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Sajjan Sapkota, 24 

Initially, I slept for the whole afternoon and wake up in an unknown planet and an unknown time zone. So I decided to look around my house, searching for some productive work: had had enough of Yesko kaam khani sutni matrai ho (“all he does is eat and sleep”) from my parents. That made me think of painting my stairs. It took me two days, top to bottom. I then sandpapered the rust out of all iron stuff around the house. Then I started to remodel my room. I felt good, to be honest. I was able to do something for the house. I have been taking online classes from my university in Germany in the evenings.

Aastha Sthapit, 21

I’m binge watching TV series most of the time (‘The Big Bang Theory’, ‘How I Met Your Mother’, and ‘Doctor House’). My brother and I are cooking food, learning stuff from YouTube channels. We made donuts, pasta, pancakes, banana cakes, and butter chicken. We are also playing indoor games like carom-board, ludo, etc. Just the fact that the virus is coming closer home, kinda scares me.

Bibha Shakya, 22

I’m spending my time watching movies and series. I also watched Ramayan on YouTube. Though I am a reader, I don’t find e-books effective, as reading on the screen kinda takes the essence away.

Shristi Adhikari, 22

Doing a bit of work. We are doing international online meetings, exchanging information on what is happening in each country. By the way, I am now also reading Chetan Bhagat’s Three Mistakes of My life.

Kristina Maharjan, 20

I am spending my time working at home, cooking, and cleaning. I’ve been doing graphic designing as well as learning makeup. Also, I watched various movies and series like ‘Breaking Bad’ and ‘The Great Gatsby’. In addition to the movie, I am also reading F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby.

Suraj Adhikari, 15

This lockdown has been really beneficial for me as I get more time to focus on my music. I’ve been writing lyrics and composing music and raw beats. I wrote poems at first but as my friends suggested I should rap, I’ve been plan on building a career on it. Though my parents don’t like it much, I’ve been learning to make beats and music from YouTube tutorials. And I help my parents with household chores.

Sushan Shrestha, 21

This lockdown has given me the opportunity to spend quality time with my family. We are recollecting old memories. I see old photos of my parents and my own when I was younger. We play indoor games like ludo, carom-board, etc and eagerly waiting for new season of ‘Money Heist’. This lockdown has given me ample time to prepare for my board exams as well.

Sajja Singh, 23

If you own a box of colors that you had bought months ago and that is now resting in the corner of your table, then it is time to unbox it! You can paint a section of your room or even a single pillar, which I have done during the lockdown. Apart from painting I am also taking a mental note of how I feel during the lockdown. This lockdown makes me feel blessed just to be alive. I am grateful to the ones risking their lives to save ours. I am also spending time with my family and beloved plants.

Priyanshu Shah, 21

Since Day One of the lockdown, I have been doing 3-4 hours of physical workout. This has helped me stay energetic for the whole day. I also watch a movie a day. I have already seen ‘Jumanji’, ‘Venom’, ‘Dr Dolittle’, ‘Knives Out’ etc. I am going through the Handbook of Exercises for Actors by Stanislavski.

Ujjwal Duwal, 19

My sister just got back from India due to the pandemic. I am having a good time with her. As an engineering student, I had to focus a lot on my studies. I couldn’t spend time with my family but now I can. One of my friends suggested watching ‘The Twilight Saga’. I am doing so, and I plan to watch more movies and series.

One activity you’re doing the most in the lockdown?

Cleaning/ eating

The best film/series you suggest for the lockdown?

Andaz Apna Apna

Have you read anything lately? Would you recommend it?

Newspapers. Only news for now.

Best music to listen to?

John Mayer

How do you work out during the lockdown?

Actually, I stopped working out because of the lockdown. Sad.

How long do you think the lockdown will last?

21 days

What is the first thing you’ll do when the lockdown is over?

Band practice

If not home, where would you prefer to be during the lockdown?

