Yes, the fuel shortage affected our festive celebration this year. We could not go travelling with friends. It was difficult for us to go home and sister’s house for Bhai Tika. We could not cook sweets and other food due to the shortage of oil, gas, and petroleum products. We had to miss our celebration with friends in our village enjoying variety of foods. But we should be ready to miss such things and support the government in this crisis.

— Ram Mani Adhikari, Cheru, Mahottarai

Not only me, it has affected everyone’s daily life since the blockade. I couldn’t go to my hometown in Janakpur to celebrate Dashain because the protest is still going on. It was not safe to travel by bus. I have a few relatives in Kathmandu but I was unable to receive tika from them. Although I was planning to go out of the Valley with my friends, I had to cancel it due to shortage of petrol. My cooking gas finished two days ago, so I am cooking meal with the help of electricity. But some times we are compelled to sleep on an empty stomach because of load-shedding. We all had great expectations from the new Constitution but it has disappointed all of us.

— Indira, Imadol

Nepalis celebrated Dashain not as enjoyment but to continue our culture. What is appreciable is that we can smile in harsh conditions. But smiling does not mean we are happy. We have celebrated Dashain in the mist of crisis and scarcity of fuel, LPG, and other daily necessary materials.

Nepal is forced to face this ongoing crisis because of its inability to produce things here. We have raw materials for production except fuel but we rely on our neighbouring country as a result we have to face this unofficial blockade, which has affected Tihar. People will not be able to manage the stuff which are necessary like oil, sugar, floor, even cooking gas and many more. Not only that, because of the internal security, deusi-bhailo is going to be affected and at the day of Bhai Tika it will be hard for sisters and brothers to be together because of the existing problem. Moreover, the whole situation will create psychological pain, which will be the root cause of lack of entertainment and the satisfaction of celebrating the festivals.

— Neela Adhikari

Definitely, during situations like these, people are deprived from even basic needs that they need on day-to-day basis. From the very beginning, each and every work that a person does, is being hampered. Situations now have come to such a point where people are forced to celebrate their biggest festivals without basic goods like salt, cooking oil, LPG, et cetera. There is shortage of these in the market and can be available only at a price doubled/tripled from its original price. I too have collected less dakshina compared to previous year since I couldn’t visit all my relatives this year in Dashain because of scarcity of fuel. Jokes apart, cooking food in chulo, waiting in long queue for LPG, walking long distance to reach my destination, forced to buy things at high price, are all problems that not only me but all of us are facing this festive season.

— Beena Shrestha, Mahankal, Chabahil

Definitely, we Nepalis are going through the toughest times. After suffering from devastating earthquake today we are going through acute fuel crisis. It is difficult to celebrate festivals with undergoing crisis. People here live in different areas far away from their home town. It is the festival that unites families. They get break from monotonous life. In current situation blockade at Indo-Nepal border led crisis had made our life filled with obstacles. We are in a position where getting a litre of petrol is an ordeal. We celebrated our Dashain and Tihar with the on going crisis and Chhath is on its way.

It is painful to write that we are going to celebrate upcoming festivals with more difficulties than we did for Dashain. Not only fuel, prices of goods are also soaring. We don’t manufacture any products so what ever we need we import from India. The figure shows about 60 per cent of products that we require for daily needs are imported from India. Obviously, there will be difficulty in celebrating festival as we suffer from crisis. It is high time we think about alternatives and elaborate our relationship with China.

— Dipal Bhandari, Kathmandu

Dashain one of the biggest festivals of Hindus especially in the Tarai region, has already passed but this year people are still missing the special moments of the previous year. This year we have celebrated Dashain by putting the mask of smiley face. We celebrated Dashain this year as a compulsion not from our heart. Well, another two biggest festivals Tihar and Chhath are here and we don’t know how it will be. The crisis of fuel and other basic requirements have made us so gloomy that we are not willing to celebrate the festivals. Shopkeepers are facing problems to import things for Tihar and Chhath. The cost of everything is raised making it unaffordable to many Nepalis. This year has been a curse for Nepalis but if we think it from a positive attitude this year it is a challenge for every Nepali to unite and rebuild a New Nepal which is really independent. After all, we Nepalis will try our level best to celebrate the upcoming festivals in a better way by finding some best alternatives.

