By Smita Adhikari
Pokhara, Oct. 19: Lakeside is one of the major tourist sites in Pokhara Valley. Not only Nepalis but also people from countries across South Asia are found to be running their art-related businesses in the area, selling indigenous art and handcrafts representing their respective countries.
Since March, when COVID-19-induced lockdown was enforced, the number of tourists visiting the city has declined sharply. And this has adversely impacted the handicraft business.
However, the craftsmen have been keeping their hopes alive and working relentlessly. They hope that once the situation returns to normal, their business will get back to pre-epidemic levels. Unable to pay their employees, many such businesses have curtailed their staff number.
"To recover financial losses, we need to stock more art works, so that we can sell them later," said Irshad Bhat, Mougal Arts businessman of Jarebar, Lakeside.
Bhat, who is from Kashmir, India, has been running business at Lakeside for the past 15 years, along with his family.
Bhat said that before COVID-19 crisis, he used to earn over Rs. 100,000 a month by selling Mougal carpets, paintings and cushion covers to the foreigners.
“These artistic pieces reflect incredible stories, history of Mougal culture in the form of skillful art,” said Bhat, adding that although he had only few craftsmen left these days, he had already stocked stuffs for almost a year.
"I think I don’t need to hire new artists for at least two years,” he added.
Wangel Lama, 45, a resident of Barahighat, Lakeside, has a similar story to share.
Lama is a 'Thangka' artist and has been running Thankga business in Lakeside for the past 20 years.
Thangka is the art which depicts the Buddhist culture and civilization.
Sharing his experience, Lama said his business witnessed a huge loss during the lockdown.
However, they have not stopped producing Thankga. They are used to preparing Thangka so much so that COVID-19 crisis couldn’t stop them from following what their minds and hearts are into, said Lama
There are many art-related businesses running around the Lakeside. Apart from Thangka and Mougal art , there are other ethnic arts and paintings crafted on clothes. There is no formal data on how many shops are running such businesses but almost one third shops at Lakeside are found selling such ethnic and traditional arts.
Despite the lockdown and COVID-19-induced crisis hitting their businesses, they have not given up hopes.
"Even during the lockdown, they have been receiving orders from personal contacts,” said Buddha Lama, owner of an art business in Ambot, Lakeside.