That's how I celebrated my birthday in Portland, America last year during coronavirus pandemic

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Birthday guy Rabin Man Shakya in front of the traditional Sukunda at his home in Portland.

Portland, April 28, (Nepal Oregon News): Birthday, which is a special occasion for everybody, comes once a year. 

"Sozhaleniyu Den Rozhdeniya Tolko Raz V Godu. Ya Igrayu Na Garmoshke," goes on an old popular Russian song. It means:"Unfortunately, a birthday only comes once a year and I am playing the accordion."

  Social media news stories and posts  about organizing virtual parties  and celebrating birthdays  by cutting big cakes and lightening candles with the participation of relatives and friends during the Covid - 19 crisis over the zoom are also inundating in the social media sites.

This year, amid ongoing coronavirus crisis, I celebrated my birthday here in Portland with Khen-Sagan (hard boiled egg, a small fish and a khola of ayla) handed over to me by my spouse Naveena. Then, my spouse Naveena Shakya, son Ranjan Shakya and daughter Palistha  wished me happy birthday.

A Puja Bha Dema consisting of Hyangu and Bhasugu Sinha, Dhau, Jaki, Dhup , flowers and Jajanka etc was prepared by my spouse.

Sukunda and other birthday items.

Sukunda, which is an auspicious traditional lamp used during a number of rituals of the Newah people, was also lit during my birthday. That is the way how we have been celebrating our birthdays here in Portland, USA for past several years. I believe in simplicity. Still, that day was a special day for me and our home in Portland felt more festive in a simple way: with the Sukunda lamp, candles and pleasant smelling incenses. And that was a modest celebration. Nevertheless, it was one of the most memorable birthdays I have ever had.

My birthday in 2020 during the coronavirus pandemic was special for me: my spouse and both my kids were present at the birthday ritual. For that matter, my daughter Palistha Shakya  was in Chicago in 2017 and my son Ranjan Shakya  was in South Africa in 2018. Also, many friends and relatives from Nepal, the US and from across the world wished me Happy Birthday through the social media sites.

By the way, immediately after passing the SLC examinations in 1973, I went to the English Language Center at the American Library (USIS) at New Road, Kathmandu for an advanced English language training course. Little did I know then that I will land up in the USA for good in 2002. Here you go: I have been living here in the country of Uncle Sam for almost two decades.

Before that I was in the former Soviet Union for ten years from 1979 to 1989 doing my Masters and Ph D in Journalism.


Speaking of a Sukunda,  a Newah birthday ritual is never complete without a Sukunda. In fact, Sukunda is an epitome of richness of Newah arts and culture. The Nagrajas are depicted above the Sukunda while Lord Ganesh (the God of good fortune) is depicted on the middle of Sukunda in which cotton wicks are kept lit in oil during auspicious rituals.

The word "Sukunda" reminds me of an annual students magazine in Nepal Bhasa published by students of Ratna Rajya Laxmi Campus in Kathmandu. My article entitled "Mass Media in the USSR" was published in Sukunda magazine in Nepal Bhasa in 1983. That issue of Sukunda was edited by Siddhi Ratna Shakya, my high school and neighborhood friend. That was the time when I was studying journalism at the Faculty of Journalism at the Belarusian State University in Minsk, Belarus.

I am sure that different nationalities and different indigenous communities have their different ways of celebrating birthday. Newah people of Nepal have also a very unique way of celebrating birthday. Birthday guy sits cross-legged on a mat  and a round-circled figure is painted with syaucha (light brown colored soil).

Naugraha is also worshipped on that round figure. Usually a Gubhaju (Buddhist priest) also comes to the house for ritualizing a birthday of the male chief of the household in the family.

In fact, in Vajrayana Buddhism of Nepal, birthday of a human being is also considered to be a part of life-cycle rituals. Therefore, a birthday of a man or a woman has a religious as well as cultural significance in the Vajrayana Buddhism.

