This Sunday, the South Australian capital city will be hosting the biggest and grandest show of Nepali culture, including ancient traditions, dance, music, culture and food.
Festivities will kick off with a parade at 1000 from Rundle Mall to Light Square.
Ashok KC from the Non-Residential Nepali Association SA hopes many Australians will also join as with the weather is predicted to be sunny with a high of 28 degrees.
"This is a great opportunity for the local community to learn and see for themselves what Nepal and Nepali people about," he told SBS Nepali.
“Panchebaja is something Adelaide should take note of,” he adds referring to five traditional musical instruments native to hills of Nepal.
Panchebaja is generally played during marriages which is an ensemble of Jyali or cymbals, damaha (kettledrum) narsiha (trumpet) karnal (a straightish trumpet) and shehnai or a folk oboe.
Apart from the song and dance, the organisers are also looking forward to crowning Mr and Ms Nepal SA.
"We have had a great response from the community, so I personally am looking forward to meeting with new crowned Mr and Ms Nepal SA," he said.
He added that the participation of the Bhutani community is going to add more colour and vibrancy.
"The Bhutani diaspora in SA is as big as the Nepali one. We all speak the same language and have a similar culture. We are grateful to have them under the same banner."
Dipak Dhamala, the honorary consul general of Nepal for South Australia, agrees.
Source: Facebook
He says the festival is not just about Nepal but also a tribute to the 5,000-strong Bhutani community which has settled in SA as part of Australia's refugee resettlement programme.
"Most of the young Bhutani refugees were born at camps in Nepal,” he said.
“This is as unique as it gets for the festival. They are our brothers and sisters, and we (the Nepali diaspora) in SA are very lucky to share our platform with them."
KC and Dhamala also stress that this year the festival also marks the Nepali Naya Barsha (New Year) and people have more reasons to join them.
The current year - 2075 - in the official Nepali calendar is some 57 years ahead of the Common Era Gregorian calendar and is known as Bikram Sambat.
"A new year is a good occasion to start something new, and I would like the South Australians from all background to join us in our celebrations," Dhamala said.
"People all over know Nepal as the land of Everest. We want to show them Nepal is much more than just the charming Himalayas."
KC says that visitors would get a unique perspective in Nepal through a "Nepal House" installation.
"We will be showcasing classical dresses, artefacts, instruments and antique gadgets in the Nepal House," he said.
Dhamala points out this event is also a precursor to the year-long promotion for the Nepalese government's "Visit Nepal 2020” initiate to bolster tourist numbers.
Visit Nepal 2020 launched in Kathmandu Source: Supplied
"Nepal is as big as Australia. If you were to roll it flat, for sure!" he says with a peal of laughter.
"I have heard many times; people go there the first time to see the mountains and trek. Then they keep going back for the people."
"Sunday is a good chance to make a few Nepalis your new mates in Light Square!," he says.
Peter Malinauskas is the SA Labor Leader. Recognising the contribution of the Nepali and Bhutani community in SA, he made a video together with two other Labor MPs asking South Australians to join in the festivities and celebrate the Nepali New Year.
In the video, he says, "This is a growing community in South Australia which has so much to offer."
"(We) hope many people can make it to the festival," he says.
About the Bhutani Refugees
Lhotshampas - one of the three main ethnicities in Bhutan were forced into exile early 1990 who then sought refuge in Eastern Nepal. After spending almost two decades in UNHCR managed camps, since 2008, a resettlement process has taken them far and wide - from the USA to New Zealand.
