead of traditional diyos to light up their homes during Tihar. 

“The demands for diyos have definitely gone down, but the demand has not entirely died out,” she says. “Diyo demand shoots up during the time of Tihar, because there are still many people who understand the cultural and traditional values of lighting diyos.”   

In the run-up to the Tihar festival, Ranjana has already made 10,000 diyos, which she says is far fewer than in the previous years. 

Ranjana fears hers will be the last generation to continue her family profession, as her children are not interested in pottery making.  

Budhi Ram Prajapati, who is in his seventies, didn’t make any diyos for this year’s Tihar. “Demands have gone down, and I can’t make diyos with the same speed and precision like in my heydays,” he says. 

There was a time when he could make up to 35,000 diyos all by himself. Today, only Budhi Ram and his wife run their clay workshop. Their children left the generational craft to pursue more lucrative enterprises. 

Budhi Ram notes the contradiction: while the number of households is rising, the demand for diyos is falling.    

For Aakash Karmacharya, however, traditional diyo lamps hold deep cultural significance.“I love the warm glow of diyos. I find them far better than those distracting LED lights,” he says. Karmacharya is one of those people who prefers traditional practice over convenience of modernity when observing a cultural festival like Tihar.  

For generations, potters in Bhaktapur and beyond have shaped these symbols of light with care and devotion, their hands preserving a legacy that goes far beyond decoration. Though challenges like rising costs and fading demand persist, the spirit behind each diyo remains strong.

“While electric lights may be easier and more convenient, the humble diyos hold a deeper meaning of culture, craft, and community, and it is our responsibility to preserve the tradition,” says Karmacharya. 

Dashain had us feasting till we couldn’t budge and now as we prepare for Tihar we have a million things to do that leaves us with little to no time to exercise. But we know we must move our bodies, not just to shed the holiday weight but to keep our bodies fit and agile in the long run. Here’s how you can squeeze in some exercise into your daily routine despite the festive frenzy.

Dance to a song

Play your favorite song and dance to it. Do it first thing in the morning as this will not only get exercise out of your way but also set a nice tone to your day. There are also dance workouts on YouTube that you can follow. But you also don’t need any guidance for this and that’s the good part. Simple dance your heart out.

Walk or jog on spot 

A quick walk or a jog can complete your exercise quota of the day but if you find yourself unable to go out because it’s raining or too sunny, then walking or jogging indoors, on spot, can solve your problem. The good thing is you can do this at any time and in bursts. Simply set a timer for three or five minutes and get moving.

Play with your pet 

If you have a pet, then this idea is like killing two birds with one stone. It’s a great way to cheer up as well as get some much-needed exercise. Get into the habit of playing with your pet every morning and evening. Take them for a run or grab a ball and play fetch. Just make sure it’s not too hot out when you do this.

Chair workouts

If you find yourself stuck at the office or working for long stretches at home, then chair workouts can come to your rescue. You can do seated leg lifts, where you just raise your heels up from the floor, shoulder shrugs, where you simply move your shoulders up and down, and many other such easy exercises without getting up from your seat. There are plenty of apps that can guide you.

Full body workout

Make a list of five exercises you can do in quick succession like jumping jacks, squats, push ups, high knees, and the plank and do each of these for a minute. You can customize your own set of exercises making sure you get a full body workout. This might sound easy but trust us you will be sweating in no time.

With Dashain parties and visitors coming over all throughout the day, our kitchens might have seen better days. It’s a small price to pay for reconnecting with loved ones but now it’s time to get rid of the grime and we’re sure you aren’t looking forward to it just like us. The thing with cleaning hacks is that sometimes they don’t work and leave you with a bigger mess than you started out with. Which is why we are sharing some of our tried and tested ones with you today. 

Baking soda to the rescue

You can clean all kinds of messes and stains with baking soda. Clean your sink with baking soda and lemon. Sprinkle some baking soda on your kitchen sink and let it sit for a few minutes. Use half a lemon to scrub the sink after that and wash with water. Your stainless steel sink will look brand new as you will easily be able to get rid of water marks and stains with this easy cleaning trick. You can also make a paste of baking soda with water and apply it to cookware, ovens, and stovetops and let that sit for 15 to 30 minutes before scrubbing it clean. Baking soda with dish soap or vinegar is also a great cleaning agent. Baking soda also helps get rid of bad odor.

