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Vijaya Laxmi: Preserving the legacy of Nepali carpet making https://www.insidehimalayas.com/vijayalaxmi-preserving-the-legacy-of-nepali-carpet-making/
https://www.insidehimalayas.com/?p=9963
Nepali rugs have long been heralded for their exceptional craftsmanship and aesthetic quality. Naturally, they have also been important exports and are sought after by keen-eyed consumers across the globe.The unique hand-knotted process, by which Nepali rugs are made, is one that has been passed down through communities over generations; and stands unique in an era where everything is machine-made. These rugs are a product of exquisite artisanal labor and stand as a testament to the Nepali spirit of craftsmanship. The weaving community started flourishing in Nepal during the 1960s when Tibetan refugees first settled in Kathmandu. Tibetan immigrants also brought with them their rich culture and ancient knowledge. Traditional looms were soon available in the country and the elaborate hand knotting technique that is used to manufacture rugs was taught to others by Tibetans. <figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_768/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6156-768×1024.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-9984″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_768/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6156-768×1024.jpg 768w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_225/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6156-225×300.jpg 225w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1152/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6156-1152×1536.jpg 1152w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6156-1536×2048.jpg 1536w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1920/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6156-scaled.jpg 1920w” sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6156-768×1024.jpg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_768/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6156-768×1024.jpg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9984″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_768/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6156-768×1024.jpg 768w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_225/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6156-225×300.jpg 225w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1152/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6156-1152×1536.jpg 1152w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6156-1536×2048.jpg 1536w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1920/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/IMG_6156-scaled.jpg 1920w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px”></figure>While intricate, through the years the craft managed to spread across Nepal too. And at the same time, the establishment of institutes such as the Jawalakhel Handicraft center not only aided the commercialization of these styles of rugs but also helped in the rehabilitation and employ of Tibetan refugees in Nepal.But what is it that makes these Nepali rugs so special? One key reason is the quality and rarity of these rugs. Nepali rugs are unique because they are made using an ancient Tibetan hand-knotting technique, a skill that is little known in other parts of the world.The rugs produced in this manner are complex and customizable to an incredible degree. It takes months to create these rugs and the weaving technique creates an artwork that is durable and long-lasting. The carpets are made of Tibetan wool that comes from high-altitude mountain goats. It is coarse and has a sheen that no other animal has.However, not everything was sunshine and rainbows in the Nepali carpet industry. One particular problem that plagued the industry during the 90s and aughts happened to be that of child labor; with some studies indicating percentages as high as 50 of laborers who were under the age of 18. Things have fortunately come a long way since then. More <a href=”https://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/child-labor-declining-in-carpet-and-garment-industries-study/”>recent studies have shown considerable improvement in the use of child labor in the industry</a>. Today the carpet industry in Nepal operates at a much smaller level and has actors that are more dedicated to the ethical and sustainable sourcing of their products as opposed to their predecessors. These days, companies like<a href=”http://vijayalaxmi.org/journey”> Vijaya Laxmi</a> work hard to make sure that not only are their rugs of the best possible quality but also that their products have been sourced and manufactured ethically. Vijaya Laxmi in particular is a handmade carpet and craft manufacturing company that has partnered up with Label Step to source ethical fairtrade carpets from Sarlahi. The district of Sarlahi also happens to be home to the second-largest weaving community in Nepal.<figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-1024×768.jpeg” alt class=”wp-image-9980″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-1024×768.jpeg 1024w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_300/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-300×225.jpeg 300w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-1536×1152.jpeg 1536w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_2048/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-2048×1536.jpeg 2048w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-895×671.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_685/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-685×514.jpeg 685w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_210/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-210×158.jpeg 210w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_133/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-133×100.jpeg 133w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_112/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-112×84.jpeg 112w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-1024×768.jpeg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-1024×768.jpeg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9980″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-1024×768.jpeg 1024w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_300/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-300×225.jpeg 300w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-1536×1152.jpeg 1536w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_2048/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-2048×1536.jpeg 2048w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-895×671.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_685/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-685×514.jpeg 685w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_210/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-210×158.jpeg 210w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_133/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-133×100.jpeg 133w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_112/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Founders-Photo-112×84.jpeg 112w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”><figcaption>The founders of Vijaya Laxmi</figcaption></figure>Adhishree Shrestha, one of the co-founders of Vijaya Laxmi, details more about the tedious but enchanting process that goes behind making Nepali carpets today.Shrestha shared, “The rugs go through a long journey that is a process that has existed for hundreds of years. Before sourcing the wool, the artwork of the rug is designed by the graphic designer. Our designs in particular range from modern abstract art pieces to traditional motifs. While most Nepali-made rugs have traditional designs, we wanted to expand to a younger clientele as well.”She goes on to add that their designs are then processed through a Galaicha software, a Nepali-created software specifically made for rug designs. Once the artwork is finalized, a looming map is created and the actual physical process begins. The first step of the sourcing process is carding the wool, which is the process of untangling and opening up the fibers of the raw wool to produce uniformity in the wool. The wool is then spun in spinning wheels called chakras to make it more thread-like and easy to handle. Then they are dyed with synthetic and natural dyes and are further segregated into balls of yarn. Balling is a low-effort process so a lot of it is done by elderly women in villages. Then these balls are taken to respective weaving villages where traditional wooden looms are set up and are then woven to create rugs. Each step is done manually by skilled hands. <figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Balling-process-1024×576.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-9968″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Balling-process-1024×576.jpg 1024w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_300/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Balling-process-300×169.jpg 300w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Balling-process-1536×864.jpg 1536w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_2048/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Balling-process-2048×1152.jpg 2048w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Balling-process-1024×576.jpg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Balling-process-1024×576.jpg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9968″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Balling-process-1024×576.jpg 1024w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_300/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Balling-process-300×169.jpg 300w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Balling-process-1536×864.jpg 1536w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_2048/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Balling-process-2048×1152.jpg 2048w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”></figure>Once transported,  the weavers get to work and their month-long knotting process begins. It is extremely tedious and requires patience because every single knot requires equal attention. On average an experienced worker can create around 2 square meters per month depending on the number of knots per centimeter. It usually ranges from 60 knots to 150 per centimeter. The more the number of knots per centimeter, the more compact the rug is. Finally, once it is ready, they are trimmed, washed, cleaned, and ready to be shipped.<figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_2560/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Hand-washing-process-scaled.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-9976″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_2560/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Hand-washing-process-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_300/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Hand-washing-process-300×225.jpg 300w” sizes=”(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Hand-washing-process-scaled.jpg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_2560/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Hand-washing-process-scaled.jpg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9976″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_2560/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Hand-washing-process-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_300/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Hand-washing-process-300×225.jpg 300w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px”></figure>There are several types of handweaving techniques too besides the Tibetan hand-knotted rugs. Handwoven rugs that are also called flatweaves are less tedious to create than knotted ones. Dhurrie and Sumak are some techniques that are mostly made with natural fibers such as jute and allo which are suitable for outdoor use. However, the weavers in Nepal are most knowledgeable in hand-knotted rugs as opposed to hand-woven rugs.“During the year that I have worked in this industry, I have had a lot of insights regarding the amount of work that goes into it. The primary labor force of the weaving community is women, and the labor force does not require formal education, which makes it accessible to many villagers,” shared Shrestha.She goes on to add, “This industry has empowered entire generations of families. The reason that I got into carpet manufacturing is that it’s intricate, beautiful, and a product of labor. It is an art form that is at risk of being lost to mass production. I also believe that transparency in this process is a must, which is why Vijaya Laxmi has worked hard to be a fair trade label.”<figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_615/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-615×1024.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-9972″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_615/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-615×1024.jpg 615w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_180/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-180×300.jpg 180w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_922/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-922×1536.jpg 922w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1229/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-1229×2048.jpg 1229w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-895×1491.jpg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_600/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-600×1000.jpg 600w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_126/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-126×210.jpg 126w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_60/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-60×100.jpg 60w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_50/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-50×84.jpg 50w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_585/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-585×975.jpg 585w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_789/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-789×1314.jpg 789w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-scaled.jpg 1536w” sizes=”(max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-615×1024.jpg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_615/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-615×1024.jpg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9972″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_615/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-615×1024.jpg 615w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_180/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-180×300.jpg 180w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_922/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-922×1536.jpg 922w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1229/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-1229×2048.jpg 1229w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-895×1491.jpg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_600/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-600×1000.jpg 600w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_126/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-126×210.jpg 126w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_60/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-60×100.jpg 60w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_50/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-50×84.jpg 50w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_585/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-585×975.jpg 585w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_789/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-789×1314.jpg 789w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/50-weaver-workshop-Sarlahi-scaled.jpg 1536w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px”></figure>Shrestha shares that the best part of the process is to see a finished rug. To see the outcome of the numerous steps it takes from sourcing the yarn, designing, weaving, and finishing is certainly a gratifying experience. While the process is tedious, its value is priceless because it results in a product that will last a lifetime and becomes an extension of your home or space. She and her team at Vijaya Laxmi believe that purchasing a product of labor such as these carpets, is not just an attempt to beautify the space, but is also an act of supporting an art form, an industry of hundreds of years of tradition, which could easily be lost in an era of mechanized mass production.<h3>You can find out more of <a href=”http://vijayalaxmi.org/products/rugs”>Vijaya Laxmi’s selection of rugs here</a>!</h3> Thu, 02 Feb 2023 09:40:27 +0000 Suchita Satyal
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https://www.insidehimalayas.com/vijayalaxmi-preserving-the-legacy-of-nepali-carpet-making/
Culture & Tradition
Lifestyle
Nepal
Tibet
Carpets
Nepali handicrafts
Vijaya Laxmi

Exploring places, meeting people, and making films about them: A conversation with Prasuna Dongol https://www.insidehimalayas.com/exploring-places-meeting-people-and-making-films-about-them-a-conversation-with-prasuna-dongol/
https://www.insidehimalayas.com/?p=9894
In her first documentary ‘Dolpo Diary’, Prasuna Dongol encapsulates her 2017 journey to Upper Dolpa. The candidly shot documentary captured the realities of a woman traveling alone to one of the most remote areas of Nepal. Dongol’s film shows the dangers and hurdles of traveling alone to the farthest corners of the Himalayas, but still maintains the beauty of the rocky landscape and the kindness of the people who live there.I started the interview with a generic question; “Who is Prasuna Dongol?” Dongol responded by saying that she is a very shy-natured person who has the habit of not talking too much. She expresses that although she is very verbal and has the need to communicate with people and share her thoughts, she is better at communicating and expressing herself through the means of visual arts. In this conversation with Inside Himalayas, get to know the lady behind the lens. How she migrated from a psychology student to filmmaking, her challenging yet liberating journey to Upper Dolpa, her first documentary, her latest film, and how this once shy person came out of her shell to become a confident filmmaker. <h3>Picking up the Camera</h3>Dongol initially studied psychology and sought to pursue a career in child psychology. She recalls that while she was still a student, she used to volunteer and intern at Kanti Children’s  Hospital and wanted to continue on the same path. Camera and filming had not even come into the frame at the time. Eventually, Dongol decided to pursue higher education in the UK. This is also when she decided that study filmmaking as a secondary option. “I wasn’t around the camera too much, but my dad used to have a camera and I thought maybe it would be better to pursue filmmaking as well. I wasn’t very keen on it but at the time it seemed like a good option to have and consequently decided to pursue filmmaking abroad,” Dongol claims. Right after finishing film school, Dongol felt the pressure of creating something. She explains, “To be honest, I was only driven by the idea of making films. Because the idea was, ‘I studied filmmaking, so that means I need to make a film.” She continues, “I guess when you start that is the general idea. You kind of have this pressure to put something out there.”As for today, Dongol is more focused on learning and understanding more about the main subject or protagonist of the story. She now believes that communication, time, and empathy is the best way to understand a person’s story or the subject matter. “We have to forget about the camera. If you yourself are not genuinely interested in them or their story then the final outcome of the film will not come out good, no matter how polished or edited the final product is,” she expresses. <figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2492-1-1024×682.jpg” alt class=”wp-image-9915″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2492-1-1024×682.jpg 1024w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_300/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2492-1-300×200.jpg 300w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2492-1-1536×1022.jpg 