Festive Spirit Fills Kathmandu Markets Ahead of Tihar

With only a few days left for the Tihar festival to begin, markets across the federal capital have started buzzing with shoppers.

This year, Tihar begins on October 18. Traders say that consumers have already started visiting markets to buy essentials for the festival, which has led to a noticeable rise in market activity. Major commercial areas such as New Road, Asan, Indrachok, Bhotahity, Lagankhel, Baneshwar, Koteshwar, and Thimi are witnessing increasing crowds each day.

According to Bhikaji Maharjan, a trader at Asan, people—including those planning to leave the Valley for the holidays—are buying earthen lamps (diyo), decorative lights, colorful tika sets, marigold garlands, items for Laxmi Puja, bhaimashala, dhaka caps, utensils, and clothes.

“The festive spirit has brought life to the markets,” Maharjan said. “The number of customers shopping for Tihar is growing daily, making the market more vibrant.”

Targeting the festival, shops and shopping centers across the city have launched various offers and discounts. In the evenings, even street vendors and footpath stalls display colorful Tihar items, attracting heavy foot traffic.

Shanti Bhujel, who sells clothes on the footpaths of Sundhara, said the crowd has been increasing, especially in the evenings and on holidays. “Many people are buying new clothes, decorative lights, and home décor items. Business has been good because of the festive rush,” she said.

Similarly, Ammirman Shrestha, a clothing trader at Indrachok, said demand for bhaimashala packs, dhaka caps, tika sets, sweets, and gift items has risen sharply. “Attractive clothing and accessories for women and children are selling well, along with sweets and other Tihar essentials,” he said.

Traders also reported that the demand for warm clothing has started rising as temperatures drop. Many shopkeepers have already stocked up on winter wear to meet the growing demand. -- RSS