BANKE, Oct 24: Silent homes in the western hills came alive during Dashain as closed doors reopened, traditional dishes filled kitchens, and courtyards welcomed returning family members. Young people who had left their villages for jobs in Nepal and abroad returned home for the festival, bringing a festive atmosphere to the hills of Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpashchim provinces. Along with the excitement of the festival, their return also restored smiles to the faces of elderly parents who had long missed their children.
In villages across Rolpa, Rukum East, Gulmi, Pyuthan and Arghakhanchi in Lumbini Province; Jajarkot, Dailekh, Rukum and Kalikot in Karnali Province; and Bajura, Achham and Doti in Sudurpashchim Province, the festive atmosphere was reflected less in bustling markets than in the presence of returning family members. For young people who have spent years working away from their families, Dashain has become an opportunity to return home.
Dashain in the hills of western Nepal is about more than tika, jamara and festive meals, said Karnabir Khatri of Rukum.
“This Dashain is an opportunity for children who have gone abroad for work to return home, for relationships to be renewed and for village life to return to its old rhythm, even if only for a few days,” he said. “That is why buses heading towards the hills from Dang, Attariya and Surkhet carry not only passengers but also the stories of a generation returning with hopes of reuniting with their families.”
According to Khatri, Dashain awakens the otherwise quiet hills.
Young people who had travelled to Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi and Pithoragarh, as well as Kathmandu and cities in the Tarai, returned to their villages to celebrate Dashain. Ramesh Khadka of Doti has been working as a security guard in Delhi for the past five years.
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Having returned home for Dashain, Khadka said, “No matter how much money you earn in the streets of Mumbai and Delhi, you cannot find the happiness that comes with celebrating Dashain in your village. When the bus crosses Attariya and begins climbing the hills, I feel that the greatest happiness in the world is right here.”
Many young people across western Nepal share Khadka's experience. The compulsion to leave home for employment has become part of their lives. Those who migrate in search of work to support their families and secure their future find in Dashain an opportunity to reconnect with their homeland, families and the villages where they spent their childhood.
As young people leave for jobs elsewhere, many hill villages in Karnali and Sudurpashchim are left with only elderly people, women and children.
Some houses remain locked, while members of other families are forced to live in different places. But the scene changes as Dashain approaches. Doors that have remained closed for a long time reopen, courtyards and pathways are cleaned, and walls are coated with red soil and white clay. Parents tidy up their homes and courtyards in preparation for the arrival of their children.
For Chakrabahadur Shahi of Achham, this year's Dashain also became a special opportunity to reunite with his family. He said his village home had become quiet after his sons left for India in search of employment.
“After my sons went to India to earn a living, the house became silent. With the arrival of Dashain, my grandchildren and sons began playing in the courtyard. Only then did I feel that the house had come alive again. If those living away did not return, we would hardly even realise that Dashain had arrived in the village,” he said.
Shahi's experience reflects the circumstances of many families in the hill districts. For elderly parents longing for the company and affection of their children, Dashain brings immense happiness.
For them, having their children around for a few days, being able to share their thoughts and spending time with their grandchildren are more important than the gifts their children bring home.
With the arrival of Dashain, old friends and neighbours reunited at village rest stops and gathering places. The sounds of traditional madal drums were heard in some places, while traditional Deuda dancing enlivened the atmosphere in others. Swings became busy with children and young people. The tradition of sharing festive dishes and visiting neighbours also continued as family members gathered under one roof.
An estimated 300,000 people returned to their homes in western Nepal for Dashain this year. Around 700,000 people from the hill districts of western Nepal are estimated to have migrated to India for employment, with young people accounting for around 80 percent of them. Although the number of returning migrants was lower than in previous years in some villages, the festive atmosphere remained largely undiminished.
The return of migrants also brought some activity back to local markets and the transport sector. Shops recorded increased business as returning family members bought clothes, food and other goods for their families. Family gatherings, traditional clan worship ceremonies and cultural activities in villages also helped sustain local traditions.
For a few days, the increased presence of young people gave fresh momentum to social activities and community gatherings. However, the happiness of Dashain also highlights a persistent reality. Once the festival ends, many of those who returned home will leave again for jobs in India and cities across Nepal. Courtyards filled with laughter for a few days will once again fall silent.
This situation underscores the need to create employment and income-generating opportunities in villages. Promoting local agriculture, livestock farming, tourism and small businesses could reduce the number of young people compelled to leave their villages in search of work.
Expanding education, healthcare, transportation and other basic services in rural areas could also improve the prospects of people being able to earn a living while staying with their families. The state must now take the initiative to create an environment in which young people returning home for Dashain can remain in their villages throughout the year.