Behind those glittering lights of Basantapur

Sweta Bhairav, Basantapur

Behind those glittering lights may have been hidden painful stories of poverty and deprivation.

Yes, yours truly is talking about those selling fancy lights in the evening at the tourist destination of historic importance, the 

Basantapur Durbar Square, with divine figures like the Bhairavas, Shiva and Parvati, watching over humanity in dire straits quite helplessly. They must be thinking: What is this land of ours coming to?

Basantapur durbar square, a UNESCO world heritage site

On the surface, those lights surely make the evenings more beautiful. But the lives of those selling the lights may not be that glittering. 

Of course, most of those selling these lights are our very own people.  

But yours truly has also read that young children from across the southern border also come here during holidays to sell those lights and make some money for their education.
Yours truly will try to come up with stories about the sellers of those lights one of these days.

Children selling fancy lights, at Basantapur

Dear readers, please note that there's practical difficulty in talking to these people when they are in the midst of their business.

But yours truly will try to talk to them and bring out their stories.

For now, have a look at these pictures and think about our new generations.
Legal warning: Please bear in mind that any unauthorised use of these pictures and the text will invite legal action as per all applicable national and international copyright laws.

Text and pictures: Devendra Gautam

Fancy lights on sale, Basantapur

Kaal Bhairav, Basantapur

Any takers? Fancy lights on sale at Basantapur