Jacob Jardel
Assistant Managing Editor
@JJardel_Writing
Cameron experienced a taste of Nepalese culture during Nepali Night from 5-7 p.m. on Sept. 28 in the McCasland Ballroom.
Since 2008, the Cameron University Nepalese Association (CUNA) hosted the event, which celebrates Dashain, a holiday which celebrates the triumph of the goddess Durga over the evil demon Mahisasur.
According to CUNA Advisor Sarah Stroud, the holiday is one of the biggest in the culture.
“It’s equivalent to our Christmas as far as the size of the festival,” she said.
Senior biology major and CUNA President Ashmita Sthapit added that Dashain is the most anticipated festival for Nepalese people.
“During Dashain all the families get together to worship goddess Durga and receive blessings from their elderly,” Sthapit said. “People also buy new clothes, decorate their houses, play cards, fly kites, prepare feast and enjoy during Dashain.”
At Cameron, the students in CUNA brought a glimpse into the festivities of Dashain to those in attendance. According to Stroud, the effort was no small task.
“I think the CUNA board members and students did a great job,” Stroud said. “They worked very hard to prepare for this event. Hours were spent practicing their dances, chopping vegetables, and decorating the ballroom for the event. I’m proud of them for all of their hard work.”
The evening started with host Bishaka Karki providing a welcome note before recognition of the Nepali National Anthem. Afterward, Karki provided a brief background on Dashain and its importance to the culture.
After an introduction of the CUNA student officers, the audience was treated to a buffet of traditional Nepali cuisine such as cauliflower and potato curry, chicken tikka masala and kheer, a dessert rice pudding with dried fruits and nuts.
As audience members were finishing their meals, the student performances began, starting off with Ayush Thapa performing the Nepali song “Samjhana Birsana.”
A Nepali fusion dance followed Thapa’s song. Nepali students entertained audiences with a variety of dances to a medley of Nepali songs. Following this group dance was an original rap titled “K Bhanu Aba” from Rajeev Kuikel and Pramod Poudel.
After the rap, student Abhishek Shah performed a rendition of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ song “Under the Bridge” with Ayush Lal Joshi accompanying him on guitar. Afterward, Sujana Rupakheti and Pasang Dolma Hyolmo performed a Bollywood dance to “Aaja Nach Le.”
A rendition of the Nepali song “Gotta Be Love” followed the Bollywood dance, bringing a mellower tempo to the night. Kimi Gurung’s guitar accompanied Lama’s vocals on the song.
The song was followed by another group dance, this one to the song “Bajho Khet Ma.” The student performers showcased their moves to the song and to the fanfare from the audience in attendance.
Lal Joshi wrapped up the evening of performances with his acoustic rendition of the song “Farki Farki.”
The evening concluded with Sthapit’s vote of thanks to all those who helped make the evening possible, from the faculty advisors to the audience. She felt the evening was a success all around.
“I think the event went really good,” Sthapit said. “All the performers did a fabulous job, and everybody loved our food. Everyone had a great time and that’s what we wanted.”
According to Stroud, this event brought more to the campus than just an opportunity for an audience to eat, drink and be merry.
“It really builds a community among the Nepalese students for them to celebrate holidays together,” she said. “Many of them just came from Nepal. They’ve never been away from their families for this holiday. This is a way for them to celebrate and enjoy time together.”
Sthapit corroborated this statement and added that it helps her and other Nepali students have their little slice of home at Cameron.
“Nepali Night means a lot to me,” she said. “It is the only time of the year when everyone gathers to celebrate something. … A lot of Nepalese people are either studying or working away from their homes. These kinds of celebrations make us less home sick during the festive season.”
Both Stroud and Sthapit said the benefits of Nepali Night also translate to students who are not from Nepal.
“For non-Nepalese students, it’s a great opportunity for them to come and learn about Nepali culture,” Stroud said.
Sthapit agreed, adding that this event adds to the already robust offering of multicultural events on campus.
“I think events like Nepali Night helps us share our culture with rest of the world,” she said. “Our campus is famous for having diverse students, and events like these helps promote our culture and diversity.”