Nepalis celebrate the New Year or rather New Year’s Eve twice a year, once for national sentiments and the other, to mingle with global feelings. Some celebrate both New Year occasions with an equal level of zest, whereas some make festivities at one or the other, with a varying degree of enthusiasm depending on personal importance attached to the event.However, the New Year’s Eve of the Nepali calendar this year saw festivities tinged with insecurity due to the ongoing internal problems of the country, especially the recent casualties in Dang which left over 50 people, including civilians, dead. The sombre mood of New Year’s Eve throughout the capital was further pronounced by security checks along major routes in the city. “There were security checks three times while we were heading to celebrate the New Year’s Eve, they dampened our spirits,” said Anjali Joshi. She however admitted that such checks are necessary for security reasons, although they cause inconvenience to the general public.Considering a fewer number of crowds and dimmer lights on the streets compared to the New Year’s Eve according to the English calendar, some observe that Nepalis celebrate their own New Year with far less enthusiasm than they would the global New Year. Anjali says, “We don’t give much preference to our own New Year as much as the one in January, whereas the Chinese celebrate their New Year with a great amount of vigour and vitality.” However, she agreed that the New Year’s Eve this year was not enjoyable and that it lacked the right mood.Whereas, some still enjoyed the festival without any hitches. “I was planning to enjoy the occasion with my friends at one person’s house due to security reasons, but we saw a large crowd moving freely on the road, so we decided to go to the Rox in the Hyatt Hotel and had a great time there,” says Bahul from Jawalakhel. He points out that the New Year’s Eve at the Rox was enjoyable and it had also proved to be a re-union with school friends.He, however, finds Nepali New Year more special than the English New Year, because “it is our festival, even though I enjoy both the New Years equally.” What about those who did not go out to enjoy with friends and colleagues and just stayed at home? Sulava Rai, working in a travel trade business said that on New Year’s Eve she preferred to be a “couch potato” watching T.V and of course chatting with her friends on the net. Most importantly, I had dinner with my parents, she added.