Kathmandu, October 4, 2016:Â A long-held tradition of people heading outside the Capital city to their respective villages began with the beginning of Bada Dashain, the most widely celebrated Hindu festival, from Sunday, notwithstanding the hassles including lack of adequate vehicles, a perennial problem during this time of the year.
People leave the Capital Valley every year during the Dashain to reunite with their family and friends.
The Dashain travel rush is considered to be the largest annual migration in Nepal.
People travelling outside Kathmandu valley thronged to Balaju-based New Buspark area to board their respective buses.
Advance bus ticket bookings for Dashain opened on Friday.
According to transport entrepreneurs, over 150 new vehicles have been added by transport companies in view of the festival. Temporary help desks have also been set up to assist the customers and to discourage transporters from cheating.
According to the DoTM officials, help desks will be set up in nine locations in the Kathmandu valley– Koteshwor, Gaushala, Sundhara, New Bus Park, Swoyambhu, Old Bus Park, Kalanki and Nagdhunga. Likewise, around a dozen help desks have been set up in other major travel routes of the country, which include-Birtamod, Hetauda, Birgunj and Butwal.
As per an estimate of the Department of Transport Management, only 4,000 vehicles moved out from Kathmandu last year due to the blockade imposed by India and the unrest in the southern plains that caused acute fuel shortage.
However, this year around 2.5 million people are expected to leave.
Photos by: Keshav Thapa
