Nepalese community get together to mark festivals

Nepalese expats in Qatar recently celebrated Dashain in an event co-ordinated
by Non Resident Nepalese Organisation.
The Nepalese community in Qatar recently celebrated their biggest festival – Dashain – in an event co-ordinated by Non Resident Nepalese Organisation-National Co-ordination Council (NRNA-NCC) and participated by over 65 community organisations including Literary Society, district-level organisations, social organisations, indigenous societies among others at Gulf Paradise Hotel last week.
The programme also marked the festivals that followed Dashain, which were Tihar, Nepal New Year and Chhath. The event was chaired by NRNA–NCC chairman Binesh Tamang and Mani Ratna Sharma, chargé d’affaires at Nepalese Embassy, attended as chief guest. Khalid al-Jumaily, community engagement manager, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Abdullah al-Neema, public relations manager of Al Arabi Sports Club, Dr Sameer Moopan, CEO, Aster Healthcare, Huda Abdeirahim, associate specialist, Weill Cornell Medical College-Qatar, members of Non Resident Nepalese Association International Co-ordination Committee and Faisal al-Hudawi, community co-ordinator, Public Relations Department (MoI), were the special guests.
Dashain is the biggest and longest festival of Nepalese Hindus celebrated for a fortnight in September or October. The festival commemorates the great victory of mythical Mother Goddess Durga or Maha Kali over the wicked demon Mahishashura. The festival also symbolises the victory of Lord Rama over his nemesis Ravana as recounted in Hindu epic Ramayana.
The first day (Ghatasthapana), seventh day (Fulpati), eighth day (Maha Astami), ninth day (Maha Navami) and 10th day (Vijaya Dashami) are the important days of 14-day long celebration of Dashain. One the eighth day, Hindu worshippers in Nepal sacrifice goats, rams, buffalos, pigeons or chickens at their homes or at temples. On the 10th day, elders put a red marking, a mixture of rice grains, curd and vermillion, on the forehead of the younger relatives.           
Most importantly, for each and every Nepalese, Dashain has remained that one time of the year when all the sorrows, grief and hardships are forgotten and togetherness and happiness is celebrated. This foremost essence of Dashain has never changed and will perhaps never change in the future.
Tihar is the second major festival of Nepalese Hindus celebrated for five days. Coming 15 days after Dashain, Tihar is considered as the festival of lights. During Tihar, Hindus worship cow, bull, and Goddess Laxmi. On the fifth day of celebration, sisters and brothers pray for each other’s prosperity and health and offer red tikka to each other.
Nepal Sambat or Nepal New Year falls within five days of Tihar. The Nepal lunar calendar consists of 354 days in a year and has an added month each third year. This New Year came into being during medieval Nepal and was introduced by one Shankhadhar Sakhawa after he paid all the debts of his fellow countrymen. Chhath Puja is said to be the most ancient Hindu celebration and falls soon after Tihar celebration.
Addressing the audience, chief guest Mani Ratna Sharma praised the unity of Nepalese community in celebration of their biggest festivals. “Such celebrations help to unite Nepalese people with other communities, and also to boost bilateral relationship,” Sharma said.       
Khalid al-Jumaily said he was honoured to be a part of Nepalese community celebration. He reiterated the contribution made by Nepalese workers in the development of infrastructure projects in Qatar. He praised the community’s assistance in the run-up to World Cup 2022.
Speaking at the event, Abdullah al-Neema said his organisation is always ready to support the Nepalese community in the domain of sports. He said Al Arabi Sports Club has very strong relation with the community, and that relationship is helping to boost bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Faisal al-Hudawi requested all Nepalese people to follow the traffic rules of Qatar.
The programme also served a cultural menu. The welcome dance was performed by artistes Lokesh BC and Rima Lama. A cultural dance performance about Dashain and Tihar was presented by artistes Sabina Lama, Sancho Maya Tamang, Ratna Adhikari and Umesh Lama.
During their performances, they portrayed the complete celebration of the two major festivals. Singer Bal Bikram Rana recited a Tihar song. Likewise, singers Reet Kumar Shrestha, Kamala Gurung, Sushma Pun and Binita KC performed a festival song. Dancers Laxmi Giri and Bhagavati Nepal performed a folk dance in traditional attires. Dancer Amit Gurung and Amar Lama performed a dance in Nepali cinema song.
The programme was hosted by Tej Katuwal and the cultural presentation was co-ordinated by Sakti Cheetri.