Nepali community celebrates the festival of Dashain

 Acting Ambassador of Nepal to Qatar Ganesh Parsad Dhakal giving a speech at the reception organised by the Embassy of Nepal in Qatar.

The Nepali community in Qatar organised a number of events across Qatar recently to celebrate the festival of Dashain.

Dashain is the longest and the most auspicious festival of Nepali Hindus that falls either in September or October. Celebrated for 15 days, the first, seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth day are the most important. The multiple manifestations of Shakti—or empowerment—are worshipped in this festival. According to Hindu mythology, Dashain marks the gods winning their battle against the demons.

One the first day, the sacred pot is filled with holy water covered with cow dung and sewn with barley seeds. A large number of goats are sacrificed to Mahakali — one of the Hindu deities —on the eighth day. The barley seeds grow into five or six-inch-long yellowish grass by the tenth day. The elders then give tika, jamara, dakchhina (money) and blessings to their younger relatives. Flying kites, playing cards, buying new clothes and playing ping (bamboo swing) are the major aspects of this festival.

In Qatar, The Thakuri Help Network organised a musical programme at Shalimar Restaurant to celebrate the festival. NRN-ICC vice-president TB Karki was the chief guest.

Singers Indira Shah, Mohan Shah, Drubha BC and Ram Parsad Rai performed a nostalgic song about the festival, tearing people up about being away from their home country.

Eight artists from the Nepali Cultural Center performed the Hurra dance. The dance is interesting in that it takes them form of a lyrical debate between two groups — girls and boys.

Other artists such as Madhu Lama, Arjun Kharel, Maya Gurung, Ram Baral, Radhika Thapa and Tou Maya Gurung also performed at the event.

Mina BK had come all the way from Al Khor to see the programme and said she was not let down. Binita Thapa, Radhika Hamal and Basanti Rai, who work for the same company in Qatar, said they especially take off during Dashain each year to celebrate it.

Ram Thapa, another audience member, said, “I cannot celebrate the festival with my family back home, so I have sent some clothes of sweets for them. I hope the gifts will make them happy.”

Elsewhere, the Embassy of Nepal in Qatar also organised a reception on the occasion. Acting Ambassador of Nepal to Qatar Ganesh Parsad Dhakal was the chief guest. The embassy staff, Nepali community leaders, businessmen and social workers attended the programme. The acting ambassador gave the participants the tika and jamara on the occasion.

Also, the Gorkha Welfare Society and Dang Dekhuri Welfare Society organised a tea reception on the occasion. Participants were served tea as they read poetry. Photos and Text: Usha Wagle Gautam