People hold candle light vigil on the occasion of promulgation of new constitution. Photo: Sabitri Dhakal/THT

President was set to announce Nepal’s Constitution 2072 at 5:00 pm at Constituent Assembly, New Baneshwor on September 20.

But people started gathering here from early afternoon. The programme delayed, yet people didn’t lose their patience. Instead the crowd got bigger and more enthusiastic. Imagining their anticipation perhaps can be felt by every Nepali.

Hooting, shouting, whistling and clapping along with the beats of various chants and songs, people were ready to welcome the constitution and share their happiness marking this as a historic day.

Why won’t it be, after all “the constitution is necessary for the prosperity of the country,” for 65-year-old Gurudatta Poudel, a resident of Parbat, currently residing in Baneshwor.

Many have been looking forward to this day, but despite being happy, satisfaction somehow lacks. “We have been looking forward to this day for a long time, but some people are still dissatisfied. It would have been much better had the problems of Tarai region been addressed in the constitution too. It is fun to be in this area nonetheless,” shared Poudel, whose excitement was evident. He was carrying a radio “to listen to what was happening inside the CA hall”.

Yearning to see what was happening was natural. And for a better view, Kalpana Upreti, a teacher from Sarlahi was standing on a sand hill outside the CA hall. She seemed elated and called this day as “remarkable day for Nepalis as we have been waiting for so long to get the constitution. Finally, all the revolutions have become meaningful. The expectations have now become a reality,” she expressed hoping “the constitution incorporated issues not addressed in the earlier constitutions”.

Amidst all this, smiling Gita Bhusal and her son Biraj were watching all the activities. They came from Boudha to witness the day with a hope that “the new constitution will ensure sustainable peace and political stability and take the nation on the path of economic and social prosperity”.

Another spectator in the crowd was Ambar Rai, a retired teacher from Khotang. And he wished that “the constitution should have come much earlier. It is better late than never nonetheless”. And Rai is positive that “the republicanism with federalism and proportional representation will further develop the country in days to come”.

So far it is evident that people of different age groups and backgrounds were present at the venue and among them was a group of young boys drawing Nepal’s map. “We are here to celebrate the big day. This day is important as we have got a new set of fundamental principles to govern the country. This constitution has given us an opportunity to promote unity in diversity and end all forms of discrimination. I hope this historic document will be able to protect and promote rights of various social groups of the nation,” shared Ishwor Rijal, one of the students.

With a huge throng, security could not be overlooked and it was not! People’s excitement was swaying towards being wild, making it difficult for the security forces to handle them. The scene was such — traffic police came riding horse and ordered the audiences to move back, the desperate crowd shouted, ‘Ghoda jungle tira laija, janata lai ghoda chadauna paidaina’ (take your horse to the jungle, you cannot let the horse romp the public).

There are different stories and reasons everywhere with the presence of such crowd. This time it was ice-cream vendors Ram Bahadur Thapa and Laxman Bayatha. Seeing the opportunity, they grasped it to make some profit from thousands of visitors present there. To their dismay though people didn’t seem interested in their ice-cream and cotton candy. “People are busy watching the scene rather than buying our stuff,” both expressed. They were not complaining nonetheless, they were happy to see the “historic day despite the loss in their business”.

Taking selfies and photographs, people travelling in the vehicles peeking from the window to see what was happening with their smiling faces and waving at the onlookers — were some common scenes. And finally the constitution was announced. Thousands of people lit butter lamps and candles to mark the achievement and express their solidarity with the hope that things will change now, change for the better.