Navin Shakya

citylife

Let’s take a deep breath

It is time to pause. To take a deep breath. And to think seriously about the future, not through anger-filled comment threads, but through informed dialogue
Trusted brands, broken trusts

Remember the snacks we grew up loving; cheese balls, noodles, wafers, puffs, toffees, biscuits? Just thinking about them brings back memories of school breaks, pocket-money treats, and tiffin boxes. But try those…
Yomari festival

In the chilly winter months of the Kathmandu Valley, steam rises from brass pots in traditional Newa homes, carrying the sweet aroma of molasses and rice flour. They are making Yomari (Yamari)…
Cash pain theory

Lately, my social media feeds have been full of YouTube and LinkedIn influencers insisting that we should spend in cash instead of using digital payment methods. Their argument is simple: paying with…
The ordinary days

You know, I’ve been thinking lately about how most of my days are just… normal. Truly, unremarkably normal. I wake up, put the kettle on, stare at my inbox, and send a…
Kumari, the living goddess

The Kumari is believed to be the incarnation of Taleju, revered as a protector of the land. The practice solidified during the Malla dynasty, particularly under King Jayaprakash Malla, who is credited…
Cash is king

Last year around this time, our city was hit by a massive flood. It turned daily life upside down, lives were lost, homes and shops were washed away, and people struggled to…
25 April

A decade. It feels like yesterday the earth ripped open, forever changing Nepal. The 2015 Gorkha Earthquake wasn’t just about collapsing buildings; it tore into our society’s core, exposing deep fractures that…
Trolley speaker man

Almost every week, sometimes even twice, someone with a trolley speaker arrives in my neighbourhood, asking for donations to help a kidney or cancer patient—or similarly devastating illness. At first, I felt…
Social validation

A couple of days ago, my niece, a ninth grader, broke down in tears—big, bitter tears—and locked herself in her room for two days. Why? Because her dad bought her a phone…