Use a toothbrush to get to difficult places

Oven racks, blender blades, kitchen tile joints—there are some places in the kitchen that are hard to reach and thus usually a little dirty. But they don’t need to be. All you need is an old toothbrush and some cleaning solution and you can have these difficult areas shiny and new in no time. To clean the oven rack and blender blades, tie two toothbrushes together with the bristles facing each other. This way the bristles will cover the wire from all sides and it will be easier to scrub. You can also run a toothbrush over the tile joints in your kitchen and give them a thorough scrub to get rid of the grit and grime.

Make things sparkle with lemon and vinegar

You don’t need strong chemical agents to clean anything in your kitchen. All of us have lemon and vinegar in our pantries and just these two ingredients are enough to get rid of the strongest stains and odors. Microwave lemon in a bowl of water to clean your oven. Let it run for three minutes and then keep the oven door closed for an additional five minutes. The steam will help loosen the gunk attached to the walls as well as make it smell fresh. Give it a good wipe down when done and your oven will look brand new. Use lemon and salt to clean your cutting boards. Simply sprinkle some salt on the board and scrub it with half a lemon. Place lemon peels on the fridge door to get rid of odor. Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water to create an all purpose spray for the kitchen. This solution can be used to clean countertops and cabinets.

On the occasion of the Bada Dashain festival, the Fulpati is being taken into the homes as per tradition throughout the country today. 

Fulpati, an assortment of flowers, leaves and fruits of different plants considered auspicious, is anointed at the Dashain Ghar on the seventh day of the Bada Dashain festival. 

The Fulpati is brought to Kathmandu as per the Vedic rites to be anointed at the Dashain Ghar at the Hanuman Dhoka Durbar. 

The Gurujyuko Platoon, the Nepal Army, Nepal police, and high-ranking officials of Armed Police and civil service, the Asha Gurja team, band music, and panchebaja bands and decorated kalsyoulis, and a procession along with cultural pageantry leave Hanuman Dhoka for Jamal with the Fulpati. 

During the monarchy, the King, as the Head of State, used to attend the Fulpati ritual at Dashain Ghar, but with the foundation of the Republic, the Minister for Culture is attending, said the Durbar Museum Development Committee. 

The auspicious hour to bring the Fulpati this year is fixed at 4:30 pm. It was informed that the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and local level representatives in Kathmandu were invited to attend the rituals. 

Though the Dashain festival begins from Ghatasthapana, the festival sees special fervor from the day of Fulpati. 

All governments, as well as private offices, close down from today encouraging people to go back to their respective ancestral homes and take blessings from Durga Bhawani as well as their elders. 

At least 3, 908 police personnel are to be mobilized in Karnali in view of the security vulnerabilities during Dashain, Tihar and Chhath festivals, the Provincial Police Office has stated.

The Office has prepared the 'Integrated Festival Security Action Plan 2082' and plans to deploy security personnel along with drones, said the provincial police office spokesperson and senior superintendent of police Kedar Khanal.

According to him, the security plan will be implemented from September 22 to October 27.

Security officials said that there is a risk of additional criminal incidents during the festive season, as prisoners fleeing from different prisons during the Gen-Z protests may return to their homes and the looted arms and ammunition might be misused.

SSP Khanal informed that a planned police deployment, monitoring, and control are necessary to prevent any untoward incidents, and security plans have been made and implemented for that purpose. 

He said that 53 mobile patrols, 112 motorcycle patrols, 92 quick response teams (rapid response teams) have been deployed along with 178 on-foot patrols. Additionally, 20 long and short-distance patrols have also been deployed.

To further strengthen security arrangements, police pickets have been kept at 130 locations, while regular, special, and emergency checks are being conducted at 92 locations. SSP Khanal added that a joint check involving traffic has been conducted at 75 locations.

The Department of Immigration has decided to keep the tourist visa and agency units open during the Dashain public holidays, except for the day of Tika. 

