New Year 2070 Celebration

 Nepalese Association of Connecticut (NAConn) organized a social and cultural event to celebrate the arrival of joyful Nepali New Year 2070 amid friends and families at Beth Israel Hall in West Hartford on Sunday the 14th of April.  

More than four hundred participants gathered from Connecticut and nearby states. Such kind of celebrations has always been a part of NAConn’s long tradition to preserve and promote Nepali culture and tradition in the United States of America.

The program started off with a formal session, with the seating of the Chairperson, Chief Guest, Chief Advisor, invited guests, NAConn Advisors and Life Members. Acting Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Her Excellency Sewa Lamsal Adhikari was the Chief Guest. After the national anthem of Nepal and the USA was played , a moment of silence was also observed to honor the victims of the Sandy Hook tragedy. NAConn vice-president Mr. Rishikesh Bhattarai welcomed everyone to the ceremony. Her exellency Sewa Lamsal Adhikary extended New Year’s greetings to all Nepalese community members and wished NAConn would be more successful on its mission in the coming years. On this occasion, NAConn’s first official newsletter “Connecticut Chautari” was released (Bimochan).

NAConn honored Mrs Saraswati Shrestha, Mr. Utsab Thapa and Taste of India (West Hartford) for their outstanding community service and long support to NAConn. This year twelve members added to the list of NAConn’s life members. NAConn’s president presented them the certificate of life membership and thanked them for their true commitment. NAConn Chief Advisor Dr. Gandhi Raj Bhattarai highlighted the importance of communication in the development of an organization. NAConn president, Mr. Santosh Lamsal thanked everyone for their invaluable support.

A cultural program followed the formal session beginning with a beautiful dance “Shanti lukau kaha” by Zenith Rai, Jeny Yonjan, Mamata Malla, Silder lama, Gilder lama and Filder lama. Mrs. Laxmi Ojha read her beautiful poem “Saanu Saanu Nepal”. There were beautiful performances from young kids like “Nepali mix” by Ansuya Dulal and Gaurav Neupane, and “Wari Jamuna Paari Jamuna” by Jojo Rai, Rijesh Shresta and Safal Mahat Chetri. This was followed by more dances like “Kina Man Huncha Chanchal” by Anuragi khadka and a Nepali mix by Niharika Paudel and Sanskriti Pandey. Performances by many talented artists represented the diversities within Nepali community, such as a traditional “Rai Sakela” dance by Zenith Rai, Lila Rai, Sita Rai, Ranusha Rai, Aiti Rai, Mani Rai, Suvechya Rai, Kamala Rai and Jaya Rai, and a beautifully choreographed “Bhojpuri” dance by Pujan Paneru.

To the great appreciation by all Nepalese Community, the participation of Bhutanese Community from Springfield was substantial. Members from Bhutanese Community performed beautiful dances and songs, including “Munglin Bajaar” dance by Kranti Sanyasi, Pun Khatiwada, Nardhan Rai, Moti Basnet, Bhuma Mishra and Bishnu Mishra, “Mutu Jalirahecha” song by Om Prakash Rai and Krishna Dahal, “Tikuli Hai Mero” dance by Lila Rai, Aiti Rai, Bishnu Mishra, Sita Rai, Sita Mishra, Pooja Khatiwada and Tara Mishra.

The program was full of melodious songs from local talents. These songs included “Yaha Estai Cha” by Keshav Dahal, “Lali Guras Ajambari” by Ambika Subedi, “Jhyamma jhyamma” by Romi Yonjan, “Mohani Lagla Hai” by Deepak Lama, “Hamro Nepal” by Utsav Thapa, sang “Ke Bhanne Hamro samay” by Jensun Yonjan and “Mercedes Benz” by Anup Ojha.

After the cultural session, there was a “talent show” where people could present varieties of performances beyond Nepali language. Sandipa Thapa showed her electrifying dancing ability in a series of Hindi Mix. Young artist Jeny Yonjan was not behind in her dancing skills in “Dafali Wale”. Joni Yonjan performed a hindi song “Hoga Tumse Pyara Kaun” and Romi Yonjan sang an English song “You Give Love a Bad Name”. The open talent show was a new concept this year to give our young talents a platform to showcase their artistic abilities beyond the language barrier.

After the talent show, certificates were awarded to the performers. The masters of ceremony were Arjun Dahal for the formal session and Ramesh Pathak, Pankaj Paneru and Bismita Ghimire for the cultural session. The night ended with an open DJ.