Kathmandu, Oct. 13 -- The festival of flowers and lights, Tihar, is a week away, but traders said that, like Dashain, they are not expecting festive bonanza sales due to uncertainty and fear following the Generation Z protests in early September.

Flower and festive light traders said that as the corporate houses in Kathmandu Valley were severely damaged during the protest last month, the demand for flowers and lights is expected to decline sharply. The demand for flowers and lights in corporate houses used to be high during Tihar.

Colourful blossoms are a major feature of the festival. People festoon the doors and windows of their houses with strings of flowers, and sisters place garlands around the necks of their brothers as part of ri...