The department has stated that the services provided by the tourist visa and agency units will be operated from 11 am to 1 pm during the public holidays from September 29 to October 3. 

However, the services will be closed down on the dashami i.e. on October 2.

Department's Immigration Officer Shiva Kumar Adhikari published a notice informing that the services will be operated on all days except the main day during the public holidays of Bada Dashain festival.

Talking about Dashain in 1969, a woman from Bhaktapur recalls her childhood experience. She remembers her local Guthi (community-based trust) sacrificing buffaloes for the festival, families wearing new clothes—mostly stitched at home and sent to Chipa (cloth dyer)—and receiving 25 paisa from her parents as Dashain dakshina (offering). Her parents saved money for the festival by selling chilies and potatoes.

She also remembers children flying handmade kites and buying colorful ribbons for herself. To earn a little extra, she and her friends would work at night under the light of a tuki (oil lamp) to design Dhaka topi (traditional Nepali hat).

By 1991, when she was 30 and living in Satdobato, Lalitpur, with her husband and three children, Dashain celebrations had begun to change. Meat cost around Rs 80 per kilogram, and although kite flying remained a part of the festival, kites were now bought from shops, and the family’s excitement revolved around new clothes and festivities.

Now at 63, she feels the meaning of Dashain has evolved into something else. In the past, people eagerly waited for the festival just for the chance to eat meat and wear new clothes. These days, children are absorbed in their mobile phones, and the spirit of festivity and family gatherings have been lost in time.

“I have celebrated Dashain throughout my life, and it is still my favorite festival. But now, things have changed. Back then, even though we had vacation homework, I used to feel completely free during Dashain. Those nine days of festival holidays carried excitement and joy. I especially loved putting on tika and jamara, and the blessings offered by our elders felt pure and heartfelt,” she says. 

Today, Dashain has become a perfunctory affair. Rather than enjoying the company of their loved ones, most people are busy posting their festival photos and videos on their social media.

Kristina Shrestha, a college student, agrees that the Dashain celebrations have changed over time, especially after the rise of social media.

“Dashain once felt like a festival of peace and unity. Now the atmosphere has shifted. The recent Gen Z protests showed that most of the youths are deeply involved in activism and social media, and for them, scrolling through their phones for news updates and putting up social media posts are more important.”

Shrestha’s friend Nanzana Sunuwar says busy schedules have reduced the time for rituals and family gatherings. “People often prioritize convenience over tradition. Social media glamorizes Dashain, often turning it into a show of appearances. Digital validation has become more important than real-life experiences.”

Sunuwar believes social media platforms should be used to preserve tradition through education, storytelling, and organizing celebratory events. 

Sayan Shakya, 20, maintains a positive view on Dashain celebrations. “I enjoy the overall vibe of Dashain and I haven’t noticed much difference in how the festival is celebrated,” he says. “Although I’m not fond of posting on social media platforms, I still think social media has allowed us to connect with others and to see how the people from different communities celebrate Dashain.”

Shakya’s sister, Sanjita, 22, offers a different view. “While a barrage of social media posts may not directly harm our traditions, I do believe that the essence of enjoying the moment and having genuine fun with your loved ones is gradually getting lost.”

Rachana Magar, a student, says as many people today are busy with jobs and studies, they can’t travel back to their villages or spend much time with their families even during the festival season. 

“Dashain feels shorter and less traditional these days. Photos and outfits often take center stage, making Dashain more like a fashion show than a family tradition,” she adds.

She suggests balance as a way forward. “Families can organize fun activities and games together, teach younger members the meaning behind rituals, and blend tradition with modern fun through cooking, decorating, or storytelling. At the same time, limiting screen time during gatherings can help everyone focus on real interactions and create more meaningful memories.”

Dashain, once a festival defined by simple joys and family gatherings, is undergoing a profound transformation. From handmade kites and tika worn with pride to the modern preoccupation with social media, urbanization, and consumerism, the ways people celebrate have shifted across generations. While some find that technology can broaden understanding of traditions, others worry that the essence of fun, connection, and cultural ritual is gradually being lost.

