Role of Nepa Chhen in Portland's Nepali Community in USA

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, Aug 19 (Nepal Oregon News): In Nepal Bhasa, which is the language of the Newah people of Nepal, Nepa Chhen means a Nepal House. Nepa Chhen is the outcome of the lofty ideals of some enthusiastic Nepalese community members in Portland to create a permanent house for community events, focus on culture, language, sports activities etc. It is to be noted that Nepa Chhen was established in November 2012 in Portland under the chairmanship of Rajesh Maharjan.

Dissemination and development of Nepalese culture, language and literature is the prime concern of Nepa Chhen. Its establishment six years ago was guided not only by the objectives of promoting language and literature among  the community but also by creating a forum that provides authentic information to the local Americans about rich Nepalese arts and culture. Thus, Nepa Chhen intends to build a cultural bridge between the Nepalese and the American people.



Nepa Chhen champions the cause of enhancing and enriching the cultural and linguistic activities and will be instrumental not only in implementing its stated objectives, but will also present its credentials as a uniting force of the Nepalese community in Oregon. Raison d' etre of the Nepa Chhen is the growing awareness  of the community to preserve its identity, culture and traditions and this probably is Nepa Chhen's quintessential aspect. We should never forget that the name, objectives and motto of an organization define its identity.

It goes without saying that an organization like Nepa Chhen gives a true identity and uniqueness to the local community and that the community members interact with each other. And, yes, there is no doubt that the culture, traditions and customs of the people are determining factors in identifying the plans, programs and objectives of a non-profit community organization like Nepa Chhen.

Since its inception, Nepa Chhen has been carrying out programs like Mha Puja, Nepal Sambat, Bijaya Dasami, Lhosar, Vikram Sambat and summer picnics and so on, but local observers feel that Nepa Chhen, apart from these activities should also rise above them and genuinely get down to the business of accomplishing its mission. Local observers, however, feel that there is a little bit of slackness in the momentum. If the local Nepalese community leaders in Portland really want to build a permanent house for community events, they should make it a top priority, they must do some soul-searching about an infusion of new blood in the organization.

The remarkable programs which were organized by the Nepa Chhen in 2017 included, among others, the concerts of Ani Chhoying and Anju Pant. In fact, the past year has been one of the years with energy, enthusiasm and growth, but local community observers are not seeing anything coming out this year so far.

The challenges facing Nepa Chhen are indeed formidable since it has to carry out so many activities apart from building a permanent house for the community. Despite financial constraints, Nepa Chhen has been carrying out some publicity projects, such as, publication of newsletter and distribution of Nepa Chhen calendars etc. These  are some of the things which can be termed as a modest feather in Nepa Chhen's cap.

Nepal's culture offers a wide spectrum in terms of cuisines, utensils, attires, ornaments and musical instruments, just to mention a few. Nepa Chhen therefore should be able to organize exhibition of Nepalese food festivals. It should promote Nepal's languages and literature by organizing language classes whenever possible by holding seminars and symposiums on culture and festivals. Nepa Chhen should be able to inculcate values of culture, language and traditions on new generations.

Since the success of Nepa Chhen will depend not only on generous financial donations of different individuals and organizations, but on its right policies, vision and strategies too, therefore its future moves and modus operandi should be based on ground realities to suit the changing time and circumstances.

Even couple of decades ago, different Nepalese festivals being observed in various cities of the US and other countries was unimaginable. Today, for example, Yenya Punhi is celebrated in various US cities with Pulu Kisi dance, masked Lakhey dance, Kumari chariot procession with Dhime bajan. Even in the 1980s, I was in the former Soviet Union in cities like Minsk, Odessa and Donetsk where the Nepalese students had established Nepali Students Associations and used to celebrate occasions like Bijaya Dasami and National Democracy Day performing various Nepalese songs and dances. For me, it is just a deja vu that we have community organizations like Nepali Association of Oregon and Nepa Chhen in Portland, Oregon.  Today the rapid process of globalization and development of technology have turned the whole world into a small global village.

It is a matter of great satisfaction that in the past Nepa Chhen celebrated group Mha Puja and Nepal Sambat New Year  with big enthusiasm and much fanfare and hopefully this tradition will continue in the future too. It is to be noted that Nepal Sambat - a national lunar calendar of Nepal - kicked off in 879 AD during the rule of King Raqhav Dev to commemorate the reimbursement all the debts of the Nepalese people by a Newar trader Shankhadhar Sakhwa who was declared a national hero of Nepal on Nov 18, 1999 by the then His Majesty's Government of Nepal.

Although Nepal Sambat was declared  a national era of Nepal in 2008 AD by the government of Nepal, this Sambat has still not been given full recognition and not been used for all practical purposes in Nepal. Thus, Nepal Sambat New Year should be celebrated in Nepal and various parts of the world to remind the government of Nepal to respect and give  due recognition to it.

Celebration of Nepal Sambat in Nepal and in other countrieis of the world is a chance for the advocates of Nepal Sambat to raise voice for bringing Nepal Sambat into use as Nepal's official national calendar, and remind the government of Nepal that Nepal Sambat be declared a public holiday, Nepal Sambat be printed on banknotes and coins.

Nepal Sambat was grossly neglected not only during the rule of Rana oligarchy but during the 30 years period of Panchayat regime too. Even today after the declaration of Nepal as a federal Republic, Nepal Sambat has not been given full state level honor and recognition that it deserves. In such conditions, the advocates of Nepal Sambat should  leave no stone unturned to voice their opinion in rational and convincing manner, should strive  to build the broader public opinion for its cause. They should make optimum use of media, digital media as well as social media for making a convincing case for it.

Overall, there is a sense that despite all the gains (Nepal Sambat being declared national era, all of Nepal's languages being declared national languages, Shankhadhar Sakhwa being declared hero of Nepal and and being commemorated in stamps, road signs in Kathmandu being posted in Nepal Bhasa, all major mainstream daily newspapers of Nepal mentioning Nepal Sambat date below the masthead) in recent decades, Nepal's political, social and economic trajectory is still highly uncertain. It looks like even after the ouster of monarchy and after the launching of federal democratic governance, the people of Nepal are still disillusioned with the modus operandi of the mainstream political parties.

However, the forthcoming sixth anniversary of the Nepa Chhen is a solemn occasion for the Nepalese in Oregon to reaffirm our commitment to preserve and safeguard  Nepalese culture and traditions. Thus, launching of the Nepa Chhen six years ago epitomizes the eagerness of Nepalese community members in Portland and beyond to create a permanent forum for community events, to focus on culture, festivals and traditions.

Therefore, judging by the past performance and activities, it is evident that Nepa Chhen is a formidable force in the Nepalese community in Oregon and it is hoped that the scope and role of Nepa Chhen is getting to be vital.

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in America)