Dashain and Kathmandu

Dashain is one of the most celebrated and greatest festivals of the Nepalese people. It lasts for 10 days of celebration, but one week of the Dashain is crucial for those who are thinking about spending it in Kathmandu. Since Dashain is the greatest festival, almost more than half of the population of Kathmandu returns to their birthplace or village. Dashain is all about gathering, putting on tikas and Jamara, giving the blessing, eating, sleeping, playing cards, flying kites (Changa), playing on custom-made swings with bamboo and rope, and most of all, spending time with your family. Dashain is not like all the other festivals in Nepal, where you can get loud and make a lot of noise. This is the time of year when relatives visit each other and spend time with them.

Kathmandu during Dashain
Most of the people living in Kathmandu are from all over the country. And since it is the biggest festival in Nepal, they all want to be with their family and spend quality time with them. However, during this time, Kathmandu looks boring and empty with the hustle and bustle of the city. The roads are empty, with only a few vehicles running or a few people walking on them. Almost all shops are closed. Even the Thamel looks deserted, with only some shops and restaurants open. The good thing about Dashain is that there will be no traffic jams and it will be devoid of people. Thus, you can take a great picture of Kathmandu with almost no crowd.

What is Dashain for Nepalese people?
This is the time they get the longest holiday as well as the greatest festival. This festival is also called the gathering festival of all the families and relatives. Dashain brings lots of happiness to the faces of parents whose children are away from home for work as well as for studies. This is the time when youth get to meet their friends and have fun and enjoy their time together eating delicious food and sharing happiness. They forget about their sorrow and concern and simply enjoy the time with their family and relatives. They wish for the well-being and happiness of each other. Elders bless their juniors by giving a heartfelt blessing in abundance. Therefore, Dashain brings family and friends together as well as joy and happiness.

So what to do if you happen to be in Kathmandu during Dashain?
The best way to avoid the quiet and boring Kathmandu is to pre-plan any activities outside the valley. You may opt for any adventure sports in Pokhara such as Bungee jumping, paragliding, sky diving, ultralight fleeing, and many more. Or you can also opt for trekking because the trails are not affected by the festivals. Trekking can be the best option as villages become livelier than the city area with more people. So, we suggest you pre-plan any activities before the effect of Dashain starts.

And at last what it’s like before Dashain
Before Dashain starts its madness in Kathmandu. Due to shopping for festivals which is the very important part, the bazaars of Kathmandu are jammed (so crowded) with people and there will be even more noise. The small roads of Kathmandu will be full of people buying and selling things. There will be twice the number of people around the cities which means twice the madness than normal. So, be prepared for this madness.

All in all, Nepal is a unique country with a distinctive culture and festivals. Thus, Dashain is one of the unique festivals holding very deep meaning in the hearts of Nepalese. I hope Dashain won’t be displeasure for those who are in for holidays. And enjoy Kathmandu even during the Dashain festival.