Nepal, Aug. 19 -- In 2018, Rishikesh Pandey published an interesting research paper in Quest, entitled "Religion, Rainfall and Rice: Social, Ecological Interpretation of Festivals in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal." One of the principal findings is that the Newars of Kathmandu are struggling to continue their traditional festivities due to, among other things, "changes in the agro-ecological landscape". How would they pray and worship in their rice fields as before, when those fields are now covered by a dense concrete jungle? I believe we need to urge the rethinking of the traditional celebrations of our larger, national festivals like Dashain, too. I would suggest that our festivals must be preserved, but their celebrations and rituals must be...