President Ramchandra Paudel and Prime Minister Balen Shah on Saturday issued separate greeting messages on the occasion of Bada Dashain 2083, extending best wishes of happiness, peace, prosperity and good health to all Nepalis living at home and abroad. The country's top leaders used their Dashain messages to highlight the festival's role in strengthening family bonds, social harmony and national unity, while also drawing attention to the need for compassion and solidarity during difficult times. Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav also extended his greetings to the nation, describing Dashain as a symbol of social unity and national goodwill.
President Paudel: A Festival of Reunion, Forgiveness and Unity
In his greeting message, President Paudel said Bada Dashain reinforces the values of family reunion, social harmony, forgiveness and national unity. He noted that the festival holds great significance from family, social, religious, cultural and national perspectives, according to a report published by Nagarik News.
The President described Dashain as an occasion that brings family members together and encourages people to set aside differences, mend strained relationships and move forward with a spirit of mutual goodwill. By stressing forgiveness and harmony, he framed the festival not merely as a religious celebration but as a social force that binds communities together and contributes to cohesion across the country.
President Paudel also used his message to draw the nation's attention to those affected by natural disasters. He called on all Nepalis to stand in solidarity with flood victims and support efforts aimed at their rehabilitation, urging that the spirit of the festival be extended to families struggling to rebuild their lives. His appeal underlined the expectation that the empathy and generosity associated with Dashain should be felt most strongly by those in distress.
As reported by RatoPati, the President said the festival strengthens social unity, harmony and brotherhood among Nepalis, reinforcing his central theme that Dashain serves as a unifying thread for a diverse society.
PM Shah: Celebration Should Not Become a Burden
Prime Minister Balen Shah, in his separate message, said Dashain unites Nepalis scattered across the world and brings celebration and enthusiasm to every home. He highlighted the festival's unique ability to connect the Nepali diaspora with their roots, noting that the occasion renews emotional ties among family members and friends separated by distance.
At the same time, the Prime Minister struck a note of caution, stressing that economic hardship should not turn the festival into a burden. His message acknowledged the financial pressures many households face and emphasized that the essence of Dashain lies in togetherness and joy rather than excessive spending. He conveyed the view that families should be able to celebrate the festival with dignity and enthusiasm without letting economic difficulties diminish its spirit.
The Prime Minister wished that the festival would bring happiness, peace and prosperity to every Nepali household, and that the enthusiasm Dashain generates would inspire positive energy across the country, as reported by Nepal Press.
Vice President Yadav Extends Greetings
Joining the head of state and the government, Vice President Ramsahay Prasad Yadav also extended his best wishes to all Nepalis on the occasion of Bada Dashain 2083. In his message, the Vice President described Dashain as a symbol of social unity and national goodwill, echoing the themes of togetherness and harmony emphasized in the greetings from the President and the Prime Minister.
His message added to the collective voice of the country's leadership, which used this year's festival greetings to underline unity and mutual support at a time when many families are also coping with the aftermath of natural calamities.
The Festival That Binds Nepalis Together
Bada Dashain is regarded as the greatest festival of Nepal, celebrated with devotion and enthusiasm by Nepalis across the country and by the diaspora around the world. Families gather to receive tika and blessings from their elders, homes are cleaned and decorated, and people travel to their ancestral villages and hometowns to reunite with loved ones. Markets and streets typically come alive with festive activity in the days leading up to the celebrations.
This year, the greeting messages from the country's top leadership carried a common thread: that Dashain is more than a religious observance. Both President Paudel and Prime Minister Shah presented the festival as a moment to renew bonds of family and community, to forgive past differences and to extend a helping hand to those in need. The leaders' combined emphasis on unity, moderation and solidarity reflected an effort to ensure that the joy of the festival reaches every Nepali household, including those facing hardship at home and abroad.
The greetings from the President, the Prime Minister and the Vice President marked the beginning of the festival period, with the leaders wishing that Bada Dashain 2083 would bring lasting peace, good health and prosperity to the nation and to Nepalis wherever they may be.
