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Nepal’s vibrant Dashain market, once characterized by bustling streets full of shoppers and a palpable sense of excitement in the air, is largely subdued as a result of ongoing economic crisis. 

Nepal’s economic downturn has cast a shadow over the traditional fervor, leaving many to ponder on the impacts on sales, transactions, and the overall excitement of the festival season. Recession has brought us to a point where we need to reconsider and reevaluate the dynamics of the Dashain market. It is imperative to delve deeper into the nuanced effects of recession on the Dashain market, assessing whether the economic constraints have dampened the customary zeal and prompted a more restrained approach to spending.

In recent years, the Dashain market has experienced a visible shift in sales and transactions that serve as a barometer of economic health. While the demand for essentials and customary festive items remains steady, the extravagant purchases and splurges seem to have taken a back seat. Consumers are exhibiting a heightened sensitivity towards their financial resources. 

The Fashion Hub, nestled in the heart of New Baneshwor, is the brainchild of Juna Giri. In previous years, the lively echoes of footsteps in her store bore witness to the exuberant spirit of the season, with sales soaring from the auspicious day of Ghatasthapana. However, in the wake of the global pandemic, a subtle transformation has taken place. It’s like a big shift in how people do their Dashain shopping, and Juna’s shop is feeling it too. 

“Before Covid-19 struck, our sales were flourishing. We had about 15 daily visitors, and during Dashain, that number would swell to around 50, starting from Ghatasthapana. However, in the aftermath of the pandemic, customers have shifted to online shopping. But there aren’t as many sales as before,” says Giri. “After Covid-19, walk-in customers have slashed. The same familiar clothes hang on our racks, with few to no new arrivals.”

The hallmark of Dashain market, the hustle and bustle, has been somewhat tempered. The once hectic shoppers, darting from stall to stall, now move with a measured determination. The cacophony of haggling and bargaining, while still present, has taken on a more subdued tone. This recalibration of the shopping experience mirrors a broader societal shift towards a more mindful consumption pattern, in regards to recession. 

There has also been a noticeable surge in online shopping preferences among Dashain celebrants. Instead of rushing from stall to stall, more and more people are choosing to scroll through virtual storefronts from the comfort of their homes. This shift towards e-commerce reflects a broader societal transition towards convenience and accessibility in the shopping experience.

“We opened a TikTok account for our store, and in just a year, we’ve surpassed 38,000 followers. Many of the customers who visit us now say they discovered our store through TikTok,” says Giri.

Much like The Fashion Hub, numerous clothing stores have undergone this transformation. The tradition of haggling and bargaining, while still prevalent in the traditional market, has also been influenced by this digital evolution. Online platforms introduce a different method of negotiation, often involving the use of digital coupons, promotional codes, and comparative shopping, ultimately reshaping how consumers interact with sellers.

Market saturation has intensified the impact of the recession. Consumers now prefer unique, trendy clothing over mass-produced options found in every other store. Rose Pahari, owner of Bellevogue_np, a platform enabling customers to pre-order desired items from the USA, reflects on this shift in consumption patterns. 

“We receive substantial pre-orders for ethnic wear because individuals are inclined towards exclusivity. However, this year has witnessed a decline in consumption. We observe a surge in online bargaining as people become more discerning and prudent with their spending,” says Pahari.

Limiting the uncontrollable spending

Recession has acted as a reality check, prompting consumers to reevaluate their spending habits. While the allure of extravagant purchases remains, a newfound restraint prevails. The Dashain market, once a playground for unrestrained spending, is now a space where thoughtful choices are celebrated.

In a recent report from the Ministry of Finance, concerns arise as government expenditures, including salaries and Dashain allowances, have surpassed income, leading to a negative account balance.

Dhaniram Sharma, joint secretary of the ministry, urges against misconstruing this situation as a sign of distress, explaining that while first-quarter revenue collection fell short of targets, overall revenue is on par with last year’s. This fiscal situation prompts reflection on the age-old tradition of celebrating Dashain with lavishness, sometimes surpassing one’s financial capacity. The government’s provision of Dashain allowances, while well-intentioned, can inadvertently encourage this trend. It’s important to recognize that an extravagant Dashain celebration should not be equated with genuine tradition, but may, at times, stem from a desire to imitate unsustainable practices.

The Dashain market in Nepal stands as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Nepali culture in the face of economic challenges. While the recession has ushered in a more measured approach to spending, it has not extinguished the fervor of the festival. Instead, it has prompted a reevaluation of priorities, emphasizing the true essence of Dashain—family, togetherness, and the celebration of traditions. As the market evolves, it continues to serve as a reflection of the ever-evolving economic landscape of Nepal.

Nepal Police has come up with a Kathmandu Valley-centric special security plan meant for public safety in view of upcoming festivals.  

The police force aims to deploy personnel and use modern technologies to enable people to celebrate the festivals in a safe and secure environment as part of its ‘Safe Valley, Our Commitment’ campaign.   

Effective security arrangements will be made during the festivals through proactive policing, which includes foot patrol, mobile patrol, plainclothes, picketing, striking, reserve force mobilization, CCTV surveillance, walk-through gates and drone surveillance for traffic and disaster management.