Lots of rituals are on the verge of extinction. Gone are the days when Dhau Baji was given away to the neighborhood kids on the occasion of a birthday. The female chief of the household used to call the neighborhood kids from the main entrance door: "Dhau Baji Ka Wa, Masta.".

Anyway, a birthday of a man or woman is the time for soul-searching about what you have done in the past in your life and what you gonna do in future for the good of family, community and the nation as a whole.

The global Covid - 19 pandemic has changed the lifestyle of the people all  over the world by drastically disrupting their daily life. Coronavirus pandemic is looming large in the minds of the people all over the world creating a lot of anxieties, confusions  and uncertainties.

People across the world are facing the coronavirus challenge in their own ways. We have to control ourselves with different coronavirus safety measures if we know what is good for us: like staying home as much as possible, wearing masks, washing hands as many times as possible, using hand sanitizers and maintaining social distancing quarantine. Definitely, it is not the time for fun, show off and exhibitionism. 

One of my friends during my long stay in the Soviet Union, Deepak Shrestha, who is a senior engineer and also treasurer of Mitra Kunja, said to me in a Facebook status:"Birthdays mean a fresh start; a time for looking back with gratitude at the blessings of another year."  Well, my friend, I cannot disagree with you. A very relevant and thought-provoking message in deed.

Meanwhile, coronavirus is hitting hard on the people all over the world. On the occasion of my birthday, I prayed to Lord Buddha and Lord Ganesh for the quick breakthrough of the novel coronavirus and for an end to the  problems and sufferings of the people caused by coronavirus.

We are all very common and simple people. But I have made a lot of friends in Nepal, the former Soviet Union and now in the United States. 

I am really, really overwhelmed by the happy birthday wishes from my friends and relatives in the Facebook, e-mails, the Messenger and through phone calls.

I just want to tell you guys: We are made to feel special by people who have some place in their hearts for us. I extend my heart-felt thankfulness to all of you for the birthday greetings.

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA)

Coronavirus in Oregon: Nobody from Nepal tested positive for COVID-19

Dr Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, USA

I have interacted with a number of Oregonians face to face about the impact of the novel coronavirus. Usually, all of them reacted: "It is very scary." "But good thing we are in Oregon." "Human tolls are unimaginable." "Its economic fallout is beyond imagination."

Meanwhile, according to Nepali Association of Oregon (NAO) sources, nobody from Nepal living in Portland and Oregon has been tested positive.

The Nepalese community population in this part of the US is estimated to be about 1,000 - 1,200 people.

As of April 21, Tuesday, 1956 people have tested positive and number of people who died of coronavirus in Oregon has reached 75. On Feb 28, 2020, the first case of coronavirus was announced in Oregon.

From what we know about the fatal consequences of the global terrorist disease from the news media as of April 21, Tuesday, 800,932 people have tested positive and 43,006 people have died of coronavirus in the US, whereas confirmed global cases are 2,501,156 and 171,810  have died in the world because of coronavirus.

Compared to other states of the US, the cases and deaths related to the deadly virus are lower in Oregon. Staying home, staying safe, wearing gloves and masks, social distancing measures are some of the good things that the Oregonians have been practicing.

According to a news report, the unprecedented disruptions affecting millions of Oregonians appear to be reducing the transmission of novel coronavirus between 50 to 70 percent. 

Right now, Oregon is isolated just like other states to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Schools, universities,  aviation, parks, recreation facilities, hotels, restaurants, eateries, gyms, barbers, gift shops, tattoo shops and so on are shut down.

Oregon's public school students will not return to their classrooms this academic year. Oregon's Governor Kate Brown on April 8, 2020 announced that her school closure order originally slated to end April 28, will now stretch into June in an endeavor to maintain the state's progress in stemming the spread of the novel coronavirus.

On March 22, 2020 Governor Brown banned residential eviction during the virus outbreak. Brown issued a temporary moratorium on residential evictions for failure to pay rent. 

The current coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout is beyond imagination. The Nepalese living in Oregon are also facing a lot of challenges. Nepali Association of Oregon (NAO) has a big role to play in the community during such an unprecedented crisis. NAO's presence is already strong among the Nepalese community in Oregon.

