A Dashain Dilemma: Economic Hardship Forces Families to India

KATHMANDU As families across Nepal prepare for the grand celebrations of Bada Dashain, a starkly different and deeply poignant scene is unfolding in the country's Far West. While a joyful wave of people are returning home from abroad to mark the festival with their loved ones, many in the Sudurpaschim and Karnali provinces are heading in the opposite direction. This annual pilgrimage is not for celebration but is instead a desperate search for work, driven by economic hardship.

Traditionally, this time of year sees a surge in Nepalis returning from neighbouring India for the holidays, their pockets filled with earnings. However, the current figures at the Gaddachowki border checkpoint reveal a worrying and heartbreaking trend: more people are crossing into India for work than are coming home. It's a striking visual of the country’s economic challenges, seen through the lens of a family festival.

For families like Karan Thapa's from Doti, the choice is a difficult and painful one. "It is hard for us to make ends meet, so how can we celebrate Dashain without any money?" he said on Tuesday, his voice heavy with the weight of responsibility. As he headed to Himachal Pradesh, his entire family in tow, including his children who are on school holidays, his words captured the essence of their sacrifice. "If I am able to earn some, I will return to celebrate Tihar," he added, holding onto the hope of a slightly brighter future.

This sentiment is echoed by countless others. Minadevi Thapa, also from Doti, explained that she and her husband are travelling to Shimla to find work picking apples, a task they simply could not find in their own country. "We are going there because there is work to pick apples in Shimla," she said, highlighting the lack of local employment opportunities. Another resident, Bal Bahadur Thapa, spoke of leaving with his children out of sheer compulsion, with the faint hope of returning for Tihar after a month of back-breaking work.

The situation underscores the harsh reality of poverty that hundreds of Nepalis face in the region. Even students like Krishna Serla from Kailali are joining their parents in India during their school break, a sacrifice of their childhood for their family's survival. India remains a crucial employment destination for many from these western provinces, who are forced to seek opportunities across the border just to support their families. It is a powerful reminder that for many, the promise of a holiday feast is overshadowed by the more pressing need to simply put food on the table.

(Source: RSS Reporting)