Traders transport Himalayan yaks and goats to Pokhara for Tihar festival

Traders from various Himalayan regions are transporting yaks and goats to Pokhara to sell during the Tihar festival.

These animals arrive from locations such as Mustang, Dolpa, and Mugu to be sold in Simpani, a ward in the Pokhara Metropolis. While the demand for these animals typically peaks during the Dashain festival, traders have increased the volume of livestock brought to the city this year for the Tihar celebrations.

Pemba Tshering, a trader from Jomsom in Mustang, reported that 700 yaks reached Pokhara while 500 others were sent to Kathmandu. The journey for these animals can be arduous, with some traders bringing the yaks to the city on foot. Because yaks are raised on herbs in the Himalayan climate, consumers consider the meat to be healthy and delicious.

Traders noted that while meat products are available year-round, consumers specifically wait for the Dashain and Tihar festivals to purchase yak meat. The trade sustains the ancestral professions of the traders, who manage high costs for transport, food, and accommodation. For example, Santosh Dharala from Dolpa brought 150 yaks to the city because Pokhara provides convenient grazing land for the animals. Traders stated that they can earn between 150,000 and 200,000 Nepalese rupees during the Dashain and Tihar periods.