— Ashish Kumar Sah, Kathmandu

The religious celebrations this year both in Nepal and overseas have been deeply impacted by the pain and hardships of the ordinary citizens of the nation as well as the difference of opinions among various communities, intolerance, provocative statements, violent agitations, loss of precious lives and properties and the development of an atmosphere of mistrust, pain and shallow politics. This year has been the hardest for the people also due to the serious impacts of a violent earthquake that shook not just the Nepal Himalayas; but the entire planet through the massive destruction and unbelievable heavy death toll it accompanied in every nook and corner of Nepal.

I humbly appeal to all the people in the beloved country to join forces and come to platform to work towards resolving the difference among various communities this festive season so that everyone can join the joys of celebrations and help in building a stable, peaceful, democratic, progressive, inclusive and liberal Nepal. Let this festive season mark the happy union among various communities of Nepal and their cultural heritages to come closer than ever before for a happy, integrative and proud nation to stand together.

— Saikat Kumar Basu, Lethbridge, Canada

Dashain, Tihar, and Chhath are regarded as major festivals of our country. In Dashain we receive blessings from our elder ones. But due to the ongoing crisis, we could not travel to our home town. We celebrate our festival by cooking delicious food, making sell rotis, khasi ko masu and various items, but lack of LPG has restricted us. Moreover get together, playing cards, playing deusi-bhailo have decreased, as people prefer sitting in there own home instead of walking long distance or travelling in packed buses. Likewise, price of candles, oil, electric lights and many other essential things has increased significantly which has made us compromise our on happiness. However, we still have managed to enjoy it in every possible way.

— Samiksha, New Baneshwor

Unity is strength. When there is team work and collaboration wonderful things can be achieved — Mattie Stepanek. This line strikes on my mind as Nepalis are facing the harsh situation because of the blockade. This long blockade has somehow affected us but it’s not affecting our

festival Tihar.

Though I don’t celebrate Tihar, I enjoy looking at the view of my surrounding. A week ago I heard drum beats and soft flute tone. I came to know youngsters were practising for deusi-bhailo. I felt happy thinking our culture and tradition are still alive.

On the day of Laxmi Puja my eyes enjoyed looking at the houses decorated with lights and diyo. My heart jumped when I saw young girls and boys dancing. The smile shined on my face when I heard Nepalis enjoying and forgetting all the difficulties of their life. I couldn’t control my happiness when I realised that our culture and religion are still alive and rooted deep within. Ten years ago I used to dance, now this generation is doing the same and I wish to see the same in future too. The line by Gopal Yonzan Jhukdai NaJhukne Nepal Ko Chora touched my heart, so how can this blockade affect our festival? We are brave enough to overcome the harsh situation and we will not let our festival be affected by any circumstance. If my Nepali brother and sister are enjoying the happiness, then its not affecting me either.

— Bandana KC

Our country Nepal is suffering from crisis due to the blockade at the southern border. This blockade is causing shortage of the things that we need to run our daily lives. Yes, the crisis going on in our country is even affecting our festive celebration. We have wonderfully finished celebrating one of our biggest festivals Dashain. But our another important festival, Tihar has approached our doorsteps and Chhath is not that far. The on going crisis is directly or indirectly affecting the celebration of our upcoming festivals.

The high market price is affecting our festivals. Market price of the things needed for Tihar celebration is reaching way beyond our affordability. For example, before people used to buy a kilo of apples for Rs 60 to Rs 100 but now its reached Rs 150.

