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Kathmandu Newar residents were particularly upset because the government’s decision directly affected the celebration of centuries-old festivals very close to their cultural identity, such as Indra Jatra and Kumari Jatra. The issue created quite a stir at the Constituent Assembly meeting. Leaders of opposition parties accused the government of disrespecting people’s beliefs and their heritage.
Dr. Baburam Bhattari, Nepal’s finance minister who decided that cutting the funding for religious and cultural celebrations would save the impoverished nation some money, clearly underestimated the people’s reaction. But amidst the wave of criticism against him and his plan, an important reality is being ignored.
Nepal is now a secular nation. The state cannot support one particular religion or its practices over any other. In fact, religion is no longer the state’s business. The government cannot spend taxpayer money to support Indra Jatra or, for that matter, to celebrate Christmas, Eid or Buddha Purnima. The government of a secular Nepal should be kept separate from its temples.
In the past, Nepal’s forefathers developed the concept of “Guthi,” a cooperative which was responsible to fund religious and cultural celebrations like the various Jatras, as well as Dashin and Tihar – Nepal’s two biggest festivals celebrated during the months of September and October. In Kathmandu and around the country, several hundred Guthis were organized, and they had land and other properties to finance their obligations.
As the country began to modernize, Guthis lost their independence. The government took over them, and thus began the dirty game of usurping Guthi property. Over the years, millions of rupees worth of Guthi property was taken by the former royal family, their cohorts and the high and mighty of that time. The government’s intervention regarding the Guthis destroyed a system that had been working for centuries.
Due to this mismanagement of Guthi property, the state was forced to fill the gap by funding various celebrations. But now that the country is secular, it is practically illegal for the state to provide the funding.
It would be foolish to ask the system that destroyed Guthis to bail out and save Nepal’s culture and heritage. The government exists to enforce the borders, maintain law and order, make new laws, deal with foreign nations and make sure that everyone in the country is treated equally. Nepal made a big mistake by inviting the government into its temples.
However, this more recent fiasco has also presented the people of Nepal with an opportunity to take back their heritage. The government should formulate a system where Guthis can work independently and serve the local people’s needs. The assets would have to be protected and the local community – not a government officer – should be responsible for the wellbeing of the Guthi and its finances. If the locals are vigilant and involved, they will have enough funds to continue their celebrations and will be able to keep their heritage alive. It would be a tragedy if Nepal’s festivals die away; however, the preservation of culture should start from the people and not simply be a government-run initiative.
Being born and raised in Kathmandu, I was lucky enough to enjoy the various Jatras and celebrate my heritage every year. It seems that those who were protesting against the government’s decision to cut funding were motivated by the desire to keep their culture alive. With so much Western influence seeping into Nepal, it is difficult to preserve the country’s traditions, but there are people willing to stand up for their identity. Their strength is commendable, but it is time to stop depending on the government and take charge of our own culture. To be honest, religion and culture were never meant to be, and should never be, the government’s business.
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(Bhumika Ghimire is a freelance reporter. Her articles have been published in OhMyNews, NepalNews, Toward Freedom, Telegraph Nepal, Himal South Asian and ACM Ubiquity. She is also a regular contributor to News Front Weekly (Nepal) and Nepal Abroad (Washington D.C.). She can be reached at bhumika_g@yahoo.com. ©Copyright Bhumika Ghimire)