The idea is to use CCTV cameras and drones for surveillance in crowded areas. The police force will deploy personnel equipped with body-mounted GoPro cameras for the identification of suspicious individuals.

Plainclothes security personnel equipped with communication devices and small arms will be deployed in banks, financial institutions and other places where cash and precious jewelry are traded.  

“Public help desks with traffic police will be set up at 15 different locations in the valley,” said Dinesh Raj Mainali, spokesperson at the Kathmandu Valley Police Office.

Dog sniffing and search will be conducted at malls and major checkpoints in the valley.

A total of 1,800 traffic police personnel will be deployed to keep tabs on road traffic as there are chances of people driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, black marketing of bus tickets, mismanagement of the public transport system, looting, speeding and road traffic accidents.

Altogether 7,633 police personnel will be deployed in the valley during the festivals.

Meanwhile, police have issued an advisory on ways to remain safe. The advisory cautions people not to eat foodstuffs offered by strangers. It alerts people not to visit crowded places with cash and valuables, including jewelry and expensive phones. Keeping doors and windows closed, installing a lock with a siren and informing neighbors and local police before leaving home for a long time are also some of the ways to remain safe.

It also recommends people to use digital technology for monetary transactions, keep one-time password (OTP) private and not to post personal and travel details on social media.

Police have also alerted the public about the negative effects of gambling and cautioned against driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs.  

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 20. 16 points to close at 1,874.60 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 2. 95 points to close at 359. 13 points.

A total of 7,558,542-unit shares of 292 companies were traded for Rs 1. 70 billion.

Meanwhile, Bhagawati Hydropower Development Company Limited and Mid Solu Hydropower Limited were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, City Hotel Limited was the top loser with its price dropped by 9. 09 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 87 trillion.  

A person was injured when police opened fire at a group of alleged robbers at Jagdol in Gokarneshwor Municipality on Thursday.

Crime Investigation Office spokesperson Rabindra Regmi said that police have recovered a pistol and seven rounds of its bullets from the possession of robbers.

He said that police opened fire at the robbers after they tried to attack security personnel. Amar Ghalan (25) was injured in the police firing.

Regmi said that police reached the incident site acting on a tip-off.

Amnesty International’s new report titled ‘Don’t worry, it’s a branch of Amazon,’ based on information collected from 22 men from Nepal who worked in Amazon’s warehouses in Riyadh or Jeddah between 2021 and 2023, reveals that they were deceived and exploited.  

“Contracted workers in Amazon warehouses in Saudi Arabia were deceived by recruitment agents and labor supply companies, cheated of their earnings, housed in appalling conditions and prevented from finding alternative employment or leaving the country,” Amnesty said in a press statement. 

The report shows how Amazon failed to prevent contracted workers in Saudi Arabia from being repeatedly exposed to human rights abuses, despite receiving complaints directly from workers about their treatment over a lengthy period of time. In many cases, it is highly likely that the abuses suffered by workers amounted to human trafficking, given the deception that occurred during recruitment, and the exploitation endured once they were there. 

“The workers thought they were seizing a golden opportunity with Amazon but instead ended up suffering abuses which left many traumatized. We suspect hundreds more endured similar appalling treatment. Many of those we interviewed suffered abuses so severe that they are likely to amount to human trafficking for the purposes of labor exploitation,” said Steve Cockburn, Amnesty International’s Head of Economic and Social Justice.  

“Amazon could have prevented and ended this appalling suffering long ago but its processes failed to protect these contracted workers in Saudi Arabia from shocking abuses. Amazon should urgently compensate all those who have been harmed and ensure this can never happen again.

  “The government of Saudi Arabia also bears a heavy responsibility. It must urgently investigate these abuses and reform its labor system to guarantee workers their fundamental rights, including being able to freely change employers and leave the country without conditions.”  

The workers were employed by two third-party labor supply contractors—Abdullah Fahad Al-Mutairi Support Services Co (Al-Mutairi), or Basmah Al-Musanada Co for Technical Support Services (Basmah).    

Deception, recruitment fees, squalor and exploitation  

To secure work at Amazon’s facilities in Saudi Arabia, the interviewees, with one exception, paid recruitment agents in Nepal an average of $1500. Some took high-interest loans to pay the fees.   

During the recruitment process, the agents, sometimes in collusion with the Saudi Arabian labor supply companies, deceived many of the workers into believing they would be employed directly by Amazon.  

Some workers began to suspect that Amazon was not their direct employer when they received their contracts and documentation just hours before they were due to fly, but having already paid recruitment fees felt they had no choice but to continue. Others realized only after arriving in Saudi Arabia.  

One interviewee, Bibek, said: “I realized it was a different company on the day of the flight… I saw on my passport it said, ‘Al Basmah Co’ but the agent said, ‘don’t worry, it’s a branch of Amazon’.”  

In Saudi Arabia, the workers were mostly housed, for months, in dirty and overcrowded accommodation, sometimes infested with bed bugs. They were put to work in Amazon warehouses, but the contractors often withheld part of their salaries and/or food allowances without explanation, and underpaid overtime.  

