Banned plastic flowers & garlands flood Kathmandu markets (photos)
This festival of flowers is being celebrated with great enthusiasm, and the markets are bustling with vendors selling various types of flowers.
KATHMANDU: As the Tihar festival begins, the atmosphere in the markets is filled with excitement and joy.
This festival of flowers is being celebrated with great enthusiasm, and the markets are bustling with vendors selling various types of flowers.
In particular, marigolds and other vibrant blooms are prominently displayed, hanging from shopfronts across the city.
However, it’s not just natural flowers that adorn the market stalls. Plastic flowers have also made their way into the marketplace.
Despite a ban on the sale of plastic flowers imposed by local authorities, including the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, these synthetic blooms are still visible in various shops throughout the valley.
While local farmers are struggling to sell their homegrown flowers, many business owners are opting to import plastic flowers and other synthetic floral arrangements from neighboring India, rather than promoting locally produced blooms.
This shift not only undermines the local flower industry but also hampers efforts to expand the market for domestically grown flowers.
Even with the restrictions in place, it appears that plastic flowers are still being sold in large quantities, creating a mixed atmosphere in the Kathmandu valley’s marketplaces.
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