Kathmandu, January 1
The 12th National Attire and Topi Day is being celebrated today with various events organised by the Jagruk Yuwa Abhiyan Nepal.
Under the slogan “Nepali Topi: Our Identity”, youths are celebrating the day to promote traditional Nepali attire such as daura-suruwal, topi, and gunyu-cholo. The celebration, which began in 2013, aims to establish these traditional outfits among the younger generation as symbols of Nepali identity.
Many people mark the occasion by posting pictures in national attire on social media, while others can be seen wearing traditional clothing on the streets and in public transport.
Since its inception 12 years ago, National Attire Day has been celebrated on January 1. Over time, this initiative has inspired more youths to wear traditional attire, not just on New Year’s Day but also during cultural events like weddings and bratabandhas.
The campaign was launched by youths to revive interest in traditional Nepali attire, which had been sidelined after its formal removal as national dress.
According to activist Ramji Balami, the idea behind celebrating Nepali Topi Day on January 1 was to give the English New Year a distinct Nepali essence.
“The younger generation has increasingly adopted Western culture without question,” Balami said. “Even if we don’t celebrate Topi Day, they’ll still celebrate the New Year. So, we started marking Nepali Topi Day on this date to add a touch of Nepali identity to the occasion. This isn’t about promoting or opposing the English New Year; it’s about celebrating our culture alongside it.”