Yet, amid these changes, the memories and stories of past Dashains remind us of the festival’s enduring spirit, a spirit that can survive when we consciously balance modern life with the heartfelt celebration of tradition. 

With Dashain aura in the air, more than 189,000 people left the Kathmandu Valley in the last five days. 

According to the Kathmandu Valley Traffic Police Office, such numbers of passengers moved outside the Kathmandu Valley in 29,360 public vehicles from September 17 to 21. The vehicles left the federal capital via Thankot, Sanga, Dakshinkali and Balaju check points.

Deputy Superintendent of Police at the Office, Lokendra Singh Guru, informed that people hailing from different parts of the country and living in the Kathmandu Valley for study, business, and employment have started heading towards their hometowns to celebrate Dashain festival. 

Total 34,556 passengers left Kathmandu Valley on September 17 while 36,100 on September 18, 40,555 on September 19, 34,879 on September 20 and 43,124 on September 21. 

Similarly, General Secretary of the Federation of Nepalese National Transport Entrepreneurs, Dek Nath Gautam, opined that problems had surfaced in movement of vehicles along many highways this year due to landslides. Thousands of vehicles were stranded due to obstruction of the Muglin-Narayangadh road section for hours, he added, urging the government to make prompt efforts to resume the highways soon.  

A huge number of people started thronging New Bus Park, Gongabu to secure bus tickets for heading towards villages to celebrate the biggest festival of Hindu people, Dashain.

More than 15,000 passengers are now leaving Kathmandu Valley from New Bus Park every day while this number in other normal days recorded 4,000-5,000, mentioned Gautam.

Devotees have thronged the goddess temples and shrines throughout the country on the occasion of the Ghatasthapana today, the first day of the Bada Dashain festival. 

A large number  of devotees could be seen at the Bhadrakali temple, Guheshwari temple, Maitidevi temple, among other shrines to pay homage to the goddesses. 

Deity Shailaputri is worshipped for observing Ghatastapana on the auspicious hour. 

The first day is being marked by worshipping the deity Shailaputri in accordance with Vedic rituals and preparing for Jamara (barley shoots) by sowing maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil and cow dung for germination.   

Similarly, throngs of devotees also visited Dakshinkali temple, Palanchok Bhagawati temple in Kavre, and Manakamana temple in Gorkha, Chhinnamasta temple in Saptari, Nuwakot Bhairavi temple in Nuwakot, Shaileshwari temple in Doti, Kalika Bhagawati temple in Baglung, Dantakali temple in Dharan, Ugratara temple in Dadeldhura, Siddhakali temple in Bhojpur, Bageshwari temple in Banke and Pathibhara temple in Taplejung.

The “Navaratri”, a nine-night festival known as Bada Dashain and a significant celebration for Hindus in Nepal, has commenced today.

Ghatasthapana falls on Ashwin Shukla Pratipada, the first day of the bright half of the lunar calendar month Asoj or Kartik.

According to the Nepal Calendar Determination Committee, the auspicious time for observing Ghatasthapana this year is at 9:13 am today. Deity Shailaputri is worshipped for observing Ghatastapana on the auspicious hour. The festival entails with reverence for deities such as Brhamacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayani, Kalarati, Mahagauri, and Siddhirati.

The first day is being marked by worshipping the deity Shailaputri in accordance with Vedic rituals and preparing for Jamara (barley shoots) by sowing maize and barley seeds in a jar filled with soil and cow dung for germination.   

Prayers are also offered to Durga Bhavani, the goddess of power today. Germination of the auspicious “Jamara” is also initiated at Hanumandhoka Dashain Ghar in accordance with Vedic rituals.   

On the 7th day of the festival, Dashain Phulpati are brought to home on September 29. The committee has set 11:53 am as the most auspicious time for Dashain tika on October 2 (Asoj 16). 

I remember Dashain as a tender embrace. My cousins and I would race barefoot across the terrace, jamara tucked behind our ears, tika still damp on our foreheads. Steel plates clinked under the weight of sel roti, stacked like golden memories. The air was thick with marigold and camphor, madal drums pulsing softly in the background. In those sunlit rooms, family gathered without distraction, fully present, stitched together by ritual and story. My bajai would hum a bhajan in the kitchen and say, “Aaile ko keti-keta haru, yesto Dashain kahile dekhcha ra?”, translating to these kids nowadays, what would they know of a Dashain like this? 

