Kathmandu, October 28:

Deusi-bhailo is no more limited to a cultural event. It is fast becoming a lucrative

mean for making money, be it in the pretext of protecting the culture or for the purpose of entertainment, institutional development, charity or awareness campaign.

Deusi-bhailo groups may differ in nature and size — ranging from clubs and schools to organisations and even sister organisations of political

parties — but the motto of all these groups is to make a good festive income.

“We visit 10 to 15 places everyday and collect up to Rs 25,000 by singing revolutionary songs on trade union rights,” said Chintamani Sharma, coordinator of All Nepal Progressive Trade Union Federation, adding that the fund will be used for the institutional development of the union and for the forthcoming general assembly. Unlike yesteryear, when deusi-bhailo groups used to visit homes unannounced, the groups now send printed cards to homes and institutions informing them about their programmes.

“We printed cards and dispatched them to concerned places informing them about our programme,” Badri Prasad Dahal, secretary of Nepal Institutional School Teachers’ Union (NSTU), said. The NSTU have been organising deusi-bhailo programme in different schools in the Valley for the last two days. “Apart from generating fund for our institutional works, we also share teachers’ plight and pathos through our songs. The money will be deposited in teachers’ welfare fund and will be used to publish a magazine,” Dahal said, adding that they expect to visit over 35 places in two days. He also said that his organisation wasn’t demanding fixed amount from the homes they visit. “But we usually get a couple of thousands from each place,” he said.

The Jhapa-Kathmandu Contact Society collected Rs 3.5 lakhs in a single day last Saturday when it organised deusi-bhailo at United World Trade Centre. “We had invited leaders of different political parties who donated funds for us,” said Lok Bahadur Bhandari, president of the Society.

Though the programme may look fun and profitable for the organisers, it is becoming a burden for the individuals and organisations where the deusi-bhailo programmes are organised. For instance, Dwarika’s Hotel in Battisputali has received letters from over 30 deusi-bhailo groups this year.