Reviving the Essence: Celebrating Nepali Festivals Beyond Screens

Festivals in the digital age have become a paradox of beauty and loss. From Dashain to Tihar, what once echoed through family halls now often vibrates through our phones.

A Tapestry of Memories

Imagine a time when Dashain was not just a ritual to perform but an experience to live and feel. Families came together, bonded by tradition and stories. Grandmothers hummed bhajans as children giggled, their foreheads adorned with wet tika. Steel plates clinked, holding sel roti like golden discs of memory. There was warmth, both literal and metaphorical, in every corner of the house. Fast forward to today, and you might find the same rituals happening behind screens, filtered through video calls and Instagram stories.

The Shift in Celebration

The celebration of these festivals has transitioned into something that sometimes feels like a mere performance. We wear the traditional clothes and partake in the puja, but often, the essence gets lost amidst attempts to capture the perfect photo for social media. Cultural practices are dressed up, sometimes at the expense of understanding their deeper meanings. According to The Kathmandu Post, the cornerstone of a meaningful celebration might just be at risk.

Kart’s Corner: Gen Z and the New Festival Experience

For many of us in Generation Z, festivals can feel like curated exhibitions rather than sincerely meaningful events. Language and custom get watered down. Additional efforts go into making things look “just right” for internet validation. The truest joy, once found in shared silences and spoken stories, fades into pixels and posts.

Language as a Carrier of Culture

Our native tongues, rich with nuances, are slowly being overshadowed by the convenience of English. Stories, humor, and ancestral wisdom are translated, diluted, and sometimes lost entirely. The connection to our roots weakens as we prioritize what is more digestible over what is meaningful.

Embracing Change While Cherishing Tradition

It’s crucial to understand that culture is not meant to be static. While smartphones and social media weave new connections, they also stray us from practices saturated in history and sentiment. The question arises: How can we balance the old with the new? Can we pause long enough to let the stories behind our rituals speak?

A Call to Be Present

Festivals do not need to be grandiose spectacles. They are meant to be experienced in intimate, honest ways. It’s high time we cared more about the meaning behind traditions than how they appear.

A New Path Forward

Nepali festivals retain their power, asking us to be genuinely present and engaged. The screen’s glow may never fully replace the shine of a traditional lamp, but it doesn’t have to if we look beyond the surface. Let’s commit to keeping our culture alive, personal, and resonant in both offline and online worlds. Only then can we ensure that, even in a digital age, we’re not just checking boxes but cultivating connections that transcend generations.