For most people Dashain is over once they receive tika and blessings from their family members and relatives. But for some youths from Pokhara, Dashain is more than that. For them Dashain is not over until and unless they visit a special place in Pokhara. This special place is Bridhaashram (elderly home) of Pokhara. For some Pokhareli youths it has become a culture to visit the elderly homes during Dashain, receive blessings from the senior citizens living there and enjoying one full day with them by singing and dancing in Bhajan. Giving continuation to this tradition, some thirty youths from different parts of Pokhara went to Harihar Bridhaashram located in the upper hill of Bhalam during this Dashain as well. The program was jointly organized by many youth organizations like, Alternatives, Youth Initiative, Yuwa Forum, Paila and HRERLIC, Kaski.
The main objective of this programme was to lessen the generation gaps that exist in our society between the senior citizens and youth. Senior citizens are ornaments of our society. They are like ocean of knowledge and experiences which they have accumulated over their age. If they could share their knowledge and experiences with young people then young people would be enlightened. And yes the thirty youths who have visited the Bridhaashram, have been enlightened by receiving tika and blessings from senior citizens and listening to their experiences of life.
The Harihar Bridhaasharam located in the middle of a thin forest in the North side of Pokhara, is at a distance of one hour walk from Bagar. From the bridhaasharam we can see a panoramic view of Pokhara city. When we reached the Bridhaashram, water fountain in the middle of the boulevard, flowers of different colors, cool and fresh air blowing from the nearby trees and the Bhajan in the background held us spellbound. We felt like we were in heaven. Talking to the senior citizens living their and listening to their experiences of life was really wonderful. After brief introduction we received tika, Jamara and blessings from the senior citizens. Then we handed over some of the daily utilities which we have bought by our self contribution. After that we enjoyed by singing and dancing in Bhajan. Finally the Bridhaasharm family also offered us some snacks and we returned from there at around five in the evening.
The programme has raised the feeling of social responsibility in Pokhareli youths. After being born as a human being in this world each and every individual has some social responsibility and he/she must fulfill it, otherwise he/she is no more different from an animal. This is just one benchmark stepped by Pokhareli youths in the field of social responsibility and such programs will be continued throughout the year.