Trekking to the mountains

If you were to be locked down with a Nepali celebrity for 21 days, who would it be?

Madan Krishna Shrestha dai

One dish you wouldn’t mind eating everyday in the lockdown?

Chatpate

One activity you’re doing the most in the lockdown?

Watering the flowers

The best film/series you suggest for the lockdown?

“The Next Outbreak? We are not ready” – Bill Gates (TED Talks) 

Have you read anything good lately?

‘Handbook of Public Pedagogy’ by J.A Sandlin, B.D Schultz, J. Burdick.

I would suggest this to all the teachers, students, journalists, and artists. 

Best music to listen to? 

Lately, Montreaux Jazz Festival has offered over 50 Festival concerts available to stream for free, including performances by Ray Charles, Wu-Tang Clan, Johnny Cash, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Deep Purple, Carlos Santana, and many more.

How do you workout during lockdown?

Watching Chinese Kung Fu movies and imagining imitating them while walking up and down the stairs to get beers from Curilo Cafe downstairs.

How long do you think the lockdown will last?

At least two more weeks.

What is the first thing you’ll do when the lockdown is over?

Get together with my band members, play some music, then head down to the nearest pub and have some beer with my friends.

If not at home, where would you prefer being locked down?

I would not prefer being locked down ANYWHERE. 

If you were to be locked down with a Nepali celebrity for 21 days, who would it be? 

Does not matter. Keep social distance. KEEP DISTANCE!

One dish you wouldn’t mind eating everyday during the lockdown?

It’s not about minding or not when you have Dal Bhat everyday, lockdown or no lockdown!!  

Established as a relatively unknown Facebook group in February 2016, the Daari Gang has now won many hearts through its social welfare works via the digital platform.

The Facebook group initially posted photos of men with beards and shared tips on beard grooming. One day, in the company of some of his friends Jagdish Bhandari, who is a student of history, was visiting historian and culture expert Satyamohan Joshi. Soon as he saw the group enter his house, Joshi blurted out: ‘Daari Gang.’

“The name was catchy and we decided to start a Facebook group with it,” says Bhandari, one of the Daari Gang founders.

After its establishment, the network has steadily widened and other daariwals and non-daariwals have embraced it with enthusiasm. The group first met in Pokhara in June 2016. The outcome of that meeting was the “Itahari Jaau Paani Puri Khaau” initiative, which was organized to help children suffering from cancer. After that the Daari Gang has been engaged in many other social initiatives.

It volunteered in the finale of Nepal Idol season 1 as well as in the Voice of Nepal season 1. It distributed relief materials in the tornado-hit Bara district.

The gang supports the Dhurmus Suntali Foundation, and always steps whether in organizing cleanliness programs, charity shows, or in medical treatment of the poor. 

“We have a presence in 30 districts and we do welfare works outside the country as well,” says Bhandari. With over 100,000 members, Daari Gang is open not just to the bearded ones; anyone who loves beard and wants to contribute to the society can join.

But how does the group arrange funds for its social causes? Each district chapter conducts a regular monthly meeting that not only discusses current and future programs but also collects money, mostly by selling the group’s t-shirts and badges. If larger funds are needed, charity shows are organized.

“Funds are no hindrance to do good work. We are supported by countless kind-hearted people,” says Bhandari. Recently the group registered with the government, making it easier to manage funds and other requisites.

The group is determined to change the bad social perception of bearded people. Many gang members now say they no longer face pressure from their family members and relatives to trim their beards, all thanks to the activities of the Daari Gang.

It is fascinating to hear the many tales connected with the Daari Gang. At Bhandari’s engagement, a relative couldn’t recognize his son-in-law as all men present there were bearded. On a more serious note, many have also lost their jobs because of their beard. Others report feeling annoyed at being called ‘big brothers’ and ‘uncles’ even by those who are much older than them. But that, as Daari Gang members say, is part of the gang job description.