Festival season in Nepal

With festival season starting in Nepali villages and cities, people appear engaged in all sorts of rituals in their daily lives. Political activities have migrated from street to either social media or podcasting or YouTube. They will be confined to arm chair politics for the next three months. Markets prepare for the festivals in a special way because consumption patterns in the season change effectively. Although purchasing power of people has declined sharply and inflation has pressed them to narrow down their budget for the festival, expenses of the people go uphill during the occasions. Festivals – each one of them – have specific purposes, values, food, dress, musical programmes and social tone. All of them could be termed as healthy reminders for people of good health, comfortable civic living and belief in spiritual service and sharing. Unfortunately these days there is a tendency to observe festivals as just a show or a click for the camera or simply a fun-work or pastime-pursuit. All those who participate in festivals should bear in mind that they have to observe it preserving the high values behind the specific festival. Care should be taken to balance spending on the occasion while inspiring people to honour the values signalled by each festival. The government has a duty for the festival season: it should not let the market cheat the consumers in price or quality or measurement. Regulation measures should be legally enforced for not letting the sellers deceive the buyers. All public places which people visit during the festival should be maintained well; facilities should be ensured there for the benefit of visitors. Mobility of people during the festival season is very high. This requires comfortable and non-cheating way to make transport available to those who desire to use it for either visiting friends or families or just travelling for pleasure. The unavailability of public transport tickets is the problem that troubles people every year. A facilitating way of early booking or e-booking could be worked out. Senior citizens, children, specially abled people and the poor should also feel comfort as they seek to use public transport. The list for enabling people to participate in festivals and enjoy in their own way could be long. But the point that common people in the street should feel valued during the festival season is important. Festivals should not be occasions in which some could join while others are rejected. Inclusiveness and participation, it should be stressed, could be termed the basic values behind festivals in Nepal. Let the festival season of 2082 B.S. be a real motivator for all in Nepal!