— Ruchi Manandhar

Tihar, festival of lights and delicacies, this year is severely impeded due to the fuel crisis throughout the state. Because of inhumane blockade imposed on us, our festive season has toppled ruining our traditions followed since generations. Ongoing emergency has also hindered my celebration pattern. Visiting our brothers has become as the toughest task. Similar is with cooking food. People are compelled to preserve gas rather than wasting it by cooking food. Every year there used to be items of eateries but now they are limited. Previous year, our house was lit with earthen light but this year only electric bulbs were put up. What can we do? Our nation is reeling under this situation and we have to support our country.

— Susmita Sigdel, Samakhusi

The time when lights shower happiness in our lives is running at its own pace. This year the economic blockade has severely affected us. The country is bearing enormous pain and the people are hoping to get relief soon as it has obstructed the major festivals of Nepal that is Dashain and Tihar. There is shortage of LPG, petrol, and diesel which are the basic necessities of people. Due to scarcity of petrol and diesel, the vehicles are paralysed. As a matter of fact many people are compelled to stay away from their families in this time of celebration. Some people also tend to travel at expensive fares or are travelling at their own risk due to unstable situation. I have witnessed people sitting on the roofs of buses or hanging out which is not safe while travelling. Due to the ongoing blockade, the price of various goods are rising tremendously which has affected the poor people. During festivals people cook various food items as an offering to the God, but this year massive population won’t be continuing with the same due to scarcity of LPG.

It seems that this year lights were lit with a hope for happiness throughout the country. Though the festive season was not fruitful due to the ongoing crisis, let’s hope and pray for better days to come.

— Kajol Shah, Sanepa

With the devastating earthquake, ongoing turmoil on the southern plain of our country and unannounced embargo imposed on us by neighbouring country, we are forced to live in meagre conditions. The government is undertaking certain compensatory measures and striving its best to curb the enduring problem like fuel crisis, gasoline scarcity and so forth, although, still unable to solve it. With this hardship, it’s beyond doubt, this unimaginable condition has affected and surely would affect our greatest festive fervour. Nevertheless, we, resilient Nepalis, have managed and perhaps will manage to celebrate our valiant festival with our traditional chulos and seek alternative means to visit our near and dear ones, and again will survive in this situation. Since the country has lost many precious lives, opportunists have gained a lot, therefore, our disgruntled brothers and sisters must come in negotiating table and the government must address their demands.

— Rajan Pandit, Gothatar

This year Dashain, the greatest festival of Hindus, couldn’t be celebrated joyfully like it was in the past years. Due to the unexpected crisis in our nation, this year we couldn’t celebrate puja of goddess Durga along with our relatives, neighbours and friends because we couldn’t cook sufficient food and prasad. We even didn’t have gas to cook our daily meal. This year we couldn’t even go to our villages to get blessings from our elders due to transportation problems.

Tihar and Chhath are also very important festivals which are celebrated very joyfully in our nation. For these festivals people cook many delicious food items. Due to fuel crisis it is not possible to cook sufficient food items.

Laxmi, the goddess of wealth is worshipped with lots of candles, diyos, lots of lights in the evening. Similarly, lots of decorating items along with lots of sweets and fruits are needed for this puja. During Bhai Tika sisters give sweets, fruits and raisins to their brothers and brothers give gifts to their sisters and put tika on each other’s foreheads. But this year sufficient amount of flowers, decorating items, candles, sweets, et cetera are not available in markets due to this unexpected crisis, thus our festivals are not going well.

— Shreya Baral

To answer the question on current fuel crisis and festivals, I definitely concur with rest of the world how difficult it is to “enjoy” the festivals. Having said that this crisis has brought the best in us by being tolerant. We have shown the strength or solidarity against all false politics regarding our motherland. We have united to elect president and a stable government which we needed badly throughout the last decade.

More than the political scenario, families have learnt to live on necessities versus the splurges in Dashain and Tihar. The crisis has taught us how to be content without the festival shopping, extravagant eat-outs and elaborate puja. Key family members are tightly working on cooking basic food, eating together without the frivolous reheating. The hard times have definitely bonded the Nepalis.

