“The festival of lights, flowers, colours and love between brothers and sisters is already in our courtyard. Among my four sisters, Mithu will not be with us this year. Four years ago, we celebrated Tihar together and that was the last rainbow tika that I received by her hand. After hearing the news, I couldn’t stay in Qatar. That terrible earthquake took away my house in Sindupalchok and the lives of both my sister and my sister-in-law. I immediately decided to come back to my homeland. My sister’s death was a very sad moment for me. But we need to understand that life is not immortal. Whatever happened yesterday, we need to forget it and live the rest of our lives happily, loving each other and sharing with one another. I want to tell people to forget all their pains and sorrows, and celebrate Deepawali. Happy Deepawali to everyone.”

Photo: Mandira Dulal