Dashain Bazaars
AS Dashain, the greatest festival of Hindus,
has already begun, there is virtually great shopping spree in Kathmandu as well as other
parts of the country. People are busy in buying commodities needed for the festival. As a
result, the entire market of Kathmandu is busy and bustling. It has been a common practice
for all to wear new clothes during Dashain and celebrate with more fashion these days.
Although Dashain is the symbol of happiness, organising get togethers and exchanging
greetings among friends, relatives and well wishers, this festival is slowly getting
expensive these days. Some people celebrate the festival in a way to show their financial
status to others. However, it has become really difficult for many Nepalese people to
maintain the tradition and keep the culture alive. As a result, it has become virtually a
burden to many poor people whose income is low and limited. In view of the problems being
faced by the poor and other people whose income is low and limited, the government has
opened some fair price shops in different parts of the city in order to provide relief to
the people. In these shops, people get the goods in relatively fair and low prices.
However, this is also not sufficient as number of such fair price shops is far less in
proportion of population growth. As people are already suffering from inflation and price
hike, they are hardest hit during the festival seasons because businessmen often tend to
take advantage during this period. Considering this problem, a tradition of opening
Dashain bazaar has been maintained in Kathmandu as well as all districts of the country at
the initiative of the government. In the Dashain bazaars, genuine goods are available in
genuine price barring a few exceptions. The government has made arrangement of Dashain
bazaars this year too. But there are some complaints that unlike previous years Dashain
bazaars were not opened in adequate manner in different parts of the country this year.
The demand for more Dashain bazaars is the indication of its effectiveness. Now Dashain is
already round the corner and further arrangements for more Dashain bazaars may not be
feasible this year. But it can be taken as a lesson for next years. Moreover, another
great festival of Hindus— Tihar or Dipawali— is also coming soon and due
attention should be given to make similar arrangements so that people can feel relief to
certain extent in the next festival season.
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