With Tihar, also known as the festival of lights and flowers, around the corner, floricultarists are busy plucking flowers in their garden.

Our Photographer Prakash Chandra Timilsena visited Gundu, Ananta Lingeshwor Municipality of Bhaktapur on Sunday and captured some moments of farmers plucking Makhamali flowers and preparing garlands. The Makhamali garlands are culturally very important for the fifth or the last day of the festival known as Bhai Tika.

One of the farmers Kala Regmi said that almost every household in this village are engaged in the floriculture business. Normally, the farmers sell a flower garland for Rs20-22 but during festivals, the rate rises to as high as Rs50-100 in the market.  

“We are paid less compared to toil we put into this business due to lack of proper management of the market,” said one of the floriculturist Punam KC.

Bulu Nagarkoti, 70, arranges his flowers.

Nagarkoti has been in the business for the past 16 years. He grows flowers in his two Ropanis land. Nagarkoti generates yearly income of Rs100,000-Rs200,000 from this business.