Last year Dashain came and went without any excitement for me. Dashain for some might be all about new clothes, delicious food, family get-togethers and a lot of fun but for me this festival is also an occasion to experience the delights of swinging on a linge ping. I remember crying and pleading to my father for a linge ping of my own during my childhood.

“Buwa, you just need four bamboos, the ping in the village is over crowded.” And his sweetest words still echo: “Ok, fine.”

Luckily the following day we had people working on my swing. I had to be there to keep an eye on the entire process. From making the pata — string for cutting the bamboos. I remember mom yelling at me to get ready for school but I didn’t want anyone to spoil the festive mood. However, at school I was lost in linge ping and it’s only after reaching home that I felt a sense of ease.

The four bamboos are tied together and the juwa is fixed. I remember watching Chamlagai Dai making the kamro. It’s only after an hour that the ping was finally ready for me.

I excitedly sat on the kamro and urged Chamlagai Dai to push me from behind. I can never forget the joys of swinging; I started pushing forwards and backwards. I swayed higher and higher with each vigorous thrust. And as I went higher and higher I felt ecstatic, the joy was

enormous!

However, last year, a few days before Dashain, I saw a linge ping near Siddhi Pokhari. My heart soared with joy. The scene revived childhood memories. I wanted to swing high, feel the wind once again on my face and sense the same joy. But then I realised I was no more a child. The world was not the same. I was expected to conform to its rules.

These days there are very few linge pings around. Linge ping has its own charm and it’s not the same as a ride on a roller coaster. I feel sad that many urban children are deprived of its joys. Even most of the elders seem to have forgotten this delightful pass time.

This year I plan to swing because I realise what I had been missing. Nothing should stop anyone from attaining happiness — neither age, nor status nor the influence of western culture — especially when it comes so easily and naturally to us!