Ask Suman Magar, a vendor, and he will tell you how the first thing he sells every evening when he opens his stall at the Basantapur night market is a mouth mask. “One of the reasons behind the sudden rise in wearing masks amid youngsters is the immense influence of Korean movies”, says Magar.
Magar adds, “I included masks in my selling items when I found that masks give a cool look like those starts in Korean movies.” Magar, who primarily sells scarves, t-shirts and shorts, now makes more than one thousand rupees every day selling masks these days. And there more than a dozen stalls that sell the item.
Among young men, black and brown-colored cotton masks are more popular, whereas girls go for bright colors, baby blue and even printed patterns. Rita Rana, a young pedestrian sporting a very girlish-pink mask with a black border, says, “I have different colored masks in my closet to match them with my dresses every day.” Young girls seem keener on picking the right colored masks to suit their dress or the bike they ride.
Generally masks found in Nepal’s market are medically-unproven normal cotton or nostril-filter masks. Although many cotton masks are incorrectly names “doctor masks”, do not confuse them with E.R. masks. Neither are they medically-proven. The doctor masks, one of the most popular amongst youngsters, are simple colored and printed cotton masks that range from NRs. 10 to 50. Nostril-filter masks are wider, have a double layer of cotton mixed with foam, and may be more durable but have an expiry date. Prices range from NRs.150 to 300 with very few color choices.
According to Magar, printed cotton masks are imported from Thailand and single colored ones from China. “Besides the Thai and Chinese products, there are Nepal-made masks priced at NRs. 40, which attracts a few costumers,” says Magar.
Aashna Saud, a college student, wears a purple-colored mask to prevent herself from increasing pollution in the Valley. “Kathmandu is getting more polluted so wearing a mask is compulsory,” Saud says, before whizzing away on her Honda Dio.
Kathmandu, a growing metropolis, is one of the most polluted cities in Asia. “Kathmandu Valley’s topography naturally traps smoke and vehicular emissions making the ambient air more polluted”, says Kanchan Karki, research assistant at the Environment and Public Health Organization (ENFO). Rampant construction works, brick kilns and vehicular emission have further degraded the air quality in the Valley. Recent months, due to lack of winter monsoon, have seen a massive pollution increase in the Valley.
Basanta Raj Upreti is an asthma patient who wears a nostril-filter mask on the advice of his doctor. “I wear it to save myself from New Nepal’s clean air,” he adds, with a hint of sarcasm.
Public health specialist Dr Rajendra Pant opines that normal masks are not as effective as people think. “Wearing them does not prevent people from catching diseases in the air. But one can definitely avoid dust. Tuberculosis patients and bike riders have benefited from nostril-filter masks,” Pant says.
sumina@myrepublica.com
