For the first time in the history of Nepal an elected prime minister boycotted Tika on the vijaya Dasami 2065 BS . Puspa Kamal Dahal alias, a Maoist prime minister of Nepal has officially denunciated Tika on the Vijaya Dasami, the greatest festival of majority Hindus (>85%) in the country. My view is that this could be the start of Maoist’s cultural revolution in Nepal. Majority of Hindus shun this action of prime minister as one of the unpopular deeds which is related to ideology of Maoist and its chairman Prachanda. Because Dasain in Nepal is not only a festival it is also a way of life. Dasain gives Nepalese a chance to meet with family members, to express their feelings with friends and cronies, and a culture where seniors bless juniors during a year even if juniors commit some mischief to thier seniors. This is a time for giving forgiveness and meeting kith and kin who have been missing since a long time. Generally those who are abroad and in their inlaws’ house come to see their parents during Dasain. We cannot imagine reunion of family members so nicely without Dasain. What a miracle festival our forefathers have settled for us in Nepalese culture! Let this be cherished forever among Nepalese in the days ahead. Once juniors go to the seniors for blessing in Dasain seniors forgive whatever blunder they have committed in the past. Therefore, Dasain is considered a social harmony in a divided society. The head of government even if he/she does not like to celebrate Dasain should respect people’s feelings which Prachanda missed this time. In future, maoist will pay high price of neglecting internal sentiments of vast majority of Nepalese. Other political parties will not miss this opportunity in the sense that Maoist do not respect social feelings of people in a society where Dasain is considered a way of life across the country. Then only will Maoist feel what is the importance of respecting people’s sentiment in a country where people believe in religion and social harmony.
We all know that even in secular countries one or other form of feasts of mojority have been respected by their governments. Christians celebrate Xmas starting from the month of September and end in January first when Jesus Christ’s birth day is observed. Muslims celebrate Ramjan for a month and end it on Idul Fidra so is the case with Buddhism and other sects who follow different religions. I have not understood why these ploltical parties like Maoist in Nepal do not rerspect to Hinduism. They will come to know when Hindus flung them to the street and disobey government order for neglecting their age old culture that led social harmony for centuries. Maoist led government should have known the sentiment of people in Indrajatra feasta last week when Newars communities in Basantapur were not provided money for celebrating this festival in Hanumandhoka palace. Government could not resist people’s protest and took back its decision and provided money for celebrating Indra jatra festival as usual. Let us hope that this must have been one of the lessons for goverrnment what people’s culture is in Nepal.
