Sagarmatha Gurkha/Nepalese Ashford Kent organises the Dashain and Tihar celebration party at St Simon Catholic Church Hall Ashford on Saturday, 27th of October 2018.
The party started at 6 pm that lasted till 11 pm.
All invited guests and members seemed to be in very festive mood and busy in exchanging Dashain and Tihar wishes each other. Most of the members were in attires that reflected Nepalese cultures and customs.
Prior to the announcement of the Aashan Grahan (charing) by the General Secretary (Mr Ram Prasad Limbu), Health and Safety and action in an emergency were covered by the Vice One, Mr Dammar Singhak.
The Chief Vice (Coordinator of the event), Mr Kaprasad Chhantyal, thanked all attendees and guests for their presence and highlighted the Community’s main effort and its dream project of purchasing a hall for the community in his welcoming speech.
The following personalities were requested to the stage to light the candles in order to signify a formal opening of the programme and was followed by national anthems of the two countries – the UK and Nepal:
- Chairperson – Chakra Rai
- Chairperson Ladies Committee – Bashundhara Rai
- Chairperson Youth Committee – Dawa Wangdi Sherpa
- Founder Chairperson – Siri Prasad Limbu
- Founder Chairperson Ladies Committee – Januka Pun
- Founder Chairperson Youth Committee – Chiren Rai
- Chief Guest – Cllr Jim Wedgbury
- Councillor Champions, Stephen Dehnel
The Chief Guest of the evening, Cllr Jim Wedgbury, talked about the Nepalese and their contribution to the country mentioning about the Gurkhas’ and their involvements in many wars and conflicts.
The formal programme was summed of by the Chairperson, Mr Chakrabahadur Rai, with his Dashain and Tihar wishes.
He mentioned in his speech that the SGNCAK was an umbrella Organization of all Nepalese resided in Ashford as there were 15 different types of Indigenous Nationalities and Tribes that belonged to various religions and would speak their own dialects.
He added, “Despite cultural and religious differences, we believe in unity, thus traditionally we jointly celebrate festivals and various programmes. But, it is pity that despite our common efforts we have so far failed to secure or own a Hall for our community where we can perform our cultural programmes and rituals.
Therefore, the Sagarmatha Gorkha Nepalese Community humbly and respectfully request the Mayor and the Councillors of Ashford Borough Council to look into this problem and help, guide and advise us to find a Hall for our community that accommodates at least 200/250 persons.”
He concluded his speech, “Finally, I would like to thank the programme coordinator Chief Vice President Mr. Ka prasad Chhantyal and his team the Ladies Committee, Youth Committee, Cultural team, Stage decorator Laxmi Chemjong Gorkha Villa, Artists of Cultural Team, all helpers and attendees.”
After the conclusion of the formal programme, the Cultural Secretary, Mr BC Rai, led the entertainment phase that consisted of various songs, dances and a final cocktail dance as everyone in the hall seemed to be enjoying.
Dashain and Tihar are the most celebrated festivals in Nepal and Nepalese communities around the world. Those two festivals fall in October and November months and are a month apart. Those festivals do not have the fixed dates but are set by astrologers following the lunar calendar.
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