1536w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_2048/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2492-1-2048×1363.jpg 2048w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2492-1-1024×682.jpg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2492-1-1024×682.jpg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9915″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2492-1-1024×682.jpg 1024w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_300/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2492-1-300×200.jpg 300w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2492-1-1536×1022.jpg 1536w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_2048/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/IMG_2492-1-2048×1363.jpg 2048w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”></figure><h3>Challenges as a filmmaker</h3>According to Dongol, her challenges have changed as she has grown as a person and a filmmaker. The initial challenge she used to face back in 2014 was the motive to make a film. Typical filming challenges would consist of budgeting issues, equipment issues, and a lack of team or manpower. The main challenge was to find the right team. And even if she found the right team, the challenge would start to take a social believability issue. As she explains, “Even if we had a proper team for filming, people would still not take us seriously, based on the fact that we were young. Another challenge that I feel uncomfortable mentioning is the fact that since I was a woman, people would have a hard time believing that I could make a film. Had there been a male cinematographer, he would be mentioned as a cinematographer however, a woman would be called the ‘girl with the camera’.”That being said, after continued effort, Dongol has been able to make a name for herself as a filmmaker. She shares, “Today I have the right people. I’m fortunate enough to know lots of qualified people in the field. But now the challenges are that there aren’t enough mediums for our products (films) to reach the international market.”Dongol goes on to say, “It’s not that the support is not there, but it would’ve been more helpful if there were more support for the industry and independent filmmakers.”It seems that we lack the medium to connect us to the international market, be it a producer or a distributor. And the major lost opportunity for Nepal film and filmmakers like Dongol is that no matter how good the filmmakers and their films can be; they are just circulating in the small market in Nepal. <h3>Dolpa Diary </h3><figure class=”wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio”> <iframe title=”DOLPA DIARY TRAILER- Prasuna Dongol” width=”500″ height=”281″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/xiHJO_l7kMg?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen>[embedded content]</iframe></figure>In 2017, Dongol traveled solo to Dolpa. She then produced “Dolpa Diary” a documentary detailing her adventures, the trials, the tribulations, the people she met, and her return home. The film premiered at the 2018 Kathmandu International Film Festival.Since then Dolpa Diary has been screened at many film festivals inside and outside Nepal. The documentary is widely acclaimed and has received many accolades, winning Best Female Director of the 7th Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival (HRIFF) in 2019 and Best Adventure Film at Kathmandu International Film Festival (KIMFF) in 2018. While the film itself is a very candid retelling of Dongol’s journey and struggles, she elaborated that while she did plan to go to Dolpo on a solo expedition, she originally did not plan to make a documentary about it. She explains that she had gone to various popular trekking routes with larger groups, however, the experience had been underwhelming.  “When you travel in a group, there are always issues with timing, logistics, and decision-making. If there were 4 of you, every individual has their own way of traveling, but if you travel alone all the decision-making is quicker. So, the difficulty of group travel triggered this idea in me about traveling alone. I wanted to try it and I wanted to see if I could do it and see how much I can push myself”, Dongol explains. On being asked why she choose Upper Dolpa, she retorted, that the answer keeps on changing. She was young, she was energetic, she had the time and she wanted to challenge herself. With the traveling community behind her and an organization started by Pemba Sherpa and Jason Shah called Nepali Travelers supporting her; Dongol had the support and encouragement to head out into the wild. While researching the region Dongol only found minimal information about the area. The storyteller in her felt that the stories about the area were underrepresented and it needed to be covered. Dongol explains, “One of the aspects of why I choose Dolpa was that a lot of stories in the media are underrepresented. We generally do have a vague idea about the people, the culture, and the languages of various places in Nepal. But when I came to Dolpa, we didn’t know much about the people there or their stories. I wanted to explore that. Plus, at the time I was a bit naïve and brave (laughs). Today I’d be more fearful or cautious, but at that time, I was younger and I had the mettle to do it”. So for 23 days, an introverted Dongol was out in the open, traversing an area that had no trail markers at the time. She had no idea where the next or the nearest destination would be. She claims it was a tricky affair but in hindsight, she feels that it was the beauty of it. Every new person she met, she had to open up and share her story. In an unplanned way, she would be coming out of her shell. And with all the difficult ups and downs she went through, she was breaking out of her comfort zone. For her, it was not about the physical challenge nor was it about proving a point. The challenge was within herself to come out of it as a better communicator and storyteller. Every day Dongol had to talk to whoever she had the opportunity to meet. One of the most thrilling and emotional moments in the documentary was when Dongol gets lost. In retrospect, it is perhaps the most powerful moment in the documentary but it could have also been much worse. She explains, “It was a very risky region. There are cases of snow leopard sightings in that area as well. If I have to say, I’m 25% brave, 25% stupid, and 50% lucky. I’m glad to say in the 23 days of solo trekking I was fortunate enough not to have any disastrous encounters. Now that I think about it, in a way, everything went smoothly.” She shares, “While I was traveling, I did not have the intention to make a film. I was just recording myself and about my travels. But on the day I fell and was lost, everything looked like a mirage. I couldn’t tell if the route I was taking was right or wrong. And I was recording myself because at that time I felt very vulnerable and unsafe, and if anything had happened to me, then at least there would be video evidence of my account of what was going on.”“Even later while making the film, I was not confident if I wanted to put that scene when I was lost in the film. You don’t really want to show the vulnerable side of yourself. The character, the protagonist in me didn’t want to show that, but the filmmaker in me felt that this shot was important” she continues. After the release and screening of Dolpa Dairy, the documentary and Dongol received lots of positive reception and accolades. It was definitely a proud moment for her and her parents at the moment. She recalls, “I remember that during the initial screening of realizing how surreal it was to watch your journey as a third person. And to watch your parents watch your film and go through the emotions as a protagonist made me very proud of myself.”<h4>You can watch <a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C9tlcmN8NRY&t=6s”>Dolpa Diary here</a>!</h4><h3>Before You Were My Mother </h3>But we are also our biggest critics. Following the success of Dolpa Diary, Dongol sought to do more as a filmmaker; both on and off the screen. Dongol then came up with her second documentary, ‘Before You Were My Mother’ a visual letter to Ibemhal, Dongol’s mother, who was born and brought up in Manipur. The documentary movingly explores Ibemhal’s life in Manipur and Nepal and explores her individuality beyond her identity as a mother and a wife.The documentary for Dongol was not just another film to make, but also an attempt to connect with her mother on a deeper level. Not just as mother and daughter, but also as their own individuals.“This film is about what happened between us. This is about who my mother was before me. So, through this visual letter I wanted her to know that she is not a bad mother, she is just a mother, and today I understand her motherly instinct. And in certain moments, I may not be able to explain a situation properly but this is our relationship and I felt that the only way to show her what our relationship meant to me was through this observational film,” confides Dongol.