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Isn’t daily life in Nepal worth celebrating? Answer is in these photos

Well, it’s true that Nepal may just be one of the poorest countries in the world when you just look at its GDP. Thousands of young Nepali men and women leave the country every day in search of better opportunities abroad, road accidents (as well as air) have become frequent, and the politics seems to be disappointing as ever. People who lost their property and loved ones in the April quake last year are yet to find a shelter, and news of landslides and floods across the country is heart-wrenching.

But life goes on.

Nepal is just not that, a photo exhibition organised by PJ Club in Kathmandu shows.

Isn’t Nepal’s daily life worth celebrating?

These photos will give you an answer:

 

I actually lost this photograph's real file that's why i downloaded it fro my 500px account. This photographer was taken one year back by me right after the massive earthquake occured in our country. She was playing with those big leaves and i got an idea to capture that. First I tried t shoot that in normal angle. But immediately I got idea to shoot in dominating angle and I climed up on the tree and got this shot in one take.
(Above) On the anniversary of last year’s quake, a girl is seen in a playful mood at Pokhara’s Malepatan; Photo: Sandip Tiwari. (Opener) Nepali Hindu devotees collect the Bagmati’s holy water at Pashupatinath temple during Madhav Narayan festival in Kathmandu. Hindu women observe a fast and pray for the longevity and prosperity of their husbands and families during the month-long festival. Photo: Sunil Sharma.

 

They say smiles are contagious. As you go around Kathmandu, or even Nepal, you see smiles all around. You see smiles on faces of people going about with their daily lives.

The most wonderful of smiles come from children and young people finding creative ways to entertain themselves.

 

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(Clockwise) Children perform acrobatics in Taplejung’s Fungling Chowk; Photo: Binay Bhakta Dutta. A mud-soaked girl smiles for the camera during last year’s paddy festival at Pokhara; Photo: Pratap Thapa. Nepali youngsters demonstrating their skills at an event held in Kathmandu; Photo: Sunil Pradhan. Children play cricket at Birgunj’s Narayani Rangshala; Photo: Jiyalal Sah.

 

If you are looking for inspiration in nature, there are many places where you can find it. Walk to the nearest woods, and you will find wildlife going about their own lives.

 

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(Clockwise) Birds during a mating session in Sunsari; Photo: Bishap Tamrakar. Two  tuskers challenge each other at Chitwan National Park; Photo: Angad Dhakal. A kingfisher feeds on fish in  Sunsari; Photo: Bishap Tamrakar. A wildfire drives away vultures away from a community forest in Sandhikharka, Arghakhanchi; Photo: CP Khanal.

 

If it is culture and tradition that inspires you, then there are lots of rituals that go on in Nepal. As you walk the alleyways of the ancient townships in the country, you are greeted with people whose lives are intertwined with tradition and beliefs.

 

 

Masked Goddess Barahi surrounded by local devotees of Bhaktapur in the earthquake-hit area of Khacha. Barahi Goddess is worshipped as goddess who controls earthquake .
A masked ‘goddess’ surrounded by local devotees of Bhaktapur in the earthquake-hit area of Khacha. Barahi is worshiped as the goddess of earthquakes; Photo: Amit Banmala.

 

Then there are places you can go to on long holidays. Forget everything about your work, forget all the problems that the country is facing, and allow nature to set you free.

 

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(Clockwise) Wild donkeys run free at Limi valley; Photo: Tashi Rapten Ghale. A herd of cows cross Rapti river’s bridge at Lamahi, Dang; Photo: Bibek Chaudhary. The milkyway, as seen from Annapurna base camp; Photo: Ankit Karki. Cyclists cross the bridge at Indra Sarovar en route to Markhu, Makwanpur; Photo: Bijay Gurung.

 

Yes, life in Nepal, despite the myriad of problems, is worth celebrating!

 

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Read also

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Nowhere to go: Pastoral nomads of Nepali mid-hills

13 months after Nepal quake, four travelling photographers ask one question

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