The beginning of a new year is a wishful time. Although we are reeling under an unofficial blockade and have some unpleasant memories from the past year, we should not let it put a damper on our spirit. The celebrities we have featured look hopefully forward to welcoming New Year 2016 and suggest ways to keep alive the celebratory ambience.

Rekha Shah, singer

2015 was a tough year for us Nepalis. The Great Earthquake left us all in despair, and at the time when we were trying to get back on our feet, we had to deal with another crisis, the unofficial Indian blockade. Looking back, it was thoroughly a year of despair. But then, there certainly are lessons that the year taught us, which we will have to embrace in the coming year. The resilience and communal harmony displayed by fellow Nepalis is remarkable. I hope the New Year will bring us the power to tread our way through these traces of tragedy and work on to rebuilding our country.

On the personal front, I will be welcoming the New Year with my family; we plan to travel to somewhere nice and have a nice dinner and start the year with a renewed vigour.

Nirakar Yakthumba, musician

The year 2015 was challenging for all of us and it was no exception for me. I hope 2016 has good things in store for us. To mark the start of the new year, I will be performing with my band at the Attic Bar on New Year’s Eve.

Raban Rana (DJ Rabbit)

2016 should be a big year for me, because I have been really looking forward to it for quite some time now: I have some pretty serious shows lined up starting January. Also, I am going to start my new techno project. I am also keeping tabs on starting production. I hope I will perform my debut International gig and get that long-awaited break.

Dibyata Vaidya, Miss Nepal Earth 2015

Although 2015 was a great year for me personally, it has been a tough year for Nepal. As we go from one year to the other, we dream of a better world. I hope, the year 2016 will help us on our quest to make Nepal a better, more prosperous country. This coming year, I hope, we will get to see ourselves on our full potential.

Abhi Subedi, writer

I am planning to celebrate the beginning of the New Year exchanging greetings and good wishes with friends.  I will celebrate this New Year’s Eve in Thamel, with my friends. I am sure there will be good music and celebratory ambience up there.

Deepak Limbu, singer

I will be performing live in the Malekhu Mahotsav this New Year’s Eve. My fifth studio album, Rangholi, is set to release in 2016. So I am excited for it. It seems I will be starting my new year with a tour abroad; I have shows on London. Hope 2016 will bring about good things to me and Nepalis.

Shrijana Singh Yonjan, creative director

The beginning of a new year is a time for retrospection and also a time to plan for the year ahead. Since the year 2015 went badly for us, I hope that the ones in positions of power will reflect and analyse their past activities, learn lessons from it and move ahead with proper planning and vision. I expect them to become more responsible and accountable. We as citizens of a democratic state should also be more aware of our rights and responsibilities and act accordingly. On a personal level, I wish for an environment where I can thrive personally and professionally. Anything that hits rock bottom has to come up! Therefore, I hope year 2016 brings in peace, prosperity and stability to Nepal and Nepalis.