On contrary to what was expected, the people and police queuing up for fuel has maintained discipline. There are no public agitation. Shopkeepers having lost their business for three months straight are not angry but using this time to recollect and re-strategise business as usual. Office goers are appreciating their workplace more. There is a feeling of gratefulness to God that we are surviving and have survived worst of the times in Nepal this year.

Without the heavy traffic, the environment of Kathmandu has become cleaner. Children are enjoying their festive break undertaking projects like creating their own candles. Some are opting for green vehicles too. Therefore, I would request all media including THT to spread the word on joy and peace this festive season.

— Samridhi Rana

The ongoing crisis has affected my festive celebration. This year I had tons of plans but all those plans faded away as the crisis started. When Tihar began, all the celebration became nil. When you talk about it you remember all those rotis, sweets and all. But now what do you do if you want to eat it? You want to go to your sister’s, but where’s the bus? You want to have sweets, but can you pay for it? This is not only my condition but its the condition of hundreds of families, hundreds of brothers and sisters and many other people who wait for an entire year for the festival but what you get is — economic crisis, illegal marketing, and zero celebration. Thus, we must learn a lesson from it and try to be independent and make sure that no matter which country imposes the blockade our daily life is not affected.

— Wilbur Acharya, Hattigaunda, Kathmandu

Definitely, this year has been the most miserable one. Starting the Nepali year, we faced natural disaster, which killed thousands of people. It was difficult to overcome the loss. After a certain period of time, Nepal welcomed the new Constitution, which became the cause of unofficial blockade that ultimately affected an important festival of Nepal known as Dashain. In fact as a common man, my Dashain was also effected due to the crisis of petroleum products.

And celebrating Tihar, festival of lights, where goddess Laxmi is worshipped, I am not mentally prepared, thinking about how and where I will be able to manage the cooking gas, refill my vehicle with fuel.

Chhath, is another big festival, celebrated by the people living at Tarai belt. Since, there are more effects of ongoing strikes, scarcity of petroleum products, majority of people have been affected and might not be in the mood to celebrate the festival. People from Madhesh who are living and working in the Capital are not able to visit their homes because of this.

— Saksham Shrestha, Chappalkarkhana, Kathmandu

Due to the ongoing trade embargo, the country has been suffering from economic problem in the form of scarcity of essential products which has hit the normal life. Since the southern neighbour showed such cruelty to Nepal due to the indefinite blockade, economy remained highly dismal. We were not being able to celebrate the greatest festival with joy and fervour because we were unable to find commodities of our choice.

I also faced a severe problem because my family had no choice but to stay in Kathmandu and celebrate the festival instead of moving to our ancestral home which is in Tarai. Although we were able to show our capability in struggle for existence, we failed when it comes to managing items necessary for our everyday life. Shortage of fuel has also been a matter of concern to us because we needed petrol for our car which was not available during that time.

— Pratik Shrestha, Buddhanagar, Baneshwor

Things of basic requirements are beyond the reach of common people like us. Most of the people from different parts of the country are still unable to reach their home towns for Tihar reunion with their families due to fuel shortage. Though I reached home by sitting on rooftop of a bus, many of my neighbours, dear and near ones are still waiting for tickets. Because of this, the celebration of Bhai Tika for this year is not that jubilant. If the present crisis continues in the same way, such celebrations will be less enjoyable than they used to be in the past. At this time of shortage, I see that the only way out is to cope with the situation whatsoever.

— Lok Raj Joshi, Darchula, Boharigaun

QUESTION OF THE WEEK

It is said that change is constant in life. And we may have felt this to be true with our friends. Once inseparable friends drift apart over time as life takes its course and one gets busy with the daily grind that life is. Meeting each other becomes difficult. But memories of one’s friends remain. So, if you were given a chance to recreate one memory of your friends, what would it be and why? Explain. ­Send your replies in not more than 200 words by Friday, November 20 by 2:00 pm to

Features, The Himalayan Times, e-mail: features@thehimalayantimes.com