Dashain 2025: A Great Homecoming as Millions Leave the Capital for the Festive Season

KATHMANDU, Nepal – The annual rhythm of Nepali life is once again being set by the Dashain exodus, the country’s largest mass migration as millions of people leave the bustling capital of Kathmandu to celebrate the biggest festival of the year with their families. With the auspicious day of Ghatasthapana marking the beginning of the 15-day festival on September 22, the city’s bus parks and highways are teeming with people heading to their ancestral homes. The rush is a testament to the enduring cultural and social importance of this festival, where the bonds of family and community are reaffirmed.

According to data from the Department of Transport Management, over 1.5 million people are expected to leave the Kathmandu Valley this year, with nearly 200,000 having already departed in the first few days. This annual migration highlights both the deeply ingrained traditions of Nepali culture and the logistical challenges of managing such a massive movement of people. The government and traffic police have implemented a series of measures to ease the journey, including special traffic management plans on major highways like the Prithvi Highway and the Muglin-Narayangadh road. Extra buses have also been deployed to accommodate the overwhelming demand, yet tickets remain a precious commodity, often selling out weeks in advance.

For many, the journey home is a pilgrimage. It’s a chance to reunite with loved ones, receive blessings from elders, and reconnect with their roots. The festival is a celebration of the triumph of good over evil, with special significance placed on the ninth day, Maha Navami, and the tenth day, Bijaya Dashami, when elders anoint younger family members with a mixture of rice, yogurt, and vermilion powder (tika) and a barley shoot (jamara), while offering blessings for prosperity and longevity. The movement of people also has a significant economic impact, as urban residents carry back gifts, savings, and consumer goods, injecting a vital economic lifeline into rural communities.

This year, however, the Dashain exodus carries an added layer of significance. Coming on the heels of the Gen Z protests, it serves as a moment of calm and introspection for a nation that has been in a state of political turmoil. The festival, with its emphasis on family and tradition, provides a much-needed emotional respite. The challenges of the journey—long hours, crowded buses, and road hazards—are a small price to pay for the joy of being home. It’s a powerful reminder that despite the political and social changes, the heart of Nepali society remains rooted in its ancient traditions and the unbreakable bonds of family. As the city empties, a profound sense of peace settles over Kathmandu, a temporary pause before the nation once again grapples with the challenges and opportunities of a new political era.