Until a couple of months back the streets of Kathmandu wore a deserted look due to the coronavirus pandemic and the subsequent lockdown imposed by the government. However, life is gradually getting back to normal now and we can see people moving about - shopping or going to office or just strolling around.
Among the various businesses that took a hit during the lockdown, Hong Kong Bazaar, which is also known as Khula Bazaar, also suffered a lot. The Hong Kong Bazaar is famous among shoppers who are looking for cheap bargains. It is also among the biggest shopping areas in Nepal with around 1,500 stalls selling clothing items and shoes and various electrical goods, among others.
Dhruba Bahadaur Dhakal, one of the first to set up a stall in the Bazaar, reveals that the lockdown created a financial problem for a majority of the shopkeepers. "Everything was closed down and we had no other means to earn a livelihood. We survived with whatever little savings we had," he adds.
At present, shops have opened and customers have started visiting the Bazaar. "We have made it mandatory for shopkeepers to wear face masks and are following the necessary health protocols," shares Dhakal. “But maintaining social distance is a hassle."
Besides the recent COVID-related problems shopkeepers do face other issues too especially during the monsoon. Govind Kumar Poudel, another shopkeeper, said, “We have asked the government on many occasions to help us set up a semi-permanent structure to house the stalls but nothing has happened till date."
Poudel mentions that with the constant political instability and restructuring of the government there is no concerned authority to address their pleas. "The market has developed a lot over the years," he says, adding, "Previously, we used kerosene lanterns but now we use CFL bulbs. We have also hired security guards to safeguard our products."
The market was started in 1991 in the Khula Manch area and was relocated to Bhrikuti Mandap in 1993.
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