Nepal is a country which is known all over the world as a ‘Land of festivals’. It is a matter of fact that it has more festivals than the days in a year. Each festival has its own significance and importance. In the same way, Indra Jatra, one of the most important festivals, mainly of the Newar community, was celebrated with fervour and joy on 27 September, 2015.

Although I was really not part of the festival, I loved the way the festival is celebrated. What I can also say for sure is the festival is thought to bring enough amount of water in the form of rainfall for the country. During this time, the Kumari is also worshipped by the head of state. It was done on that day although there were continuous bandhs and violence over the new constitution. Although the country is passing through a difficult phase of earthquakes and an economic blockade, Nepalis will never  stop

celebrating their festivals that keep them happy even during such hardships posed by our close neighbor. Nevertheless, I’m proud that we have one such important festive day which has been the main part of Nepal although it belongs to the Newar community of the valley.

Pratik Shrestha, Kathmandu

Used as shield

One of my Iranian friends asked me, “Is it good to have such overwhelming influence by a nation on your national affairs”? I replied “no” but the nation with whom we share our generational past, with more than 75% of the people sharing the language, the same number of people sharing the religion and culture through thick and thin, it simply goes without saying that concerns occur. Crimea was annexed despite the fact that international community is against it.

Chauvinism is not a panacea for problems in this age of globalization .What if Nepal would be India and India be Nepal? Would Nepal risk its people’s life entering the area where more than 50 people have been killed, I can never expect the nation whose premier has twice visited Nepal in more than two decades would ever impose an embargo.

Who have blocked the routes? It’s India or the agitators who have catalyzed India and metastasized our sufferings. When I queue up in petrol stations I equate myself with refugees who are waiting desperately for their basic needs in local buses with twice or thrice its capacity like the refugees who are desperately wanting to cross the danger zones for safer havens. I request the agitators not to use common denizens as your shield.

Jay Bahadur Shah, Jajarkot