<h3>Sheffield Docfest</h3>Dongol along with 4 Nepali women filmmakers was selected for Sheffield Docfest, the UK’s premier documentary film festival and one of the world’s most influential markets for documentary projects. The festival aims to encourage women who have been working on films or film festivals to refine their respective works, and pitch and find potential investors for their projects as well as have the opportunity to network with filmmakers from across the globe. Before being selected as one of the delegates to participate in Docfest, Dongol had been working at KIMFF for about 8 years. She expresses that the program was very insightful and allowed her to observe and learn how international film festivals are being organized and run. This also gave her an understanding of the expectations international delegates may have if they were to visit Nepal’s film festivals. Additionally, Dongol expressed that there are lots of good and interesting stories in Nepal but due to the gap in the market we have not been able to move beyond the local market. “Nepal has lots of good stories and is appreciated by the local audience but I believe that the main gap is linking with the international community.” What we lack is a wider network between Nepal and the international filming community. If we can establish such links and networks Nepali films and filmmakers such as Dongol may as well find international recognition. <h3>The Ending </h3><figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_681/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DSC_6294-681×1024.jpeg” alt class=”wp-image-9903″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_681/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DSC_6294-681×1024.jpeg 681w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_200/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DSC_6294-200×300.jpeg 200w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1703/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DSC_6294-scaled.jpeg 1703w” sizes=”(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DSC_6294-681×1024.jpeg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_681/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DSC_6294-681×1024.jpeg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9903″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_681/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DSC_6294-681×1024.jpeg 681w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_200/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DSC_6294-200×300.jpeg 200w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1703/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/DSC_6294-scaled.jpeg 1703w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 681px) 100vw, 681px”></figure>Dongol believes that one does not need an expensive camera or the latest gear to be a filmmaker. All you need is something that can record and great imagination.“People tend to take filmmaking too technically. The whole process of filmmaking has been too polarized. There is this need to make the final product look good and package it well. People and their context are just tools. And even I’m guilty of thinking like this. But then you just have to be able to look at your subject or the character through an emphatic lens. Be there, listen and empathize,” shared Dongol.“I think it’s important, to be honest with yourself and be honest in what you do. Be genuinely curious because if you are, your story will naturally be beautiful,” Dongol  concludes. Thu, 29 Dec 2022 08:23:37 +0000 Avant Shrestha
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Culture & Tradition
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Finding a home away from home at the Patan Community Homestay https://www.insidehimalayas.com/finding-a-home-away-from-home-at-the-patan-community-homestay/
https://www.insidehimalayas.com/?p=9829
During my first two months into my visit to Nepal, I was met with the opportunity to live with a local family in the heart of historic Patan through the <a href=”https://www.communityhomestay.com/”>Community Homestay Network</a>. While I had been in Nepal for a while, I got to truly experience the country’s rich culture when I lived in a <a href=”https://www.communityhomestay.com/homestays/patan”>Patan Community Homestay</a> for a week. Prior to my stay, I was not fully aware of Nepal’s numerous ethnic groups and distinct cultures. But as I stayed at the homestay with my host family, I learned a lot from the family about the Newari culture they represent, traditional ethnic food, <a href=”https://www.communityhomestay.com/experiences/paubha-painting-in-lalitpur” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Paubha art</a>, and festivals — especially the Newari New Year — which I had the privilege of celebrating with them. <h3>Coming home to a new place</h3>While I had long dreamt of my trip to Nepal, the idea of staying at a homestay kept me a tad bit nervous. Although I have traveled quite a lot, this would be my first experience staying with a local family.<figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_576/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-576×1024.jpeg” alt class=”wp-image-9854″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_576/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-576×1024.jpeg 576w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_169/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-169×300.jpeg 169w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_864/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-864×1536.jpeg 864w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-895×1591.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_563/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-563×1000.jpeg 563w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_118/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-118×210.jpeg 118w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_56/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-56×100.jpeg 56w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_47/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-47×84.jpeg 47w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_548/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-548×975.jpeg 548w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_739/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-739×1314.jpeg 739w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1152/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2.jpeg 1152w” sizes=”(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-576×1024.jpeg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_576/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-576×1024.jpeg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9854″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_576/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-576×1024.jpeg 576w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_169/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-169×300.jpeg 169w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_864/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-864×1536.jpeg 864w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-895×1591.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_563/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-563×1000.jpeg 563w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_118/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-118×210.jpeg 118w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_56/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-56×100.jpeg 56w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_47/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-47×84.jpeg 47w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_548/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-548×975.jpeg 548w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_739/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2-739×1314.jpeg 739w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1152/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.32-2.jpeg 1152w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px”><figcaption>Pimbahal Pukhu, a pond in Patan. (Photo credit: Mona Eväluoto)</figcaption></figure>It’s pretty easy to tell when you arrive in Patan. The old brown brick houses adorned with beautifully carved wooden windows, small Buddhist stupas every now and then, faux cobblestone paths makes Patan feel as if it was never touched by time. The fascinating bustle of the street made my eyes move restlessly from side to side with the desire to see everything simultaneously. Crowds of people, street vendors with fruit carts, and motorbikes everywhere made sure the taxi I was in could only move inches at a time, but I did not mind it since it made it easier for me to observe the beautiful unfiltered chaos that was Patan.When the taxi finally did stop and I found myself in a peaceful neighborhood with a giant Buddha statue rising inbetween a few colorful houses. As I admired the fascinating sculpture, I noticed my host mom at the doorway of one of the apartments beckoning me closer with her hand. With her palms pressed together, she greeted me by saying “Namaste” and introduced herself as Ujjswala. She led me up the stairs to what would be my room for the next few days. <figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_768/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-768×1024.jpeg” alt class=”wp-image-9834″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_768/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-768×1024.jpeg 768w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_225/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-225×300.jpeg 225w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1152/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-1152×1536.jpeg 1152w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-895×1193.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_685/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-685×913.jpeg 685w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_158/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-158×210.jpeg 158w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_75/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-75×100.jpeg 75w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_63/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-63×84.jpeg 63w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_731/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-731×975.jpeg 731w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_986/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-986×1314.jpeg 986w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1.jpeg 1536w” sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-768×1024.jpeg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_768/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-768×1024.jpeg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9834″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_768/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-768×1024.jpeg 768w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_225/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-225×300.jpeg 225w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1152/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-1152×1536.jpeg 1152w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-895×1193.