Stories about children’s days
Megha, 16 year old girl
About Megha’s life
Megha lives in Gongabu, Kathmandu with her brother and sister and does not seem to have any parental support.
Her typical day comprises juggling housework, ad-hoc day-time singing jobs and working in a dohori at night. On the day she recorded her experiences she is unwell, and it is a struggle for her to work but she persists.
Megha left school at a young age. She is learning tailoring with a local NGO (but this is not something she does on the day she spends with the research team).
Megha takes medicine, she feels ill all day
As ill as I was, I worked during the daytime and the evening. At the dohori my back was aching badly. I was leaning on a wall and trying to rest
A performance at the dohori
Megha’s work schedule makes sleeping and eating difficult, which means that she misses meals and sleeps at irregular times.
As well as working at the dohori Megha undertakes work on video shoots, she crosses the city from North to South on a motorbike taxi. She is used to travelling alone, even late at night.
Megha in her workplace
Megha works as a singer in a dohori (venue where folk music and dance is performed) in Gongabu, a transport hub in the north of the city centre. Her aunt also works there.
A dohori is a type of Nepali folk song usually sung by two teams, men and women. A literal translation of dohori into English is “back and forth” referring to the exchanges that are improvised between singers. In Kathmandu, the night-time venues where these songs are performed are also called ‘dohoris’. Food and drinks are served.
Inside the dohori where Megha works
When I finally got home I didn’t want to move and I was in a horrible condition. It was already 10:30 at night and I went to sleep without eating.
Megha’s day
The view from Megha’s room
Megha’s experience
I don’t mind doing house chores. I feel it is my responsibility.
Megha’s experience
I take some medicine before going out to work. I ask my brother to bring me some breakfast, as there will be no time for lunch, but it is early in the morning, no restaurants are open so I just drink some water before leaving for work.
Megha’s experience
While we are performing, I am enjoying myself. I have friends here with me as well.
There is a lot of waiting around and I am not feeling well. I am bored and wondering why I got here so early. I could have slept longer instead. As the day goes on things become more difficult for me. I take a nap for some time and when I wake up, I am fearful that I will be told off, but the person in charge is not around.
Megha’s experience
I’m not feeling well, and my symptoms are getting worse. I call the dohori to say I can’t come today. But the manager insists that I do, as other staff are absent. I agree to go.
Travelling across the city on a motorcycle taxi
Megha’s experience
I am worried about finding a ride (moped ride sharing) because sometimes it is difficult. Luckily today, I find a ride easily.
On the journey home I am not too well and feel like I’m getting a temperature.
Putting on make up
Megha’s experience
It is difficult for me to sleep. Last night I was preoccupied about getting up early for the video shoot and also was not feeling well.
Today I returned home around 10.30pm after leaving the dohori because I was feeling really ill. I was so tired I wanted to go to bed without even changing, but I wiped off my make-up that I had put on at 7 o’clock in the morning. I changed out of my clothes and went to bed. I struggled to fall asleep as I was feeling so tired and sick. I slept without eating.
Explore Megha’s journey
Rama, 17, supports her family by working as a beautician in the daytime and as a dancer in a dance bar at night.
Supriya, 16, works in a party palace (party venue) from 5pm until midnight.
Pema, 15, works in events catering in the afternoons and evenings, after going to college in the morning.
Khem, 17, has worked for a relative in a khaja ghar (small eatery) since he was ten years old.