The usually fresh clear sky, the relatively empty roads of Kathmandu and the overcrowded shopping malls and shops at this time of the year reminds us that Dashain is here. It is that time of the year when people celebrating this auspicious festival halt their mundane work and just indulge in merry making.
Dashain is all about family time, catching up with your relatives and celebrating to continue our traditions. For youngsters, it’s more like having a free time from the hectic schedules and college assignments and simply t give into the festive mood.
Dashain is all about family time, catching up with your relatives and celebrating to continue our traditions. For youngsters, it’s more like having a free time from the hectic schedules and college assignments and simply t give into the festive mood.
Having a family gathering, playing cards, flying kites and visiting relatives to receive the tika among others is a part of this festival. But over the years, the way people celebrate Dashain seems to be changing. However, has this change altered their perception towards this festival as well?
Rakshya Khadka, 19, a college student is of the opinion that the festival of Dashain has changed a lot over the years. As a child, she witnessed a lot of rituals taking place. But with time, the rituals have been cut short and the values attached to it are gradually changing.
Moreover she thinks that it has become more fashion oriented with people flaunting their social status during Dashain time. “It is no more like a family affair since youngsters are lost in their own world and they seem to participate less in the rituals like receiving tika from the elders and visiting the temples. Even if they do, they do it just for the sake of celebrating it,” she adds.
Rakshya feels that the religious aspect has decreased over the years and with it Dashain has lost the charm it had before.
She further explains how for youngsters, Dashain acts as an excuse to excessively indulge in drinking and gambling. “They tend to overlook the religious aspect and they just get carried away.”
But contrary to what Khadka thinks, Pratesh Giri, 24 thinks that Dashain hasn’t changed at all. “No matter how less religious the young people may be, when it comes to Dashain, they do follow the rituals and they never forget its true essence.”
He recalls how every year it’s all about receiving tika from the elders, having a family gathering and relishing the scrumptious food. “The vibrant ambience of Dashain is always there and it is one of the best times of the year as those celebrating it as well as though who cherish the longest break of the year.”
Samesh Joshi, 23, a recent undergraduate came back to the country after completing his studies from the USA last year. “When I came back I was so looking forward to celebrating Dashain. I use to miss the days when I was a kid and thought that it would just be the same,” he explains.
But celebrating Dashain after so many years, he felt that it was not the same anymore. “Many relatives have gone abroad to study and my brother is also not here so last year’s Dashain felt empty. During festival times, you tend to miss your closed ones and it doesn’t feel the same without them.”
Another student, Rashmi Khatiwada, 22, thinks that as a kid Dashain would mean buying new clothes, receiving money but with growing age all that anticipation fades away. “As we grow old, it is more like a responsibility and the fun part is missed out while carrying out all the duties.”
Dashain has a cultural importance and is a festival to bond and strengthen family relations and social harmony.
Rashmi, feels that even though modernization has changed the way people perceive Dashain, one should not forget the religious aspect of it. “Festival like Dashain is our identity, so we should respect it. The younger generation needs to be more aware about it to keep the traditions alive for the coming years.”
Rakshya Khadka, 19, a college student is of the opinion that the festival of Dashain has changed a lot over the years. As a child, she witnessed a lot of rituals taking place. But with time, the rituals have been cut short and the values attached to it are gradually changing.
Moreover she thinks that it has become more fashion oriented with people flaunting their social status during Dashain time. “It is no more like a family affair since youngsters are lost in their own world and they seem to participate less in the rituals like receiving tika from the elders and visiting the temples. Even if they do, they do it just for the sake of celebrating it,” she adds.
Rakshya feels that the religious aspect has decreased over the years and with it Dashain has lost the charm it had before.
She further explains how for youngsters, Dashain acts as an excuse to excessively indulge in drinking and gambling. “They tend to overlook the religious aspect and they just get carried away.”
But contrary to what Khadka thinks, Pratesh Giri, 24 thinks that Dashain hasn’t changed at all. “No matter how less religious the young people may be, when it comes to Dashain, they do follow the rituals and they never forget its true essence.”
He recalls how every year it’s all about receiving tika from the elders, having a family gathering and relishing the scrumptious food. “The vibrant ambience of Dashain is always there and it is one of the best times of the year as those celebrating it as well as though who cherish the longest break of the year.”
Samesh Joshi, 23, a recent undergraduate came back to the country after completing his studies from the USA last year. “When I came back I was so looking forward to celebrating Dashain. I use to miss the days when I was a kid and thought that it would just be the same,” he explains.
But celebrating Dashain after so many years, he felt that it was not the same anymore. “Many relatives have gone abroad to study and my brother is also not here so last year’s Dashain felt empty. During festival times, you tend to miss your closed ones and it doesn’t feel the same without them.”
Another student, Rashmi Khatiwada, 22, thinks that as a kid Dashain would mean buying new clothes, receiving money but with growing age all that anticipation fades away. “As we grow old, it is more like a responsibility and the fun part is missed out while carrying out all the duties.”
Dashain has a cultural importance and is a festival to bond and strengthen family relations and social harmony.
Rashmi, feels that even though modernization has changed the way people perceive Dashain, one should not forget the religious aspect of it. “Festival like Dashain is our identity, so we should respect it. The younger generation needs to be more aware about it to keep the traditions alive for the coming years.”