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_685/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-685×913.jpeg 685w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_158/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-158×210.jpeg 158w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_75/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-75×100.jpeg 75w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_63/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-63×84.jpeg 63w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_731/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-731×975.jpeg 731w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_986/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1-986×1314.jpeg 986w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-1.jpeg 1536w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px”><figcaption>My cozy bedroom. (Photo credit: Mona Eväluoto)</figcaption></figure>The home was a huge, three-story terraced apartment building with a rooftop. From the beginning, I enjoyed its traditional interior, full of vibrant details. The colorful walls were decorated with numerous fascinating traditional paintings, which increased the feeling of authenticity. My room was very spacious and had a beautiful neighborhood view from the window. I was happy about the private bathroom that gave me more privacy. The warm showers were also one of the comforts of the homestay.<figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_768/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-768×1024.jpeg” alt class=”wp-image-9858″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_768/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-768×1024.jpeg 768w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_225/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-225×300.jpeg 225w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1152/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-1152×1536.jpeg 1152w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-895×1193.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_685/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-685×913.jpeg 685w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_158/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-158×210.jpeg 158w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_75/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-75×100.jpeg 75w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_63/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-63×84.jpeg 63w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_731/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-731×975.jpeg 731w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_986/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-986×1314.jpeg 986w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33.jpeg 1536w” sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-768×1024.jpeg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_768/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-768×1024.jpeg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9858″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_768/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-768×1024.jpeg 768w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_225/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-225×300.jpeg 225w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1152/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-1152×1536.jpeg 1152w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-895×1193.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_685/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-685×913.jpeg 685w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_158/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-158×210.jpeg 158w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_75/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-75×100.jpeg 75w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_63/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-63×84.jpeg 63w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_731/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-731×975.jpeg 731w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_986/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33-986×1314.jpeg 986w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.33.jpeg 1536w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px”><figcaption>A beautiful view of the neighborhood from my window. (Photo credit: Mona Eväluoto)</figcaption></figure>Once at the home, I was able to make acquaintance with the rest of the family. I first met Ujjswala’s son Sulav, with whom we quickly found common ground. In addition to our same age, we were both currently doing an internship in the tourism industry in Kathmandu. Later in the afternoon, I met the father of the family, Suman, and the lively 17-year-old daughter, Tisa.<h3>Ancient Patan and momos with Sulav </h3>On most mornings, breakfast usually consisted of beaten rice, chopped fruit, egg, toast and tea, and sometimes sausages and lakhamari (a Newari sweet). Since I was not yet familiar with Pathao (the local taxi app), Ujjswala kindly arranged a scooter ride to the office I was interning at, and back home for four hundred rupees ($3) a day, lending her helmet to me as well. It felt comforting that I had family was taking care of me, despite it being my first time in a new country. On one of my first evenings in the city, Sulav offered to be my local guide to Patan. Before we left, he asked if I had tasted momos before. Since I had never heard of them, he seemed excited, “You must try momos; they are the most popular food here in Nepal.” Without thinking any longer, we started looking for a restaurant that serves momos. Crossing the streets and dodging between loud motorbikes was stressful, so I happily let Sulav take care of that part, focusing on just keeping close behind him. After a short walk, we settled in a rooftop restaurant with a beautiful view of Patan Durbar Square, the area’s most famous attraction. The square is one of the three historical Durbar Squares in the Kathmandu Valley, each of which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sulav was right that it would be even more charming in the evening with the lights. The hot momo’s we were having only made it better.<figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_757/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-757×1024.jpeg” alt class=”wp-image-9862″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_757/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-757×1024.jpeg 757w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_222/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-222×300.jpeg 222w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1135/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-1135×1536.jpeg 1135w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-895×1211.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_685/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-685×927.jpeg 685w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_155/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-155×210.jpeg 155w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_74/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-74×100.jpeg 74w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_62/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-62×84.jpeg 62w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_720/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-720×975.jpeg 720w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_971/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-971×1314.jpeg 971w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1152/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2.jpeg 1152w” sizes=”(max-width: 757px) 100vw, 757px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-757×1024.jpeg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_757/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-757×1024.jpeg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9862″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_757/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-757×1024.jpeg 757w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_222/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-222×300.jpeg 222w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1135/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-1135×1536.jpeg 1135w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-895×1211.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_685/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-685×927.jpeg 685w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_155/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-155×210.jpeg 155w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_74/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-74×100.jpeg 74w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_62/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-62×84.jpeg 62w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_720/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-720×975.jpeg 720w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_971/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2-971×1314.jpeg 971w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1152/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-2.jpeg 1152w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 757px) 100vw, 757px”><figcaption>Hanging out in Patan Durbar Square with Sulav. (Photo credit: Mona Eväluoto)</figcaption></figure><h3>Cooking Dal Bhat together </h3>One evening, Ujjswala asked if I wanted to cook dinner together. In Nepal, food is often cooked at home and is, therefore, an inseparable part of the culture. The kitchen, i snot only where body and soul are nourished, but also where the family gather together and is the heart of the home. Although cooking is not my favorite hobby, I wanted to experience this side of their culture and show my gratitude for their unparalleled hospitality.<figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_798/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-798×1024.jpeg” alt class=”wp-image-9866″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_798/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-798×1024.jpeg 798w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_234/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-234×300.jpeg 234w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1198/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1198×1536.jpeg 1198w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-895×1148.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_685/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-685×879.jpeg 685w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_164/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-164×210.jpeg 164w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_78/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-78×100.jpeg 78w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_65/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-65×84.jpeg 65w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_760/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-760×975.jpeg 760w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1025/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1025×1314.jpeg 1025w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31.jpeg 1536w” sizes=”(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-798×1024.jpeg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_798/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-798×1024.jpeg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9866″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_798/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-798×1024.jpeg 798w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_234/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-234×300.jpeg 234w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1198/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1198×1536.jpeg 1198w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-895×1148.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_685/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-685×879.jpeg 685w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_164/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-164×210.jpeg 164w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_78/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-78×100.jpeg 78w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_65/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-65×84.jpeg 65w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_760/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-760×975.jpeg 760w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1025/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1025×1314.jpeg 1025w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31.jpeg 1536w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 798px) 100vw, 798px”><figcaption>Preparing traditional Dal Bhat. (Photo credit: Mona Eväluoto)</figcaption></figure>Nepal is home to many different ethnic groups with their own cuisines and cooking traditions. Together with Ujjswala and Tisa, we cooked Dal Bhat, a staple dish eaten all over Nepal. As the name suggests, the main components of the simple dish are lentils (dal) and rice (bhat), which are often combined with tarkari (vegetable curry), sag (curried spinach), achaar (pickled vegetables), meat, and crunchy papad. <figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-1024×769.jpeg” alt class=”wp-image-9842″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-1024×769.jpeg 1024w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_300/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-300×225.jpeg 300w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-1536×1154.jpeg 1536w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-895×672.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_685/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-685×514.jpeg 685w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_210/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-210×158.jpeg 210w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_133/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-133×100.jpeg 133w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_112/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-112×84.jpeg 112w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1298/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-1298×975.jpeg 1298w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1750/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-1750×1314.jpeg 1750w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_2048/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1.jpeg 2048w” sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-1024×769.jpeg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-1024×769.jpeg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9842″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1024/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-1024×769.jpeg 1024w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_300/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-300×225.jpeg 300w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1536/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-1536×1154.jpeg 1536w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_895/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-895×672.jpeg 895w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_685/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-685×514.jpeg 685w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_210/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-210×158.jpeg 210w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_133/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-133×100.jpeg 133w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_112/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-112×84.jpeg 112w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1298/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-1298×975.jpeg 1298w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_1750/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1-1750×1314.jpeg 1750w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_2048/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.31-1.jpeg 2048w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px”><figcaption>In Nepal, food is usually cooked on the floor. (Photo credit: Mona Eväluoto)</figcaption></figure>Like most Nepali food in general, Dal Bhat also contains many different herbs and spices. The recipe varies between regions, seasons, and families. For example, my host family also added a sort of salsa, into which I was tasked with chopping tomatoes and garlic.The family sat cross-legged on the kitchen floor on small rugs and waited for the mom to portion the food on the plates. I tried to follow, but unfortunately, my pants didn’t stretch for the position, so I had to settle for a more accessible posture. Ujjwala purposefully scooped food from the pots onto the plates, each dish separately. When receiving one of the plates, I asked how to say thank you in their language. She guessed that I was confused about the differences between Nepali and Nepal Bhasa, so she started by telling me that in Nepali, thank you is “dhanyabaad,” and then added that in their language, Nepal Bhasa, it is “subhay,” to make me understand that Newari people also have their own language.<figure class=”wp-block-image size-large”><noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_640/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-2.jpeg” alt class=”wp-image-9838″ srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_640/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-2.jpeg 640w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_300/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-2-300×225.jpeg 300w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_210/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-2-210×158.jpeg 210w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_133/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-2-133×100.jpeg 133w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_112/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-2-112×84.jpeg 112w” sizes=”(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px”></noscript><img src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lqip,ret_wait/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-2.jpeg” data-src=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_640/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-2.jpeg” alt class=”lazyload wp-image-9838″ data-srcset=”https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_640/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-2.jpeg 640w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_300/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-2-300×225.jpeg 300w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_210/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-2-210×158.jpeg 210w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_133/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-2-133×100.jpeg 133w, https://sp-ao.shortpixel.ai/client/q_lossless,ret_img,w_112/https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/WhatsApp-Image-2022-11-09-at-15.57.30-2-112×84.jpeg 112w” data-sizes=”(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px”><figcaption>Eating with hands in Nepalese style. (Photo credit: Mona Eväluoto)</figcaption></figure>I’ve always liked the saying, “do what the locals do,” so even though I was offered cutlery, I wanted to try the local way, eating with my hands. Tisa advised me to grab the food with my fingers instead of the whole hand so it would be easier to aim it in my mouth. Sitting on the floor with my back hunched, trying to find a comfortable position for my legs, and putting the food in my mouth without half of it  falling back on the plate while watching how naturally the family managed this all made me feel clumsy. However, I was proud of my effort and confident that I was not the only foreigner in Nepal who had felt this way. The different dishes of the Dal Bhat complemented each other brilliantly, making it a delicious whole. I have to admit that I was relieved that the food wasn’t too spicy. Ujjswala, having witnessed several travelers struggling with fiery food, must have deliberately added fewer spices for me.