Kanchanpur. There is only a week left for Dashain, the great festival of Hindu Nepalis. At this time, they are returning home from home and abroad to celebrate Dashain. In the far west, there is a flood of people going to India in search of work on the eve of Dashain.

In the past, the number of Nepalis staying in India for employment was increasing through the Gaddachauki border point. Thousands of Nepalis are returning home every day, but this time the scene is different. At present, the number of people going to India in search of work is more than those returning home through this border point. Children can be seen going to India along with their parents as there are long holidays in the school during the festivals.

Karan Thapa of Jorayal Rural Municipality-2 in Doti district was found at Gaddachauki checkpoint on Tuesday when he was heading to Himachal Pradesh of India in search of work along with his family. “There is a problem in getting food in the evening and morning, how can we celebrate Dashain without money,” he said, adding, “If I have money, I will come to celebrate Tihar.” This time, I couldn’t celebrate Dashain at home. Thapa said that all the family members are going to Himachal Pradesh in search of work as the children are closed during Dashain.

Not only Thapa, a family of 25 people from Bazilek of Doti have gone to Himachal Pradesh of India in search of work. Meena Devi Thapa, a local of Bazilek, said that she has gone to Shimla of India with her husband for work after she did not get a job in the country. “We are going to Shimla as apple picking is available there”, he said, adding, “We celebrate Tihar with the money we earn by working as a labourer in India and return home during Tihar.” ’

Bal Bahadur Thapa, a local of Bazilek, who is on his way to India in search of work, said that they are compelled to go abroad on the eve of Dashain. “Dashain cannot run without money, what to do when we can’t even work here? I am thinking of working as a labourer for a month and returning to my village to celebrate Tihar,” he said.

Hundreds of Nepalis go to India every day through the far-western border points on the eve of festivals as it is difficult to feed their families due to poverty. Krishna Sherla, a resident of Bauniya of Kailali, said that he is going to India to utilize the school holidays. “My parents work in India, I am going there after the school holidays,” he said.

India is a major destination for the people of Far-Western and Karnali Provinces.