KATHMANDU: Around half the population of Nepal's capital has left the city of four million to return home for the upcoming Vijaya Dashami festival.
With the 10-day countdown to Vijaya Dashami, also known here as 'Dashain', starting today, nearly two million people have left for their homes in different districts of the Himalayan nation to celebrate the occasion.
In Kathmandu Metropolitan City, where around four million people reside, 50 percent of the population are migrants from different districts, who came to the capital for jobs, education, and medical treatment.
As Dashain period has already begun, migrants from outside and Nepalese going home from overseas destinations are exiting the Kathmandu valley via Thankot, Sanga, Dakshinkali and Balaju.
This year the main day of Dashain or Dashami falls on September 30.
On that day, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari will apply red vermillion powder mixed with curd and rice on the foreheads of government staff as well as general public at Rastrapati Bhawan to mark the occasion, as per tradition.
People also sacrifice animals at the temple of Goddess Durga on Dashain and worship seeking her blessings.
In Nepal, Vijaya Dashami is observed to commemorate the victory of Durga over the demon Mahisashur.
The festival ends on Kojagrat Purnima, the full moon day in the month of Ashwin as per the Hindu calendar, which falls on October 5 this year.