By: Pragya Shrestha, Youth Leadership Team member and 2024 US Presidential Gold Volunteer Service Award recipient.
This Saturday, May 11, 2024, everyone was in a festive mood to celebrate our 1st annual Nepalese American Heritage Day as well as Buddha Jayanti in New Jersey. More than 300 participants gathered at the NJ Buddhist Vihara to celebrate. An auspicious day filled with cultural showcase and devotion to Lord Buddha, who was born in Nepal, was held.
May 11, 2024, marks a date of new beginnings for our community. The Franklin Township Councilmen Ram Anbarasan, and Mayor Philip Kramer, declared and designated May 2024 and each succeeding year as Nepalese American Heritage Day in New Jersey. This is the start of not only the expansion of our extensive Nepalese customs but an opportunity to immensely marinate these traditional values into the western lifestyle we New Jersians have adopted.
According to Dr. Tulsi R. Maharjan. founding President of the Friends of Nepal -NJ, “35 years ago there were only five Nepalese families celebrating Nepalese holidays in New Jersey, now there are more than 600 families in New Jersey, and it is getting difficult to have everyone together so we decided to celebrate this Nepalese American Heritage Festival in New Jersey in collaboration with all Nepalese organizations in NJ.”
Dr. Tulsi R. Maharjan
From passed down family stories, as well as knowledge from books, Buddha Jayanti is a commemoration of the birthday of Buddha, a prince who fled on a journey to find enlightenment. Through pujas, performances, and food, the gathering was a success in remembering our dignified lifestyle back home in Nepal.
The day started with Buddha Puja carried out by Narayan Devi (Sumita) Tuladhar, who recently celebrated her Janku, a Newari traditional ceremony in honoring one’s journey to a specific age; these individuals are a symbolism of God. Following was the revealing of our memory wall built by great supporters of our community. Moving onto the next event, Sahara Maharjan started us off with the American National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, following the children singing the Nepalese National Anthem, Sayaun Thunga Phulka.
Performances by Kabina Singh, and the kids captivated the crowd due to an all-around Nepalese dance voicing the religious and cultural side of Nepal. Additional talents were displayed by Enrica, Sarana, Serielle, Vivi, Prapti, Enrica, Elina, Newa Dhime, Usha Gurung, Gurung Group dance, and a finale surprise performance to conclude the festive ceremonies. These individuals brought great joy to the crowd and indicated the luxury in promoting our beautiful native world.
Following this, the women’s party proceeded on with the Khat Parikarma. This was a moment for the females to demonstrate their physical and mental strength – women’s empowerment. They proceeded to carry Buddha around the main stupa site and followed the instruments, dances, incense, and religious offerings.
Attendees included communities such as NRNA NCC NJ Chapter, New Jersey Nepali Samaj, Greater Jersey Nepali Samaj, ARC for Nepal, Newa Guthi NY, Newa Nakha NY, The Gurung (TAMU) society of NY, AAPI Commission of New Jersey, Nepa Pasa Pucha USA, Women for Cause, Rotaract Club of Whitehouse, Somerset County Cultural Diversity Coalition and our program host NJ Buddhist Vihara.
This event was supported by several vendors: Momo Hut, Parents Care Medical Adult Day Care in Somerset, Simply Vegan, and many more! A big thank you to all additional families and individuals who have dedicated themselves in promoting this event. A further appreciation goes towards Suraj Bahadur Gurung of KS photography for capturing these memories for us.
FONNJ believes and strives to form future leaders. That being said, our 2024 US Presidential Volunteer Service Award winners were presented at our Nepalese-American Heritage Celebration. This award was established by President George Bush, Sr. to honor volunteers that give hundreds of hours per year helping others through the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation. Our congratulations to 2024 Award winners: Safal Maharjan, Aanvi Shrestha, our youngest volunteer, Pragya Shrestha, Sanjay Tamrakar and Mr. Dick Madden with a President’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his 30 years of volunteer work with variety of organizations.
Overall, our 1st annual Nepalese American Heritage Festival at the NJ Buddhist Vihara in Princeton demonstrates our beautiful backgrounds from various ethnic groups. Importantly, it allows young individuals like myself as well as adults to acknowledge the strong historical society our ancestors once emerged in. It provides us a sense of hope in continuing our diverse and ancient behaviors and artworks.
The Asha Project – works in collaboration with local and international partner organizations as well as individuals and governments, to provide HOPE and OPPORTUNITIES for the people of Nepal. We thrive at the intersection of Passion, purpose and Promise.
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