Oct 21, Kathmandu- In previous years, the number of people leaving Pokhara to celebrate Dashain was more, but this year it is less. In Pokhara, the capital city of Gandaki province, there is no such problem this year as people in various professions and businesses go home to celebrate the festival with their families. Passengers have enough vehicles to reach their destination.

The Prithviraj Bus Operating Company, which has its head office in Pokhara and operates day and night services in all the seven provinces of the country, has said that the number of people leaving Pokhara this year during Dussein is low. Although the company has opened advance ticket bookings for Dasain from October 21st, only six thousand people have taken tickets till Friday.

Yogendra Bahadur KC, Chairman of Prithviraj Marg Bus Operating Company Pvt. Ltd., said that in the previous years, around 30,000 tickets were booked in advance during Dussein. According to him, in the past when the number of passengers in public transport was high, more buses had to be operated, but this year is not the case.

Yogendra Bahadur KC, Chairman of Prithviraj Marga Bus Operating Company Pvt. Ltd., said that in the previous years, around 30,000 tickets were booked in advance during Dussein. According to him, in the past when the number of passengers in public transport was high, more buses had to be operated, but this year is not the case.

According to Chairman KC, 1,290 passenger buses are operating under the company. The company has been providing day and night services in various cities of the seven provinces of the country by means of deluxe buses.

It is said that due to the recession in the economy, the number of people going out of Pokhara during Dussein has decreased. Due to the increase in prices in every area and the decline in business, there has been an increase in the number of people celebrating the festival in their places.

Gyanendra Bahadur Thapa, who is currently living in Neelkanth Municipality of Dhading and is involved in the construction business, said that although he used to go to his village to celebrate Dasain in the past, this year he is planning to stay in Pokhara and celebrate it. He said that he could not go home because of public transport and rising prices.

He said, "There is no income for more than a year. A family of four spends only Rs 8,000 to rent a car to go home. There are many other expenses, since I have no income, I am celebrating the festival by taking a loan here. In Pokhara this year, even on Dashain, there is little activity in the market. Although in the past there was a crowd of shoppers in the market since the recession, this year the market has been busy only since Friday, the businessmen say.