Paper short abstract:

A day in the life of a Gurung family living by the Prithvi Highway, Nepal. The roadside is increasingly populated and the natural living environment interrupted by heavy vehicle flow. It is life at the intersection of tradition and transition.

Paper long abstract:

A day in the life of a Gurung family living by the Prithvi Highway.

The highway connects Kathmandu area with Pokhara, a tourist city in the Western part of Nepal. The road runs along Trishuli River and offers majestic views of middle-hill Nepal. At the same time, the roadside is increasingly populated and the natural living environment interrupted by heavy vehicle flow. Traditionally, small roadside home restaurants or khaja ghars (food-houses) have offered passers-by delicious Nepali staple dal bhat (rice and lentils), and Nirmala's used to be a famous one back in the day.

However, times have changed and there is an abundance of restaurants, shops and kiosks by the road. Nowadays, it is more profitable to make local millet beer chhyang and strong rice wine raksi that can be sold to local people. Two sisters take care of the household, the little shop, and make millet beer while their mother and father look after the goats and guide the girls. While everyday work goes on around the house, extended family and neighbors come by for a chat, to watch TV, or to have a drink. Life goes on at the intersection of tradition and transition.