With Dashain underway, thousands of migrant Nepalis working in various towns and cities in India have returned to their homes to celebrate the biggest Hindu festival with families.

However, a fairly large number of Nepalis are heading to India for work by leaving their families, friends and relatives during the festival. Gauriphanta, a Nepal-India border point in Dhangadhi of Kailali district, has been crowded with the migrant workers returning to and from homes lately. The migrant workers heading to their homes seem happy and excited to meet with their relatives and enjoy Dashain with their families. But other people are heading to India with their heavy hearts.

According to data available at the Armed Police Force unit deployed for border security, an average of around 200 Nepali people leave for India through Gauriphanta border point daily of late.

Padam Bahadur Nepali, a permanent resident of Bauniya in Kailali district, was at Gauriphanta on Saturday. He hopped on a bus bound for Palia, India. He then fished out his cell phone from his pocket and called his wife. “I rode a bus in Gauriphanta. Don’t worry about me,” he said. “Take care of children and elderly parents. Take care of yourself.” He was on his way to the Indian capital for work by leaving his wife, three children and elderly parents.

Like Padam, many poverty-stricken Nepali workers are compelled to leave for India during Dashain. Prem Bahadur BK entered India after providing details to the security personnel on the Nepal side. Prem, an impoverished Dalit man from Tribeni Municipality in Bajura district, queued in front of a check post of India security force on Saturday. There were 50 other Nepali people in the queue, seeking permission to enter India.

“Who wants to go to foreign land leaving their families just before Dashain?” Prem said. “It is our compulsion. Five of us from our village are going to New Delhi for work.” He added that they would work as security guards or other jobs that they would find.

Thousands of Nepalis from several districts mainly from Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces go to India for work. Many of them go to the Indian towns and cities for seasonal work.

Lack of employment opportunities and other income generating activities force hordes of Nepali people to leave their homeland.

“There is no alternative to go to India for our livelihood,” said Lalit Bahadur BK of Budhiganga Municipality, Bajura. “We cannot find work in our village. And poor people do not have money to go to another country. So we have to go to India for our livelihood.”

India has been a major labour destination for unemployed Nepali youths. They generally go to various Indian towns and cities and work as security guards, construction workers and porters. The migrants work in hotels, shops and private houses.

The migrant workers generally return home during major festivals like Dashain, Tihar, and Gauraparba if they can manage the leave. But many, like one Prem Bahadur Sarki from Bajura, can’t. “I have not gone home for three years,” said Sarki, who has been working as a security guard in New Delhi, over the phone. “I thought of going home this year’s Dashain but I could not get the leave.”