She said in a melancholic tone. Like she already knew we’d grow up into a different kind of Dashain, one wrapped in Wi-Fi signals and busy schedules, where the warmth of the sunlit kitchen would be replaced by the glow of a screen. 

Now, the air feels quieter. The plates are still full. The rituals still happen. But more often, they unfold behind screens, typically on WhatsApp calls, filtered through Instagram stories, caught in between video edits and captions. We say “hello” instead of “namaste,” “thanks” instead of “dhanyabaad.” And somewhere in that shift, the soul of the festival feels like it’s slipping. 

My mother also speaks of a Dashain that stretched across days, a sacred pause when neighbors became family and the night was carried by stories passed down through voice and memory, not typed out. Each gesture held meaning. Each offering had a purpose. Even the smallest thing, placing jamara under a mattress, sweeping the puja room at dawn, applying tika with both hands was loaded with history. Today, those same gestures are often performed without question, reduced to a quiet shrug: “This is just what we do.” 

For many of us, festivals have become curated performances. We wear the traditional clothes, we light the lamps, we take part in the puja but too often through the lens of a phone. Culture is dressed up for the feed. Aesthetics sometimes eclipse meaning. The perfect photo matters more than the imperfect moment. And in the process, something quieter, something sacred, begins to fade. 

Kathmandu itself is changing. Sprawling family courtyards have turned into compact homes. Siblings live across countries. Families are spread thin across time zones. The altar may now be a single candle, lit in between meetings or homework. The spirit of celebration has become a matter of logistics. What was once rooted in sambandha, deep relational ties, can now feel like a checklist: tika, thali, photo, post. 

Tihar, another example, used to arrive gently. Flickering diyos, whispered songs, the unspoken warmth between brothers and sisters. A festival of light that lived not just in lamps but in shared silence. Now, celebrations often boom from Bluetooth speakers and dance to algorithms. TikTok trends replace traditional songs. The ritual is still there, but sometimes, it feels hollow, almost like a paper version of something once carved in stone. 

I watch friends post stunning rangolis and perfectly arranged thalis, and it’s beautiful. But it also feels rehearsed. The whispered instructions of grandparents are replaced with online tutorials. The chants become short audio clips played from someone else’s phone. This is a new way to celebrate, but I constantly wonder: does it still carry the same weight? 

Language is part of this quiet fading. Our mother tongues like: Newar, Maithili, Tamang, Gurung, among others carry within them stories, humor, songs, and wisdom. But they, too, are softening. Yielding to convenience, to English, to what feels easier. I find myself translating in my head before I speak to elders. And when a language disappears, so does a whole way of understanding the world. 

To be clear, this isn’t about resisting change. Culture isn’t something to preserve in glass. It’s alive, which means it adapts, shifts, and evolves. I’m not asking us to put down our phones or cancel our posts. Social media connects us. It lets us share, remember, and create. It brings a global Nepali diaspora together in ways once impossible. 

But when it becomes the only lens through which we experience culture, we risk turning festivals into content and content alone. 

What I’m asking is this: can we slow down? Can we ask why we do what we do? Can we pause before we post, just long enough to understand? Can we listen to the stories behind the rituals before they slip through the cracks? 

Festivals don’t need to be picture-perfect. They need to be felt. Lived in messy, honest, deeply human ways. Culture doesn’t need to be aesthetic, but it does need to be meaningful. We don’t need to be perfect keepers of tradition. But we should care more about what our customs mean when no one is watching, than how they look when everyone is. Because when rituals lose their roots, they become routines. And when tradition becomes a trend, it no longer grounds us. 

Our festivals still breathe. They still carry power. But they ask us to meet them halfway. To be present. To care. To listen. To remember. Because if we keep culture alive only for the feed, what remains when the screen fades to black? 

Soniva Vaidya

Grade XII

The British School, Kathmandu