The following words may be convenient if you’re travelling to Nepal: Namaste, Daal-Bhaat, Momo, Dhanyabad and Feri Bhetaula. These translate to Hello, Daal-Rice, Momo - a Nepali style dumpling, Dhanyabad is thank you and Feri Bhetaula means see you again.
Or you can practice these words at a Nepali festival in a capital city near you.
Beginning Saturday, 17 November, the Nepal Festival kicks off in Brisbane, continue in Sydney on 24 November and conclude in Melbourne on 15 December 2018.
Source: Supplied
DID YOU KNOW?
Record number of Australians are visiting Nepal
One country, many stories
With the central theme of “One Country, many stories”, the festival organisers hope the free event will give locals a taste of what Nepal is like and will encourage them to visit the country.
Held every two years, the festival will begin with a cultural parade where Nepal’s ethnic diversity will be displayed through costumes and music by members of Australia’s Nepali community.
Kumari – the virgin living goddess, not the real one, will be present. Also present will be Lakhey – a demon from Nepali folklore, who will be dancing.
Source: Facebook/NRNA Queensland
Nepal Festival - Melbourne
Melbourne restauranteur, Keshav Kandel, is also the vice president of the Victoria chapter of the global Nepali diaspora organisation called the Non-residential Nepali association Australia (NRNA) which organises the festival.
He says their primary goal at the festival will be to give visitors a taste of Nepal’s culture and tourism opportunities.
Source: SBS Nepali
“There will be a variety of food stalls, a Nepali cultural village with art and crafts, live music, cultural shows and kids activities,” he says.
Latest Census figures reveal there were just over 62,000 people of Nepali origin in Australia in 2016.
Read more at the SBS Census Explorer
This year’s festival is of particular significance to the organisers of the Melbourne event.
“It’s the 10th anniversary of the festival, and we want to start it with the biggest parade so far,” says Kandel.
“There are 41 registered Nepali, and the parade will be joined by representatives from each of those organisations,” he says.
Source: Supplied
Nepal Festival – Sydney
Kandel’s counterpart in Sydney highlights the number of people involved with the festival taking place in Darling Harbour.
Nanda Gurung is the vice president of the New South Wales chapter of the NRNA. He says around 150 Nepalis are scheduled to perform at the Sydney event.
"We are creating 7.8 m tall stupa and we will using the dome to showcase our stories based on our culture." Photo: Sudhira Shah Source: Sudhira Shah
He says this year’s festival will be eco-friendly as well.
“We’ll have a ‘collect and educate team’ to collect recyclable bottles and have also asked food stalls asked to use biodegradable plates and cups,” he says.
The Nepal Festival first started in Sydney in 2006 when the community was relatively small; the number of visitors attending the festival since then increased immensely, says Gurung.
This time they hope to have more than 40,000 people attending the day-long event.
“With the federal immigration minister David Coleman as one of the chief guests, we hope it will send out an important message to wider Australian communities”, he says.
Source: Supplied
Local Rotary clubs and members of the diplomatic community have also been invited, and festival organisers in Victoria are also beginning a promotional campaign called “Invite your neighbour” to the festival.
Keshav Kandel and his team are urging Nepali attendees of the festival to bring along a non-Nepali visitor with them to the festival.
omg...Is David Beckham also getting ready to come to cultural parade? Posted by Nepal Festival Melbourne on Tuesday, 13 November 2018
Nepal Festival – Brisbane
Meanwhile in Brisbane, the size of the local Nepali population there may not be as big as Sydney or Melbourne, but organisers are planning for a mega event.
Santosh Kunwar is the Queensland state coordinator for the festival, and he says their festival parade will be the best one.
Nepal festival parade Posted by Aviman Shingh Basnet on Thursday, 10 November 2016
“Overall, we’re expecting around 8,000 Brisbane locals turning up to see what we have to offer”, says Kunwar.
The Nepal Festival in Brisbane kicks off on Saturday, 17 Nov at King George Square. The Festival parade begins at 10 am with events continuing until evening.
- In Sydney: Saturday, 24 Nov 18 at Tumbalong Park, Darling Harbour from 11 am to 10 pm.
- In Melbourne: Saturday, 15 Dec 18 at Federation Square from 11 am to 10 pm.
Nepalis in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are coming together to show Australians what multicultural Nepal is all about and you’re invited.
