Varieties of swings mark Dashain as Tanahun youths work to save the tradition

As the tradition of putting up swings in villages during Dashain fades, youth clubs in Tanahun have taken the initiative to preserve it by building linge and rote swings. The decline of this tradition is attributed to the rise of modern entertainment and a shortage of manpower to build the swings.

At Putalichaur in Ghalechhap, Bhanu Municipality-12, the Ghalechhap Yuwa Club has erected a linge swing using local resources. Club chairman Kushal Chandra Adhikari said the swing was built to help the younger generation understand the importance of this tradition.

The Ekta Yuwa Club of Kamalbari, Byas Municipality-12, has also built a linge swing. In Dhading, however, some places that used to have rote, charkhe and linge swings in previous years have not even set up the pirka (base platform) this year.

Dashain enthusiasm appears muted in Dhading, Nuwakot and Rasuwa, which were affected by flooding in the Bhotekoshi and Budhigandaki rivers. According to Krishna Bahadur Pathak of Nilkantha Municipality-3, there are few young people left in the villages, and children are busy with mobile phones.

In Kathmandu, meanwhile, a child was seen joyfully swinging on a linge swing erected in an empty lot beside a busy street.