Demand for twinkling lights declines

Katmandu, Oct. 19: As the Tihar festival draws closer, people across the country are busy cleaning, decorating, and lighting up their homes with flowers and gleaming lights. 

However, traders said that the market for twinkling lights has been sluggish this year despite the approaching festival.

According to Resham Devkota, President of the Federation of Electrical Entrepreneurs of Nepal (FEEN), the sale of decorative lights began last Sunday, but market enthusiasm has remained tepid. 

“Tihar is one of the major seasons for the sale of lights, especially blinking ones. Traders were expecting business to pick up during the festival, but sales have been declining over the past few years, which has disappointed many businessmen,” he said.

Devkota said the demand for flickering lights has gradually decreased since 2022/23, mainly because high-quality and durable lights are now available in the market. 

“Until a few years ago, people used to buy lights almost every year. Now, as better-quality illuminations are being imported—especially from China—they can be used for three to four years,” he added.

“Until a few years ago, quality lights were not available in the market and people used to buy lights almost every year. However, after the 2021/22, quality lights are being imported from other countries including China, due to which the lights are used at least three-four years,” Devkota told The Rising Nepal.

He estimated that the demand for electric lights has fallen by 15 to 20 per cent this year compared to last year. 

The statistics of the Department of Customs showed that the import of electric lights has been declining for the last three years. 

Electric lights only worth Rs. 1.42 billion had been imported during the last fiscal year 2024/25 while electric lights worth Rs. 1.77 billion had been imported in the fiscal year 2023/24.

The country imported electric lights worth Rs. 2.11 billion in the fiscal year 2021/22, worth Rs. 1.29 billion in the fiscal year 2022/23.

Electric lights only worth Rs. 278 million have been imported during the first two months of the current fiscal year 2025/26.

Nepal imports around 90 per cent of the lights from China and the remaining 10 per cent from India and other countries, Devkota said.

According to him, since the beginning of the current fiscal year, the two main border crossings with the northern neighbouring country, Rasuwa and Tatopani, have been completely blocked, resulting in a large amount of ready-made lights being stranded on the Chinese side.

"If the road had not been blocked, lights worth over Rs. 400 million would have been imported," Devkota said. 

"Even now, goods of dozens of businessmen are stranded in large quantities in China. Although the Korala border has been operational from September, only a small amount has been imported through that route," he said.

Some businessmen have spent more on transportation and brought it from China to Birgunj via Kolkata port.

Devkota also noted that as such decorative lights are not manufactured in Nepal, lights worth millions of rupees are imported every year. “If we could produce these lights locally, it would create employment opportunities for many Nepalis,” he said.

However, he said that the prices of twinkling lights has remained the same as last year.

"Although the price of lights in China has decreased, due to the appreciation of the US dollar and the increase in transportation costs, the price in the local market has not decreased and is the same as last year," he added.

The blinking lights are available in the market prices ranging from Rs. 160 to Rs. 5,000 per piece, he said.

The blinking lights with 100 LED multi-colour is available in the market at Rs. 160-180. Most of the consumers prefer this light.

According to him, a consumer can decorate his/her two-and-a-half storey house with blinking lights by investing around Rs. 4,500 to Rs. 5,500. 

"People can replace damaged lights every year. So, once a consumer invests in decorating their home with lights, they don't have to invest a large amount of money every year," he said.