Dashain is already on the doorsteps. The preparation for it going strong, let it be shopping or moving to a home for the celebration. Nevertheless, the time is hectic for students, workers and also, prisoners.

The prisoners of Tanahu District Prison are hardly getting the time to celebrate the festival because of their busy schedule in making muda stools. Through the income they make from selling mudas, the prisoners are sending money to their families. Out of 100 inmates, 44 of them are already involved in it.

One of the inmates, Saru, believes that muda making has made the time hectic. “Whenever Dashain hits the calendar, the orders for it get high. So, we work. On the one hand, they get mudas and on the other, we can also send the incomes to our homes.” He adds that it’s often better to work than spending a day without doing anything.

As the festival is already here, the hard work has paid the expenses of the family, says Purna Bahadur Gurung, another prisoner. “Aside from income, this muda work has also developed our skills.”

Because of the hard work, the prisoners wish to sell 300,000 rupees worth mudas. According to the jailer Bishnu Hari Ghimire, the inmates prepared 1500 mudas. He adds, “Whenever Dashain hits the calendar, prisoner friends are always busy. This year, they are working to make more than 1000 of those chairs.”

The inmates from Tanahu District Prison work in a group while making those chairs. They distribute the work in picking up mudas, putting tires, knitting, and doing designs. They are paid 30 rupees for designing, 10 for tires, and 15 for carrying. Mostly, they earn 200 rupees per day, being 3-6000 rupees during the whole festival.