Kathmandu, 7 Aug: This has been the deeply moving sight in Yampadhab, Ward No. 5 of Bandipur Rural Municipality, Tanahun, for the past few days.
25-year-old Nisha and 21-year-old Anisha are sitting beside their mother, performing the funeral rites (kriyā) of their father, Bhim Bahadur Kshetri.
In a society like Nepal’s—still deeply rooted in patriarchy, tradition, and rigid social norms—if sons had been performing these rites, it would have been seen as routine, even expected. But daughters stepping into this role has challenged convention and touched the hearts of many.
However, by stepping beyond tradition and shouldering their father’s body, the two daughters have become a source of inspiration for society.
Nisha and Anisha not only fulfilled the last rites according to custom, but also delivered a powerful message of social awareness and gender equality through their actions.
Seeing daughters shoulder their father’s body, light the funeral pyre, shave their heads, and observe the 13-day mourning ritual has not only stunned society — it has also opened a new path for progressive thinking.
Their decision to challenge long-standing social norms and uphold such deep respect for their father, even after his passing, was inspired by none other than Bhim Bahadur himself.
At the age of 29, Bhim Bahadur was diagnosed with a serious illness. After many attempts to seek treatment, he was finally admitted to Bharatpur Cancer Hospital, where he was diagnosed with blood cancer.
But while the disease was severe, his inner strength was even greater.
Despite being physically weakened by the illness, he never gave up—neither on life nor on his responsibilities.
Running a small hotel, Bhim Bahadur managed to balance his cancer treatment while supporting his two daughters’ education. With the unwavering support of his wife Mamta and additional income from goat farming, he fought the disease for 18 long years.
He eventually sent his daughters, Nisha and Anisha, to Australia for higher education. Upon hearing news of their father’s critical condition, both daughters returned to Nepal.
On Wednesday, at the age of 47, Bhim Bahadur passed away.
At the funeral, it was his daughters who carried their father’s body to the cremation site, lit the funeral pyre, and sat with their mother for 13 days of mourning rituals. Many in the community watched the scene with deep emotion — for some, it was something entirely new.
Since Wednesday, political leaders, local representatives, and members of civil society have been visiting the Kshetri family in Yampadab to offer condolences.
Shantiraman Wagle, Chief of the Tanahun District Coordination Committee, who visited on Wednesday, described the daughters’ active participation in the mourning rituals — including shaving their heads — as a positive shift for society.
He stated:
“They’ve shown the community that both legally and spiritually, it’s not only sons but daughters who can perform the last rites for their parents.”
