Dashain Aayo: Which Way to Go?

Dashain came as a temporal relief to many. The majority Hindus of the newly declared secular nation celebrated the country's largest festival by receiving blessings from their elders. Ironically, despite their revolutionary rhetorics, the Maoists had both ways: Tika, yes. Tika, no. They forcibly collected donations. An unprecedented culture shift in the country's history was apparent when political leaders, including the PM, boycotted tika from King Gyanendra. After the advent of lokatantra, it is as if that every individual has become a raja of his or her own little world. This Dashain has signalled a radical departure from the past. 
• PM breaks tradition of receiving Tika from king, People's Daily
• Dashain: High hopes, big expectations, KoL
• King's Dashain message, peace process nation’s need, Nepal News
• Capital city empty during Dashain festival, People's Daily