<h3>Homestays over hotels</h3>A homestay is so much more than a place to stay for a trip. Often travelers look for experiences outside the accommodation, but when staying in a homestay, the experience is already there. Living with a local family is an exciting dive into a new culture and an opportunity to experience it authentically. It is a valuable chance to create new relationships and to have a second family abroad who keeps you coming back again and again.The host of Patan Community Homestay, Ujjswala, and her lovely family welcomed me to their country, Nepal, but most of all to their home and life. So much happened during my time there that a week felt like a month. In such a short time, I got to experience both everyday life and celebration with them, which taught me a lot about the local Newari culture. From day one, they made me feel like I was part of their family by inviting me to family gatherings and daily chores like cooking. My time in Patan opened my eyes to the benefits of staying at a homestay. I got  to dive into the local culture and interact with the locals on a whole new level, resulting in new friends and memories I will never forget.My host family  became my support network, creating security and helped me adjust to a foreign country. My stay at the Patan Community Homestay made the cliché “a home away from home” very real for me.<h3>Want to try out the same experience? Book a stay at the <a href=”https://www.communityhomestay.com/homestays/patan”>Patan Community Homestay!</a></h3> Mon, 12 Dec 2022 05:52:51 +0000 Mona Eväluoto
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Why flying to Lukla from Ramechhap is a good thing https://www.insidehimalayas.com/why-flying-to-lukla-from-ramechhap-is-a-good-thing/
https://www.insidehimalayas.com/?p=9812
<div><img src=”https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Lukla.jpg” class=”ff-og-image-inserted”></div>In March 2019, the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal announced that flights to Lukla from Kathmandu were being redirected to Ramechhap. The decision was taken in an attempt to reduce air congestion at the Tribhuvan International Airport, one of only two international airports in the country, which becomes overburdened during spring and autumn every year when mountaineers and trekkers from around the world fly to the Everest region.But, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, the decision naturally came to a standstill. It was only reinstated recently, <a href=”https://www.nepaltrekadventures.com/ramechhap-lukla-flight”>in October this year</a>, just as tourist flow and flight frequency began to increase in the country.This new rule to redirect flights has been met with a lot of chaos and criticism. To reach Manthali, the headquarters of Ramechhap district where the airport is located, tourists have to take a six-seven hour bus ride from Kathmandu. And since flights to Lukla only fly in the morning, when the weather is clear, tourists have to spend a night in Manthali. But this small town only has a few hotels, that too with the most basic facilities. This problem made news in late October when bad weather caused <a href=”https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/hundreds-stuck-in-ramechhap-due-to-bad-weather”>tourists to be stranded</a> in Manthali with no proper accommodation facilities. In light of how things currently are, people’s confusion is warranted. Everest is one of the country’s <a href=”https://ntb.gov.np/en/things-to-do/trekking#:~:text=Two%20of%20the%20most%20popular,the%20Langtang%20and%20Kanchenjunga%20regions.”>biggest tourist attractions</a> and the reason thousands of tourists come to Nepal every year. If they return to their home countries with bad experiences over poor management, the country risks them never coming back. But with autumn coming to an end, and spring still months away, the tourist flow to the Everest region will reduce significantly. Now is the time for the government to jump into action to develop Manthali as a tourist destination because this decision could have a deeper, long-term positive impact — for Manthali, its people, and the environment.<h4>Controlling air traffic</h4>“Every day, more than 500 tourists fly to Lukla during the peak season. On our busiest days, we operate around 30 flights a day, and that is just our airlines. There are two other airlines that operate flights to Lukla,” said Yuvraj Bista, Chief Business Officer of Yeti Airlines, which is also the sister company for Tara Air which flies to Lukla. Besides Tara Air, other private airline companies that fly to the region are Summit Air and Sita Air. Clubbing together all the flights by these three airlines, a total of almost 90 flights a day go to Lukla. Even more also fly to the region on helicopters.“The issue with the flights to Lukla is that they have to be flown early in the morning when the weather in Kathmandu is clear. And fitting in 80-90 flights every morning is a big issue because they hold up international flights as well,” Bista added.<h4>Better for air pollution</h4>Now, with the flights directed to Manthali, air traffic pressure has reduced significantly at the Tribhuvan international airport. But this decision does not only reduce air traffic, it also helps reduce air pollution, and not just for Kathmandu valley. It is no secret that air travel is not good for the environment. Emissions from airplanes are a significant contributor to climate change, with commercial flying accounting for about<a href=”https://ourworldindata.org/co2-emissions-from-aviation#:~:text=Aviation%20accounts%20for%20around%202.5,number%20of%20more%20complex%20ways.”> 2.5 percent of global carbon emissions</a>. Airplanes burning fossil fuels not only release carbon dioxide but also have strong warming non-carbon dioxide effects due to nitrogen oxide, vapor trails, and cloud formation triggered by the altitudes at which aircrafts operate. By redirecting flights to Manthali, flights to Lukla now only take 15-20 minutes instead of the 40-45 minutes it took from Kathmandu. This means planes will be emitting half the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere if they fly from Manthali. Of course, tourists have to take a six-to-seven-hour bus ride from Kathmandu to Manthali which also burns fossil fuels but in comparison, cars and buses burn a lot less carbon than airplanes. According to a <a href=”https://www.eea.europa.eu/media/infographics/co2-emissions-from-passenger-transport/view”>European Environment Agency report</a>, 55g of CO2 is emitted per passenger every kilometer for an average car, 68g for a bus, and a whopping 285g per passenger for a plane.  Since flights have started in Manthali, things are slowly changing there as well. With more tourists coming in, new hotels and restaurants are coming up and old ones are being upgraded. Manthali, which never really saw foreign tourists, just domestic ones, is slowly changing.<h4>A growing Manthali</h4>“Manthali is definitely becoming a bit more tourist-friendly. Earlier, before flights to Lukla were directed here, we only saw local tourists stopping over for a break or for a night while on their way to other destinations like Kalinchowk or Dolakha or Jiri,” said Ashish Sharma, manager of <a href=”https://www.freedomresortnepal.com/#[object%20Object]”>Freedom Resort</a>, a newly established resort in Manthali, close to the airport. The resort is one of the first ones in the area built earlier this year.During peak season, the hotel is seeing full occupancy, with at least 50-60 guests arriving every day. “Even now, although the season is almost coming to an end, we have 35-40 people,” said Sharma. More tourists mean more money and more opportunities for locals like Sharma. But if the government is serious about this decision for the long-term then it has to make better plans to keep tourists happy. “For the long-term, this is an excellent alternative but the government has to do its part in improving Manthali and promoting the place as a tourist area. It has been two years since the government first announced it would redirect flights but it hasn’t done anything to develop Manthali as a destination for travelers yet. The private sector alone cannot do that,” said Raj Gyawali, a tourism entrepreneur who has spent almost two decades in the industry. “It cannot abruptly announce such decisions without first building the infrastructure and the roads. When such decisions are made, consumers should be the central point,” said Gyawali.  Tue, 29 Nov 2022 06:27:11 +0000 Marissa Taylor
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Movies and Mountains with Ramyata Limbu https://www.insidehimalayas.com/movies-and-mountains-with-ramyata-limbu/
https://www.insidehimalayas.com/?p=9806
