Dashain grips leaders, too

ANKIT ADHIKARI & KAMAL DEV BHATTARAI
KATHMANDU, OCT 14

 
The greatest Hindu festival Dashain has gripped the entire nation. With the start of the 10-day festival, people in droves have thronged bus stations and airports across the country to join their friends and relatives in their home towns/villages. 

 However, senior leaders of three major parties-Nepali Congress (NC), UCPN (Maoist) and CPN-UML-plan to celebrate the festival in the Capital itself. 

 Speaking to the Post Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Sushil Koirala and leader Arjun Narsingh KC said they would celebrate the Dashain in the Valley.

 According to prime minister’s Press Advisor Bishnu Rijal, Nepal is scheduled to leave for his hometown Rautahat after celebrating Dashain at his residence in Baluwatar on Sunday.

 According to Rijal, Prime Minister Nepal has planned to organise a tea reception at Rautahat on the occasion Dashain, Tihar and upcoming Chhat festival, celebrated mainly in the Tarai region.

NC President Sushil Koirala said he has not made any specific plan for Dashain celebration due to the death of party’s former President Girija Prasad Koirala. Sushil, who has recently shifted to his nephew’s residence at Buddhanagar from Maharajgunj for rest, plans to celebrate the festival with his family and friends.
 

“I will take full rest during the Dashain,” he said. “I have planned to call the party’s Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting and extend the CWC structure after the Dashain.”Koirala, who fell ill soon after he was elected party president through NC’s 12th General Convention (GC), said he would not go to his hometown Nepalgunj for Dashain. Koirala was hospitalised after he complained of chest pain while the GC was underway. The doctors have suggested him to take complete rest for the time being.

Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s aide Samir Dahal said Dahal would celebrate his Dashain in the valley with his family and friends. “He has planned to celebrate Dashain by holding various political meetings,” he said. “He won’t go to his hometown Chitwan for the festival.”

 Meanwhile, NC leader Arjun Narsingh KC said he would be celebrating this Dashain in Kathmandu. “I have not made any plans to go to my hometown Nuwakot this Dashain,” he said.

Published in The Kathmandu Post -- October 15