With the commencement of the Dashain festival, Kathmandu’s major bus parks and ticket counters are witnessing large crowds of travellers heading home.

Saturday marks the fifth day of Dashain. Most offices and institutions granted leave from Friday, while many schools and colleges have also closed. This has led to a significant rush at transport hubs, where passengers have been queueing since early morning.

The festival, Nepal’s biggest annual celebration, draws thousands of people from the capital back to their hometowns and villages to reunite with their families. Crowded streets and packed buses have become a familiar sight in the Valley during this period.

Transport operators expect the rush to continue through the week as more residents depart for their home districts to celebrate the remaining days of Dashain.