Dixya Poudel

Previous week, there was a heavy winter rainfall in most parts of Nepal including Kathmandu. Since Kathmandu valley is situated at an elevation of 1400 m, it gets quite cold and chilly in winter. And past week saw people fretting in the very chilling rain. Fortunate ones could stay indoors while those who had to go about their routine layered themselves with sweaters, jackets, coats and gloves.

During the particularly rainy and cold day last week, people were deprived of the sun. As for me, I stirred cups of coffee in my struggle with the cold. And I enveloped myself with cozy wears while going through the social media where people post about their typical winter’s day. In a typical winter day, people tend to confront the cold. They drink warm beverages. Cafes are crowded with people who want a cup of hot drink.
And coffee shops are lately burgeoning in Kathmandu which sees a stride in café culture and trend. Especially the youngsters love to chat with a cup of coffee in hand. The aroma of coffee, a light music, warm settings, baked cuisines and conversing people in cafes make for a welcoming ambience.

Daily existence can be strenuous due to the cold. I am fortunate that I can write from home, since it means I can stay indoors in the freezing winter. Workers, business people and office employees however have to see to their daily tasks in the winter even in the coldest of days. Thanks to them, our lives run smoothly even in the harshest of winters.

According to the meteorologists, Kathmandu Valley witnessed an abrupt drop in average temperature throughout the previous week. Mercury plunged as people clustered in front of the fire or a heater. The consumption of electric supply increased as more and more people turned on the electric heater. People chose to stay indoors while the rain pelted at the windows, dipping the temperature even further. While I stayed at home, I commiserated with those who had to brace the cold outdoors.

I further mused over the winter days in Pokhara where I lived for better part of my life. Pokhara has a pleasant weather in winter and while it does have cold days, most of the winter is quite mild. I recall browsing through books in library or bookshops in Pokhara so I could read in the warmth of home.

The laws of nature are inevitable and mankind can do nothing but adjust its lives around the whims of nature. Seasons come and seasons go and each one of us is subject to adaptation to the change. While some of us are more willing to face the extreme climates, most of us wish for a pleasant weather. And it is surprising that most developed nations in the world have to confront a rather freezing climate in winters.
Despite the climate adversities, they have achieved much advancement. During typical winter days in such nations, people go about their routine in tandem with the weather. They have thus prevailed over their climatic conditions and created a prosperous milieu. An archetypal winter day sees the grip of cold but as days pass, people become attuned to overcome the weather challenges. The beauty of human life is that it can confront challenges and as such, prosper.