Sushil Pathak

The time of year has come again when I miss my home country most. I simply cannot pen down how much I miss Nepal right now and words seriously fall apart in expressing this overwhelming feeling.

This is my 6th Dashain here at California and each year I miss it more. I miss that Dashain air, that Dashain feelings which we find only in Nepal and no where else. We people here in Bay Area have a good Nepali community and I am proud for that fact. We come together at special occasion like this and try to re-create the same dashain-ness. But still I fail to find the same charm and charisma that Dashain brings in Nepal. I feel like something is missing. California is my second  home and I am here for 6 years running. I am with my parents and barely miss Nepal most other time. But still, this time around, I feel like flying back home and blend with my people there. Celebrating Dashain in California is like having a paper rose. It’s there, looks all right and natural, but lacks all the beauty and sublimity of real rose petals altogether. I particularly miss the wonderful 10-day Puja that my grandfather does every year. His high pitch Sanskrit chants, wonderful aroma of incense sticks and rotis, his long and never seem to be ending blessings!, good lord, where on earth can I find the same bliss?

I wish everyone a very Happy and Prosperous Dashian. May all the beings find peace and serenity.