In the warehouses, workers said they were repeatedly required to lift very heavy items, run to meet grueling performance targets, were constantly monitored, and not allowed to rest adequately. In some cases, this resulted in injuries and illness. One worker said he suffered a suspected broken arm and was signed off work for a month by a doctor, but because the supply company denied workers sick pay, he felt that he had to resume work within two weeks.  

Most workers signed two-year contracts with the labor supply companies, but many spent less than 12 months at Amazon’s facilities before the work ended, which some likened to being “fired”.  The supply companies then moved these ‘jobless’ individuals to even worse accommodation, stopped paying salaries, and in some cases food allowances. Without any social protection or support from the Saudi state, some survived by eating bread and salt, and drinking salty water.  

One worker, Kiran, said the accommodation “was extremely dirty. No air conditioning, no fans. The temperature was 50°C… There are so many workers… no beds, cooking gas or drinking water. There was no internet so we couldn’t contact our family.”  

Trapped in Saudi Arabia

Most interviewees received no more work, but the contractors took advantage of Saudi Arabia’s sponsorship system, or kafala, which despite some recent reforms binds foreign workers to their employers, preventing them from moving jobs without the employer’s consent and limiting their ability to leave the country freely.  

The labor supply company managers refused to provide ‘transfer authorization’ documents required under Saudi regulations to allow workers to change employers within their first year. If workers left without permission, they risked arrest for ‘absconding’. Many wanted to return home before their contracts ended but Al-Mutairi managers would not purchase the flight tickets they were legally obliged to provide and told workers they would have to pay a ‘fine’ of between $1,330 and $1,600 for exit papers.  

As a result, the workers were stranded in appalling conditions at the mercy of the Amazon contractors.  

A few contemplated suicide. Dev said: “I tried to jump from the wall, I tried to kill myself. I told my mum and she said ‘don’t, we will get a loan’. Already it is eight months since she took out a loan and the interest is piling up.”  

Amazon’s failures

The vulnerability of migrant workers in Saudi Arabia was well documented before Amazon began operating there in 2020 and was identified in an Amazon risk assessment conducted in 2021, meaning the company knew about the high-risk of labor abuses in the country.  

Workers began raising complaints directly with Amazon managers in Saudi Arabia in 2021, including by writing on dedicated white boards in the warehouses, or verbally at daily meetings, yet these were often ignored and the abuses continued into 2023.   

One worker, Kiran said: “Amazon knows each problem we have with the supply company. Amazon asks workers about the problems and issues they face during daily meetings.”  

Some workers who complained to Amazon were subject to reprisals by the contractors. One said salaries were deducted after complaints to Amazon about their living conditions. Another person who complained to Amazon about the water quality in the accommodation said he was taken to a supply company office and pushed and slapped by an Al-Mutairi supervisor.  

When he subsequently informed an Amazon manager about the assault, he said he was told “it’s not our business”.  

The report finds that Amazon has contributed to abuses by failing to adhere to its own stated policies, or the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and potentially benefitted from the services of victims of human trafficking, as defined by international law and standards.  

Nepal crushed Iran by 274 runs in the ACC U-19 Premier Cup in Malaysia on Thursday.

Chasing the target of 354 runs, Iran were bowled out for a paltry total of 79 runs.

Electing to bat first after winning the toss, Nepal made 353 runs in 40.1 overs losing all the wickets.

Captain Dev Khanal scored a century of 60 balls hitting 12 fours and four sixes. Similarly, Deepak Bohara contributed 65 runs of 59 balls with five fours and two sixes.

Likewise, Deepak Prasad Dumre made 69 runs, Dipesh Kandel 29, Akash Chand 19, Hemanta Dhami 23 and Subash Bhandari 18.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 700 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 109, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 108, 800 per tola on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 109, 000 per tola. It was traded at Rs 108, 300 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,350 per tola today.

A Nepal Airlines plane that had left for Israel this morning to evacuate Nepalis from war-torn Israel will land at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), Kathmandu at 9 pm today.

The national flag-carrier plane took off for Israel from Kathmandu at 3.30 am today.

Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud himself has left for Israel on the same plane for diplomatic coordination to rescue the Nepalis from the war-hit West Asian country.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs' spokesperson Sewa Lamsal said a 250-seat wide-body aircraft of the Nepal Airlines has left for Israel to bring the Nepalis wishing to return home.

Ten Nepali students were killed and some others were injured in the attack by Palestinian militant group Hamas in the southern part of Israel on Saturday. The status of one student is still unknown.

The Nepali Embassy in Israel has been collecting, through an online registration system, the names of Nepalis who want to be relocated or rescued to safer places and who wish to return to Nepal.

Delay in repatriation of bodies

The repatriation of the bodies of the 10 Nepalis killed in the attack may take time as the legal process of handing over the bodies has not been completed.

It may be noted that the Government of Israel has declared a war against Hamas.

Spokesperson Lamsal said the bodies would be brought to Nepal at the soonest once the Israeli government completed all the legal processes including the post-mortem.