Samik Kharel

Dashain and Tihar prompt an odyssey among the Nepali migrant population abroad.

This year, too, the journey home for thousands of Nepalis has already begun. For the last few months, planes and buses into Nepal have been packed with a festive rush, with a significant increase year-on-year in the number of Nepalis returning.

Three-month data from the Department of Immigration (DoI) show that a total of 179,832 Nepalis travelled back home in the period, with 51,350 people returning in July, 54,371 in August and 74,111 in September.

Compared to last year, which saw 161,552 people travelling in the three months, this is a substantial increase from 51,985 in July, 54,371 in August and 61,369 in September. Suresh Adhikari, director general of the DoI, said that 2,500 people on an average are arriving home every day.

“This is the peak season for the Nepalis to come back. The three-month record shows nearly double the number of returnees than in other months. The trend will continue till Tihar,” said Adhikari.

Adhikari drew a parallel between this rise in Nepali arrivals to the complementary increase in the number of people travelling abroad as migrant workers.

“Past records show that the number of arrivals before the festivals and the following departures are similar. Most people return immediately after Dashain while some wait for Tihar to end,” said Adhikari.

Published  on: 16 October 2012 | The Kathmandu Post