- Rising food prices, especially for meat and vegetables, are straining family budgets during this year's Dashain festival celebrations.
- Floods and landslides have damaged major roads, leading to significant travel delays for those returning to their home villages.
- Many families are prioritizing disaster recovery and home repairs over festive spending due to recent natural calamities.
- Government intervention is needed to monitor market prices and restore infrastructure to ensure safe and affordable holiday travel.
Kathmandu, Nepal: For many Nepali families, Dashain is a time to return home, meet relatives and share a good meal. Parents try to buy new clothes for their children, while those living away from home look forward to spending the festival with their families. But this year, rising prices and roads damaged by floods and landslides have made the festival harder for many people.
Some families are worried about the cost of food and meat. Others are unsure how long it will take to reach their villages. For people whose homes and farmland have been damaged by floods and landslides, the priority is to repair the damage and get their lives back on track.
Rising costs put pressure on family budgets
Prices of daily essentials are a concern as families prepare for Dashain. Demand for vegetables, fruits and meat usually rises during the festival. When roads are blocked or damaged, supplies can be delayed and transport costs can rise, adding to the pressure on prices.
According to the Kalimati Fruits and Vegetable Market Development Board, Indian dried onions were selling at an average wholesale price of Rs 83 per kilogram on October 13, 2026. Large Nepali tomatoes were priced at Rs 75 per kilogram, while long red potatoes cost Rs 57.67 per kilogram. Retail prices may be higher and vary from shop to shop.
For families on tight budgets, even small increases in food prices can make a difference. Buying meat, getting new clothes for children and travelling home can add up to more than they can afford. Some families may have to cut back on their plans for the festival.
Goat prices are also a concern. Traders say live goats are selling for Rs 850 to Rs 860 per kilogram this year, compared with around Rs 750 last year. Goat meat is selling for Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,700 per kilogram, according to traders. Prices vary by market and seller.
Traders estimate that 38,000 to 40,000 goats will be consumed in the Kathmandu Valley this Dashain, down from an estimated 45,000 to 50,000 last year. These are traders’ estimates, not official figures.
Travellers face delays on the way home
For people living in Kathmandu for work or study, Dashain is often the one time of year when they can spend several days with their families. But damaged roads have made the journey home less predictable.
Floods and landslides have blocked some roads and forced traffic onto single lanes in other areas. Travellers may face long delays, and some may need to spend more time and money than planned to reach their destinations.
A Nepal Police update issued on October 12, 2026, reported that a road section in Gorkha was completely blocked, while traffic was restricted to one direction on some roads in other districts. Conditions can change quickly, so travellers should check the latest road updates before leaving.
Drivers also face difficult conditions. They must navigate damaged roads while keeping passengers safe. On routes affected by landslides, the journey can take longer and require extra care.
For passengers eager to reach home before the festival, delays mean less time with their families. Many have to balance the cost of travel against other household expenses at a time when money is already tight.
Help is needed beyond the festival
Authorities need to monitor prices and make sure consumers are not overcharged. Shops should display prices clearly, and officials should check the quality of goods and investigate complaints. At the same time, price increases should be assessed carefully, taking into account supply problems and transport costs.
The government also needs to keep people informed about road conditions and help restore routes damaged by floods and landslides. Families who have lost homes, crops or other property need timely support to begin rebuilding their lives.
In the longer term, better roads, safer bridges and proper storage facilities for farm produce could help reduce supply problems when disasters strike.
For many people, Dashain this year is less about buying more or celebrating in a big way and more about managing the basics. They want to reach home safely, put food on the table and spend time with the people they care about.
For families affected by floods and landslides, the wish is simpler still: to repair their homes, return to their work and begin life again. As the festival approaches, timely help, safer roads and fair prices could make a real difference to those facing the greatest hardship.
