Kathmandu's streets thinned dramatically on Wednesday as over 800,000 people left the valley to vote in tomorrow's House of Representatives election, creating a festival-like exodus reminiscent of the Dashain holiday.

The snap parliamentary vote, scheduled for March 5, marks Nepal's first general election since deadly youth-led protests toppled the government in September 2025 amid widespread anger over corruption and economic woes. Nearly 19 million registered voters, including almost one million first-timers, will elect 275 lawmakers, with voters required by law to cast ballots in their registered rural constituencies rather than urban areas where many reside.

The mass departure has overwhelmed bus parks like Gongabu, Balaju, and Kalanki, with long queues forming at exit points and highways clogged by packed public and private vehicles. Major parties, including the CPN-UML and Nepali Congress, organized free buses from sites like Machhapokhari to ferry voters home, promising complimentary return trips post-election. The government declared public holidays through Friday, March 6, coinciding with the Fagu Purnima festival, while suspending non-essential transport services until polling ends.

Traffic police reported more than 750,000 departures from the Kathmandu Valley in recent days, with estimates reaching up to 950,000 by polling day. About a tenth of Nepal's 30 million people live in the valley for work or study, fueling the annual ritual of election-time returns.

A surge in arrivals from abroad has also boosted turnout prospects. In February 2026 alone, 148,623 Nepalis returned via Tribhuvan International Airport, a 28 percent increase from the prior year, many specifically to exercise their franchise. Migrant workers, numbering around 2.5 million overseas, wield significant influence over family voters despite lacking absentee ballot options.

Residents described the scene as festive despite political cynicism. "It felt like Dashain all over again," said 71-year-old Thuli Maya Tamang at Balaju Buspark, swayed by free transport offers from relatives. Deputy Superintendent Sunil Jung Shah noted, "Seeing so many people return home with their families feels like a major festival."

Voters like 38-year-old Saroj Chapagain emphasized civic duty: "My one vote may not be decisive... but it can play a crucial role in safeguarding the constitution." In remote Himalayan districts like Humla, snowbound residents faced costs exceeding 100,000 Nepali rupees ($648) to trek home.

The Election Commission imposed a 48-hour campaign blackout from Monday midnight, aiming for a peaceful vote amid high youth engagement. Nearly a third of 3,400 candidates are under 40, testing traditional parties against independents and newcomers like former mayor Balendra Shah, challenging ex-PM K.P. Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5.

As cross-border services with India and China halted temporarily, the homeward rush underscored Nepal's democratic fervor, even as youth unemployment at 20.6 percent drives ongoing migration abroad.