Contemporary political, social and economic issues have been prioritised in major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu today as well. As Nepalis are celebrating the five-day long Tihar festival, opinion writers and editors have also concentrated on various cultural issues including implications of such celebrations.
Capitalism’s influence on festivals
Chandrakishore in his column for Kantipur writes how the capitalist market-driven economy is influencing the festivals we celebrate. He is of the view that Tihar or Deepawali, of course, is being celebrated as the festival of lights for years; but in recent days the market has taken over the sentiments of festivals so that the real values these festivals convey have been overshadowed.
“The market has turned this celebration as the festival of transactions. The festival of acknowledgement and worship of nature has been of the market, for the market and by the market,” he writes. Later he says, “The festivals are being translated into showing-off of personal consumption, selfishness and hypocrisy from communal coordination, partnership and satisfaction.”
Chandrakishore, meanwhile, connects this cultural issue with the responsibility of recently elected people’s representatives that they have to protect values behind such cultures and traditions.
The writer further establishes links between cultural festivals and ecological conservation. The connection is more apparent in Tihar as the festival worships crows, dogs, cows and oxen which are significant part of our ecosystem. But, the writer points out a problem that the new generation is gradually distanced from animals and worshipping them once a year cannot retain that value, suggesting local leaders take initiatives to preserve rich cultural values.
Nepal Samvat and state’s responsibility
Along with Tihar, Nepalis are also celebrating the New Year of Nepal Samvat 1138 on Friday. The year begins a day before Bhaitika, the main day of Tihar, every year. Though it is regarded as the national calendar of the country and is named after the name of the country, the celebration is largely restricted to the Newar community only. In this context, Newar cultural expert and activist Malla K Sundar in his article for Nagarik writes about importance of the calendar.
His beginning is straightforward and clear: “Nepal Samvat is a history. Its founder Shankhadhar Sakhwa is also a history. But, everyone does not have the same perspective towards this history. They have different expressions.”
Later, Malla focuses more on the responsibility of state towards protection of the calendar system. He informs that Newars of Kathmandu hold a grand function on the occasion every year and the country’s prime minister is invited as the chief guest. He says different prime ministers have made various commitments about promoting Nepal Sambat in the state systems, but the status of implementation of their commitments is very hopeless.
Malla, hence, writes, “The reality from past to present is lack of understanding. And, the result is: various confusions in practice. Though the perspective of state has significantly been changed, still there are many dimensions to be clear about.”
The government on free rein
After the dissolution of Parliament recently, the government has apparently been on free rein, writes Gorakh Bahadur Bogati in his lead article for Rajdhani today. According to the writer, the Prime Minister’s party, Nepali Congress, was operating on its whim while there was the House and now it has been freer. Further, the recent announcement of an alliance between CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre has left the party in a shock and it has become quite reactive.
That is why the party has made comments against the alliance and intervened in internal affairs of the ruling coalition partner, Maoist Centre, indirectly forcing it to leave the government, though it had assured of support till the conclusion of polls, according to Bogati. He accuses the PM’s party of trying to influence results of upcoming elections by misusing the state power and manipulating the Election Commission.
In conclusion, Bogati warns the party against trying to influence the elections as the government is in fact not on free reign as conscious and aware citizens do not tolerate any activities against the national interests anymore.