<div><img src=”https://www.insidehimalayas.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/ezgif-1-b1a2dae3ae-1024×683.jpg” class=”ff-og-image-inserted”></div>Most people know Ramyata Limbu as a journalist, filmmaker, and festival director for the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival (KIMFF). She knows herself as a mother, a professional working woman, and a communicator. Since Limbu started her career in the print medium, she has been a journalist for almost two decades and has served as a correspondent for numerous national and international publications.Limbu has also co-produced two independent documentaries, ‘Daughters of Everest’, which follows the story of the first-ever team of women Sherpas to ascend Everest, and ‘The Sari Soldiers’ which retells the story of six Nepali women that find themselves at the forefront of the Maoist insurgency in Nepal. Currently, she is the Festival Director for the Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, where she helps organize an annual competitive mountain film festival. KIMFF showcases films that attract peer review and critiques that lead to better documentation of mountain issues, particularly of highland regions of the developing world. <h4>In your own words could you tell us about yourself?</h4>I’ve been working as a journalist for national newspapers and in the mainstream media for almost 20 years. Professionally, I’ve always been in the communication field. As my career progressed, I moved to the audiovisual field, and currently, I’m busy organizing film festivals.Now that I’m in my early 50s after more than thirty-odd years as a working woman; I am currently building capacity for the younger generation of journalists, filmmakers, communicators, and young women leaders who are working in NGOs. Throughout my career, I’ve had the opportunity to work in the communication sector with leaders, entrepreneurs, young people, and fellow journalists. So, my primary focus today is to try and share what I have learned and gathered over many years of working in the communication sector with the next generation of communicators and media practitioners.  <h4>You began your career as a journalist and a communicator in the 90s.  What was it like to be a working woman during the time the Nepali media space was opening up?</h4>There were very few women in media during that time. For me, this was both a challenge and an opportunity. Since there were so few of us, there was the opportunity and you just had to reach out and take it. So, I’d like to think that I benefited from the challenge in that aspect. Today the number of women in media has increased. Back then there were no women in media at that time, especially in newsrooms. Right now, it’s encouraging to see that there are quite a few in mainstream media. These days, especially because of online media and digital spaces, you get to see lots of young girls and women engaging in media. However, I do think many of the issues remain the same. Issues of discrimination and gender inequality in the workspace. I feel like there is still a divide between men and women at the workplace. In terms of inclusion, we are still not as inclusive as we can be in the working space. When I say this, I’m talking about the communication and media field as it is my area of focus. But I do believe that it is the general reflection in all other fields as well. We still don’t have many senior women in gatekeeping positions such as editors. But it is slowly changing. Younger generations are raising questions on the matter, and are more motivated and capable of breaking the old mold. <h4>More women filmmakers have come forward to tell their own stories. How encouraging is this?</h4>The number of young women who want to tell their own stories is increasing because they are tired of other people making stories about them which in honesty do not have their voice in it. But what I believe is important for them is to have an enabling environment. It’s important to create a developmental space for them; which I see many organizations are currently working on. There are some individuals who have taken on the challenge and who have been able to work in the mainstream media sphere. Nevertheless, enabling space is still important to create and provide that space and just give that push. I’m not saying that it’s not there but they just need someone to give them a push or to better put it encourage them. Reflecting on my experience running KIMFF, as a journalist and conducting capacity-building workshops, and running other programs in KIMFF, I’ve noticed that more and more women directors and filmmakers come forward with their films and stories through ‘Nepal Panorama’, a separate platform we have created where we screen Nepali films. I find this very encouraging and empowering.<h4>You mentioned the importance of creating an environment where youths and future communicators can express themselves. Apart from that; what can we as a stakeholders do to make the environment better for both men and women filmmakers of the future?</h4>I think there are lots of things we can do. We cannot look into it from a single perspective. There are so many things that can be done at an individual level, community level, and government level for the people in the creative field. There should be a collective effort. On an individual level, a person will do what he or she can. Not that I am saying that the support is not there. But I believe we need more support from interested stakeholders and from the governmental level. Plus, I believe it is important that the Film Development Board create a space where young people can express themselves. As far as I know, the Film Development Board during the tenure of the previous Chairman Dayaram Dahal, have been conducting programs where they have been engaging young people by conducting programs and discussions. We had a very good working relationship through KIMFF and the Film Development Board where we conducted a number of forums for women filmmakers as well as established a fellowship for young filmmakers. But the main concern is that, for the creative arts to flourish the government should create space and establish policies that should benefit the field. For example, in a short spanof years, the South Korean film industry and film festivals such as Busan International Film Festival have grown to be world-renowned. The government support the industry recieved and the policies influencing them were drafted in such a way that their creative arts received ample space to work. Today in the world of cinema, when you talk about South Korean or Iranian films everyone has a high expectations. Why? Because they received governmental support that allowed them to create a condition where they could develop. <h4>Could you tell us a little about your time in KIMFF and what is the future like for KIMFF?</h4>KIMFF started 20 years ago when a group of journalists and like-minded people came together and started a festival about Nepali filmmaking and filmmaking in the Himalayan kingdom. This festival was started purely because of our passion for storytelling.But having said that I think it’s time for KIMFF to transition and change and become a more sustainable and long-term enterprise. We have to be able to bring in the private sector and other government partners so we can continue this festival and make sure we are sustainable in the long run. Since the team that established KIMFF were all media-related individuals, we were more focused on conducting the program and building the space for filmmakers. As a result, we lacked marketing expertise. So, I believe that is something we need to look at and bring in, if we are to continue for a long time as a more professional organization. So, I think the important thing is that we have to look at KMIFF as a product because as a product, we capture and tell stories about the Himalayas which can be beneficial for tourism. For example, people travel all around the world for film festivals, so these international film festivals are already a product, and in a similar fashion, KIMFF can also be a similar product.There is a potential for us to work with Kathmandu Metropolitan City Board, Film Development Board, Tourism Board, and various corporations and redesign KIMFF as a tourism product. What I believe is, when people look at KIMFF from the outside, people look at the festival as the largest international film festival in Nepal, primarily because we have been here for so long and we have been able to build international contacts. But we haven’t been able to capitalize as much as we should, which is where the gap is. It is partly because every year we start from zero and raise funds. And while currently, the method is working, but I’m not going to be here forever and the people of my generation are not going to be here forever. So, we have a strategic plan on how we can create a comfortable support system and create a direction for the next generation and handover or transition to the next phase of the event. <h4>So, what is the importance of documenting Nepali and Himalayan stories?</h4>It’s really important. Speaking as a media person, documentation is very important. For example, observe the condition of the libraries in one of our main Universities; it is in a precarious state, so much so that finding any documents and references can be very difficult. Speaking from my experience of working at a media development organization and and as a journalist, I realized that looking for a document or any old data is very difficult because of the lack of documentation. Because of this, through KIMFF and Nepal Panorama we have digitized more than a 100 film titles and archived them. So when you think about it, after 100 years when we will all go away, these stories about Nepal, the Himalayas, Kathmandu, the 90s and the 2000s can still be viewed and or read through these digital archives that we are trying to build. All the films were collected through Nepal Panorama; the idea is that we have a strong database of stories that in the future we can watch and reflect on how our society was during this time. So, when you talk about KIMFF in that way, I think we are doing a really important job. Even if it’s not a high-tech process, at least we are trying to create a documentation archival section for people in the future who want to see stories from our current time and stories of our current culture.  <h4>Do we have the potential of being a destination for film tourism? Meaning filmmakers would come to Nepal to shoot their movies. </h4>Definably, we can. For example, many of the commercials that have been produced in India that need to have shots of mountainous regions have all been shot in Nepal. I do believe that logistic-wise, it makes more sense for them to come to Nepal and do it. But having said that, the Nepal government’s policies should be suitable, because from what I understand, it is very complicated.Not too long ago, after the release of a famous song that was shot in Tilicho Lake; tourism in the area increased exponentially.  To say the least, people actually travel to remote locations after watching a film. Visuals are in fact sort of a promotion for the country or the region in question. But in Nepal, the Ministry of Communication, The Nepal Tourism Board, and Nepal Film Development have to work together and help facilitate this process. It will play an important role to encourage people from foreign countries to want to come and film and explore in Nepal.<h3>KIMFF 2022 is taking place from December 8th, 2022 to December 10th, 2022. To find out more about the festival click <a href=”https://kimff.org/”>here</a>.</h3> Thu, 24 Nov 2022 10:00:33 +0000 Avant Shrestha
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