Covid-19 virtualised society, but it’s a far cry from reality for Hindu priests in Nepal

Vishnu Aryal has been quite busy for the past few months. Despite the lockdown , Aryal, who is a Hindu priest in Kathmandu, Nepal’s capital, has been conducting weddings, pasnis (ritual to mark weaning) and shraddhas (annual rituals to pay tributes for deceased parents and grandparents) at various places. Even though he knows there are risks, for him, this is the only way to earn a living.

“I stayed at home doing nothing for six months, but I don’t have the freedom to do that anymore. This is my dharma and I’m not long shying away from this,” says the 44-year-old.