As the major festival of Gaura approaches in Sudurpashchim, border crossings with India have seen a significant increase in activity. The number of people returning home through these crossings has more than doubled compared to previous years.
With the Gaura festival beginning today, many Nepalese who had been working in India for extended periods are returning home. According to the District Police Office, the number of people entering the country through the Khalanga border has surged. Information Officer Gyanendra Bahadur Singh reported that more than 300 Nepalese are returning daily through the Dattu, Jauljibi, Lali, and Khalanga checkpoints in Darchula.
Many who work in India typically time their return home to coincide with major festivals. In Sudurpashchim, Gaura is celebrated with great significance, with families gathering together to observe the festival. It is a time when local communities place a strong emphasis on social harmony, coming together to share both joys and sorrows.
Gaura, a festival primarily observed in the Sudurpashchim region during the waxing or waning phases of the Bhadra month, sees many who had migrated for work returning to their ancestral homes. The festival is particularly significant in the hilly communities, where traditional games and rituals are held at temples and sacred sites known as Gaurakhalo.
Cultural expert Mohanraj Pant highlighted that Gaura is also seen as a festival of social harmony, as it brings together long-separated family members and villagers. On the day of Ashtami, known as Gaurashtami, devotees perform rituals and sing Mangalgans (auspicious songs) while dancing with the Gaura idol. The Gaura idol is then placed in the courtyard of the Gauraghar, where traditional songs, dances, and tales of legendary kings and heroes are performed. The festival also marks the beginning of Deuda, a traditional group dance that is performed in various locations from today onwards.
