National Festival of Nepal; BANDA

Kathmandu is not Kathmandu when in Banda. The empty streets, vehicle less roads, silent buildings and carefree traffics. Only crowd in the midst of streets is that of those organizers of Banda and the children playing in the middle of the road and people taking walk seeing the bright side of Banda. In a way Kathmandu looks beautiful and peaceful without the smoke coming out of the crowded vehicles and roadsides full of pedestrians and street vendors.

Still people who work walk hard to their destinations despite of scorching sun or heavy downpour. I personally thank god because shops are open inside the Gallis, be it very few but they serve our small needs during Bandas. Its actually  very healthy for Kathmandu if there are Bandas once in a month. Kathmandu can breathe fresh air, children will get to play in the open roads in a situation where they don't have enough playing spaces in the middle of the mushrooming buildings and our ears and mind get some peace taking rest from those irritating and mind busting horns and screeching of tyres.

Okay, I understand country will have huge economic loss in Banda, be it a day or two. But the loss is nowhere to compare with the peace and rest felt by the million of people of the country, the feeling of people getting out of their hectic life. Be it little but fuel will be saved as there will be no vehicles running around, which will contribute to control a bit, the bigger picture of the fuel crisis around the world.

Banda has also been the reason for the lazy folks getting break from their work. Almost every students wish that there were Banda every week, hoping to get break from their assignments and daily dose of hours sitting in the classroom listening to the lectures. I, personally enjoy Banda in most of the cases, cooking for my family and having little refreshing time for myself. While there is bunch of people wishing that there were Banda but there are people who wish there were no Banda at all. the daily wage laborers face even more problem for hand-to-mouth in the day of Banda. Thousands of daily errands are actually obstructed just because of the Banda.

But even with all these pros and cons, I see Kathmandu is more relaxed during Banda and Kathmanduites are even more relaxed. Kathmandu is more beautiful than ever in Banda. Thanks to Banda!!