KATHMANDU, Nov 10: Homes are glowing with oil lamps, sisters are preparing for Bhai Tika, and families are gathering to celebrate the festival. Yet, thousands of Nepalis are leaving the country, turning away from the festive atmosphere to embark on journeys abroad.
For some, the search is for employment; for others, it is the dream of higher education. Even as Nepal celebrates one of its biggest festivals, the steady flow of passengers departing for foreign destinations through Tribhuvan International Airport has continued.
Rakesh Pariyar, who was at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday, appeared more troubled by his departure than excited about Tihar. Heading to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for employment, he was saddened to leave his family on the eve of Bhai Tika. However, with limited employment opportunities at home, he appeared to have little choice but to seek work abroad.
“I feel sad that I have to leave during Tihar. I have completed my studies, and now I feel it is time to go abroad,” he said.
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Pariyar is far from alone. He represents thousands of Nepalis leaving behind the lights and celebrations of Tihar in search of employment and a better future abroad. Even on the third day of Tihar, Tribhuvan International Airport remained busy with Nepalis departing for foreign destinations.
The airport continued to see a steady flow of passengers travelling abroad for foreign employment, higher education and personal reasons. On one side, families were preparing for Bhai Tika at home; on the other, passengers carrying passports and air tickets were rushing to board their flights. Such scenes at the airport have once again exposed a painful reality of Nepali society.
Festivals are traditionally a time for families to come together, share their joys and sorrows, and spend time with loved ones. In the past, many Nepalis would wait until the festivities were over before leaving for foreign countries. However, circumstances have changed. Employment contracts, visa deadlines, academic schedules and financial pressures are forcing many Nepalis to leave home even on the eve of major festivals.
Successive governments have repeatedly pledged to create jobs at home, provide an environment for Nepalis working abroad to return and work in their own country, and retain young people within Nepal. However, as these commitments have yet to translate into sufficient action, the number of Nepalis leaving for foreign employment and education has not declined as expected.
Going abroad is not simply a matter of personal preference for everyone. For many young people, it has become a means of meeting their families' financial needs. The inability to find jobs suited to their qualifications after graduation, low wages, limited opportunities and uncertainty about the future are pushing young people to seek opportunities overseas. For others, the pursuit of higher education and better prospects is driving their decision to leave.
According to airport authorities, although the number of passengers travelling abroad appears to have declined somewhat during the festive season, departures have not stopped. Nepalis continue to leave the country during this Tihar for education, employment and other personal reasons.
The fact that Nepalis who would traditionally return home to celebrate Tihar are instead leaving the country raises a troubling question: Is leaving Nepal during the festive season a matter of choice for young people, or a compulsion created by the lack of opportunities at home?
Many young Nepalis now carry passports and air tickets in their hands instead of the seven coloured tika of Bhai Tika. Leaving behind the glow of lamps burning in their homes, they are boarding flights in search of a future abroad.
The steady stream of departures from the airport, despite repeated government pledges to create jobs and retain young people at home, stands as a stark reminder of the gap between political promises and reality.
