Sonam Lhosar festival celebrated in capital

Kathmandu, Jan. 31: The Tamang community celebrated their annual festival of Sonam Lhosar by organising a fair at Tundikhel, in the heart of Kathmandu, on Thursday. 

A large number of people, dressed in traditional attire, joined the festivities by dancing, singing, and savouring traditional food. Revellers were seen making their way to Tundikhel from all parts of the city.

Although Tamangs, Lepchas and others enjoyed the festival, organised on the occasion of their New Year (on the first day of the new moon in the month of Magh in the lunar calendar), commuters faced an unprecedented traffic jam across the city, especially in the afternoon. 

Traffic system affected in Valley

Since the festival was organised at the centre of the city, a large number of vehicles, including emergency service vehicles and attendees, moved towards the venue, facing traffic congestion.

Uma Prajapati, who was travelling from Bhaktapur to New Road for an urgent task, was visibly disappointed after being stuck in traffic for nearly an hour between Baneshwor and New Road gate.

“It is a terrible idea to organise festivals or fairs in the heart of Kathmandu, where so many people rely on these routes to commute home from work or attend to emergencies. New Road is a major hub and such events only make the congestion worse,” she said.

Archana Sharma, a staff member at a wholesale shop in New Road, was travelling from Chabahil when she got caught in traffic. She had left home late for some personal work but needed to reach the shop before 3 pm. Due to the congestion, she arrived an hour late.

“My boss is going to kill me today! I am already an hour late, and there is no one at the shop right now,” she said anxiously.

Even cultural experts were disappointed due to the unmanaged traffic condition at the centre of the city from where so many vehicles of various routes in the Valley pass through.

Cultural expert Prof. Dr. Beena Poudyal said that Tundikhel is not an ideal location for organising such events.

“Festivals and fairs are frequently held in this area, which is a major transit route for ambulances and daily commuters returning home from work. Given its central location, hosting large gatherings here causes significant inconvenience,” she explained.

“A large number of people migrate from their native places to urban areas, bringing their traditions with them and celebrating their cultural festivals wherever they go. Even in foreign lands, they continue these celebrations. However, such festivals should be held in appropriate venues rather than in congested areas to avoid inconvenience,” Poudyal said.

According to her, there are several open areas with less traffic congestion, such as Lalitpur and Sitapaila, which would be more suitable for such events. However, Tundikhel is not an ideal location.

“In the past two months alone, there have been three Losar celebrations, along with numerous concerts and fairs, causing constant inconvenience to the public. This is not a good choice,” she said.

Talking to The Rising Nepal in an anxious voice, she said she had to endure at least three hours of traffic that day, causing her stress and making her arrive home late.

Traffic Police also admitted to the problem. 

The main problems of traffic jams were noticed from the Department of Mine in Sorhakhuttae to Tripureshwor, Tinkune and New Baneshwor, said Superintendent of Police and spokesperson for Traffic Police Sanjay Bahadur Raut.

However, he said there was no alternative to Tundikhel to orgainse such festivals in the absence of a suitable venue in the city. 

“We have to mobilise more personnel to manage the traffic when there is a fair in Tundikhel and it was no different on Thursday,” he said.  

He also said that the pedestrians who cross road haphazardly instead of crossing them from overhead bridges also caused traffic jams during the fairs.