"Eid-al-Adha also known as Kurbani is our second most important festival after Eid-ul-Fitr," said Paras Hussain, a local Muslim rights and social activist of Rautahat. "But with the continuous strike, it will be difficult for us to enjoy the celebrations," said Hussain. He added that protestors should have called off the strike at least two days prior to the festival to help Muslims with the preparations.Likewise, Shekh Rayajuddin of Parsa Gamhariya VDC informed that many youths have not been able to return home due to the prolonged strike. "This time, Kurbani celebrations will be a dull affair as people are reluctant to return home due to the clashes and violence," he said.
According to Maksud Raanki, of Central Hajj Committee, there are about 1.4 million Muslims residing in Tarai-Madhesh but they feel deprived of a conducive environment to celebrate the festival. Raanki said that the protestors are being insensitive toward the Muslim community's right to celebrate their festival.
Lack of festive mood even in Rautahat, where the majority of Muslims of Nepal reside, has added disappointment to the community.
Large number of youths from the community migrate to Indian cities and Gulf countries seeking foreign employment. But banks and foreign currency exchange have shut down their services due to the strike. As a result, locals have been deprived of drawing money from those financial institutions.
"Shortage of money required to observe the festival has also soured the celebrations of the three-day festival" lamented Raanki.
Meanwhile, Muslims have expressed dissatisfaction toward the government's failure to create an environment for celebrating the festival. Discontent is rife among the community with complaints that the prolonged strike has spoiled celebrations of their first major festival after the declaration of the constitution guaranteeing their right to religious practice.
Muslims have been commuting to bordering Indian towns to buy supplies for the celebrations. People have been travelling up to 14 kilometers to reach Ghodasahan, Bairganiya, Gurhenwa, Chainpur, Bapwita and Majorgang on cycle or by foot. But Pripa Bhagwanpur VDC's ex-chief, Shesh Kadair, informed Republica that with the Indian SSB tightening security in the border region, the community has been facing difficulty in importing goods.
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