Sagar Thapa, footballer

As a national team player, more often than not, I’d be involved in football matches. Even during Dashain, I’d be away from home, taking part in a match. I usually don’t have that planned, long-holiday type Dashain. It would mostly be hurried celebrations. However, this year, I’m free for a couple of weeks this time around. I hope to make this Dashain a memorable one. In addition to celebrating Dashain in Kathmandu with my family, I’ll be visiting my relatives in my native Dharan. Also, as my friends have already started nagging me, I think I’ll also play cards for fun.

Obviously, the best thing about Dashain is the weather during the season. And besides, you can’t just miss the joy the festival brings to people. The smiles and happiness this festival brings to us is what I like about it.

Diya Maskey, Actress

I find it hard to pinpoint one particular Dashain moment as my favourite. However, when I was a child, Dashain always brought joy to me, like it did to everyone else. I used to live in my school’s hostel and Dashain meant a long holiday so that I could go home. That was always exciting and I still remember those vacations.

This year’s Dashain is very special for me because I got married recently and I’m going to celebrate at my husband’s home, in Pokhara, with my in-laws. Though I’m not nervous about it, I suppose this Dashain will be different from the previous ones.

The best thing about Dashain is the weather at this time of the year—the bright sun and cool breeze; the weather is really beautiful around Dashain.

Nima Rumba, Singer

Celebrating Dashain, for me, is not just about enjoying the festival, but its also about keeping our tradition alive. The thing I love the most about Dashain is the opportunity for me to meet and connect with my family members and relatives. I used to enjoy celebrating Dashain a lot as a child. I remember how we used to fly kites all day long. But, at present I don’t get enough time to celebrate the festival with my family owing to my other obligations. As before, we are planning to celebrate this Dashain by having a family gathering and enjoying some delicious food.

Sadichha Shrestha, Miss Nepal, 2010

I always love celebrating the Dashain festival with my family members by putting tika and jamara. Before I was crowned Miss Nepal, every Dashain was special for me and I never missed it. But, when I had to swap Dashain for Miss World 2010, it was an awful moment for me actually. There are many memorable Dashain moments I can remember from my childhood. The best thing about this festival—apart from the weather and the family gatherings—are the congestion-free roads in the valley. Actually, I enjoy travelling in the city during the festival. But this time around, I plan to stay at home and celebrate Dashain with my family.

Sagar Manandhar, Artist

As usual, I plan to celebrate this Dashain by putting tika and jamara and receiving blessings from my seniors. In Newari culture, we put both red and black tika. As a child I loved flying kites and also took part in cutting each other’s lines. With lack of empty spaces now, it’s hard to do these things. Giving classes a miss even before the festival had begun to fly kites with friends, is my most memorable Dashain moment. I also love the myths and legends associated with the festival.

Buddhi Sagar, writer

I do remember a few childhood Dashain moments. However, my most memorable Dashain is going to be this one, as it is my child’s first Dashain. And as a father, I’m excited to celebrate this Dashain with her. But, apart from that, I’ll be busy preparing for my upcoming novel, which I hope will be released after Tihar. So it

won’t be the usual celebration-filled Dashain for me.

Despite preferring Tihar over Dashain, the one thing I really like about Dashain is the atmosphere it creates for families to gather together and take blessings from the elders.