Nepal’s dashain festival marked by joy and loss
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Across Nepal, people celebrated Dashain, a major festival marked by applying red tika to foreheads and receiving blessings from relatives.
Many homes were filled with family, and social media showed people sharing their happiness. Traditional songs filled villages and cities, and some people participated in TikTok trends related to the holiday. However, the Botekoshi flood of August 29 created a stark contrast for those affected. Families who lost homes and loved ones experienced a deeply sorrowful Dashain.
Ganesh Kumar Nepal, a ward chairman in Nuwakot, described the festival as more painful than ever, noting the absence of homes, possessions, and family members. He said that while some people still applied tika, there was little joy. Even in areas not directly hit by the floods, the mood was somber. Residents of Palungtar Municipality in Gorkha mourned the loss of 30 neighbors who died when a bus carrying pilgrims was swept away by the Botekoshi River.
Ward chairman Deepak Pandey reported a lack of the usual festive activity, as many people were unable to celebrate with loved ones. For those affected by the disaster, Dashain became a reminder of loss rather than a time for happiness.
