“Dashain used to have a different charm. It used to have happiness. But this year, we celebrated Dashain just for formality. Nepal faced a painful tragedy. More than 10,000 of our brothers and sisters died. Our mother was buried under the rubbles. We could do nothing for more than an hour. The continuous aftershocks were terrifying us. People were screaming, running here and there. We could not get help to rescue our mother. We didn’t think she would live through it, but Goddess Rama protected her even inside the rubble. When we pulled her out, she had blue marks all over her body. There were terrible injuries on her head and legs. They put 19 stitches in her head, fitted steel and nails in her thigh. She was in the hospital for 19 days. Now she can walk a little with the help of a stick. She is sad because she feels she is a burden. But it means a lot to us that she is still here and her health is improving every day.”
Photo: Mandira Dulal