National
Dashain becoming bland in villages along Surkhet-Jajarkot
The word Dashain evokes the memories of flying kites, family gathering, Linge Ping (traditional swing), sound of Madal, Mayur Dance, Tappa Dance, Maruni, Sorathi, among other things related with the annual festival.Harihar Singh Rathore
The word Dashain evokes the memories of flying kites, family gathering, Linge Ping (traditional swing), sound of Madal, Mayur Dance, Tappa Dance, Maruni, Sorathi, among other things related with the annual festival.
It is a time of the year when people, gone away for jobs and studies, come home to reunite with family members and celebrate the biggest festival amid fun and gaiety.
Dashain celebration is more vibrant in villages than in the modernised urban life. Dashain brings a different feeling of joy and happiness to the people. It triggers a sense of nostalgia for the by-gone good times.
But many Nepali villages that kept the traditional form of Dashain alive now wear a deserted look. The enthusiasm of Dashain is not as lively as it used to be in the past.
The reason is that most Nepali youths have gone abroad for employment.
The beautiful villages along Chinchu of Surkhet and Salli Bazar of Salyan look quiet. It appears the Dashain fervour has not gripped these villages.
“The trend of foreign employment has not only attracted our sons but our daughter-in-laws have started living in cities in the name of bright future for their kids. It seemed futile to colour our house for the festival when no family members are here to celebrate,” says Hikmat Buda, a local of Bame Namra Village in Salyan.
The villages along the Bheri River corridor from Chinchu to Jajarkot are special in the sense that almost all houses in this corridor look similar and are painted with same colour.
Untouched by development and lack of opportunity, the trend of people living in this belt seeking employment in foreign land dates back to generations. But the difference now and then is, in the past, the people of this region used to go to India for employment and every year they made it back home for Dashain festival. The trend remains same for the current generations as well, except youths today have fled to golf countries, from where the returning home for Dashain is not as easy as from India. Hence, most youths cannot come back home for Dashain turning the festival dull for their family.