Nepali time

Kathmandu's roads are full of reckless users—whether it's pedestrians, bikers, motorists, public bus drivers, school bus drivers, or truck drivers. People of all ages—men, women, old, young, or children—seem to always be in a hurry, as if getting to their destination is more important than their own safety.

We are known for being late to almost every event when we follow the tradition of finding the "right" moment down to the second.

But ironically, we are known for being late to almost every event. The term "Nepali time" has become so common that there isn’t a single event that starts on time, nor a flight that takes off as scheduled. 

Even high-profile events organized by international parties often start late because the chief guests arrive after the scheduled time. In fact, arriving late has become a status symbol for some, especially those in power who claim they have more important things to manage.

What’s funny is that we follow the tradition of finding the "right" or auspicious moment, known as sait, down to the second. Yet, when it comes to punctuality, we completely ignore that concept. 

This attitude has made it hard for people who value time and try to be punctual. Instead of being rewarded, they are often punished for their efforts. 

This mentality seems to have seeped into our larger projects as well—delays have become so normal that we expect them. Development projects are rarely completed on time because we’ve accepted that being late is just part of the process.

Coming back to the roads, I still wonder why people rush to violate speed limits, cross streets carelessly, or take unnecessary risks. What’s the point of saving a few minutes if we aren’t going to arrive on time anyway? 

Our projects aren’t finishing on time, and our events are always delayed, so why the rush? Every year, thousands of people in Kathmandu are injured or killed in road accidents, many of which happen because someone was in a hurry. 

Why risk your life just to save a few minutes? Let’s slow down, stay calm, and use the roads safely. After all, nothing is more valuable than your life.