The whole world is facing the worst crisis in its history and the situation may further deteriorate if an early solution is not figured out. The current coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout is very huge. 

The Nepalese living in Oregon are also facing a lot of challenges. Nepali Association of Oregon has a big role to play in the community during such an unprecedented crisis. NAO's presence is already strong among the Nepalese community in Oregon.

NAO's president Daya Shakya says that NAO has undertaken some steps to help the community members. NAO is checking and inquiring about the health of community people through the members of the executive committee of the NAO.

Similarly, NAO is sending out the e-mails to community Yahoo groups and posting in website, and Facebook pages in SM Fund Raising project is already started as of 4-20-20, adds NAO president Shakya.

Likewise, NAO has been trying to disseminate more information about COVID - 19.  Related information are posted in NAO website including relief related links: nepaloregon.com

Apart from  providing small business relief fund link in Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro etc, NAO has also posted video on how to apply unemployment claim, says Shakya.

It is also heard that NAO and NRNA Oregon Chapter are planning fund raising among the community members for people hard-hit by coronavirus.

To tell you honestly, everybody is hard-hit by coronavirus crisis in the community except, maybe, some doctors and Intel employees.

NAO has a very good saving for educational projects. At this moment of crisis, it is obvious that coronavirus problem is more important than education. Why not transfer some of the funding from educational project to the worst-hit families by coronavirus, obviously with the kind consent of donors. Just a thought.

The focus of this kind of assistance should be to provide relief to genuinely needy community members. No doubt, NAO should always strive to meet the expectations of the Nepalese Oregonians who are in need of help because of the current coronavirus crisis.

* Also please read my article headlined "Eight Nepalese in the US succumb to coronavirus" (Published in Nepal Oregon News 4-8-20).

Number of Nepalese coronavirus deaths in the US reaches 15

Dr. Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, USA

The number of Nepalese who have succumbed to death from deadly coronavirus has reached 15 in the United States.

Anil Limbu, 48 an Uber driver, died on March 24 and he was the first Nepali to die of coronavirus in the US.

Then, three Nepalese Sonam Lama, 40,  Thokme Bista, 48  and Ajaya Man Chhochoo, 56 breathed their last on April 5, 2020 because of coronavirus.

Similarly, Nima Temba Sherpa, 43  and Raj Kumar Thapa, 47  passed away on April 8 and April 11 respectively.

Likewise, Pawan Kumar Malla, 44   and Mahesh Amatya, 70  died of coronavirus on April 15 and April 16 respectively. Among 15 losses of lives, 12 succumbed to death in New York,  2  in Colorado and one in Virginia.

Most of  the deceased are the Nepalese living in New York which is the epicenter of coronavirus crisis in the USA. Rest in peace to the departed souls. 

Meanwhile, according to NRNA sources, a total of 54 Nepalese living in the US, the UK, UAE, Turkey, Ireland, the Netherlands and Japan have succumbed to death owing to coronavirus so far.

According to media reports, as of  the end of April, 2020, as many as 1,000 Nepalese   were feared to have contracted the coronavirus in the United States.

Meanwhile, according to NAO (Nepali Association of Oregon) sources, nobody from Nepal living in Portland and Oregon has been tested positive. The Nepalese community population in this part of the US is estimated to be about 1,000 - 1,200 people.

As of April 21, Tuesday, 1956 people have tested positive and number of people who died of coronavirus in Oregon has reached 75. On Feb 28, 2020, the first case of coronavirus was announced in Oregon.

From what we know about the fatal consequences of the global terrorist disease from the news media as of April 21, Wednesday, 800,932 people have tested positive and 43,006 people have died of coronavirus in the US, whereas confirmed global cases are 2,501,156 and 171,810 have died in the world because of novel coronavirus. 

America has been hard-hit and badly affected by coronavirus catastrophe. 

These statistics paint a more troubled portrait of the human losses.

We are still grappling for answers to explain the sudden rise of the coronavirus deaths in the world and there is still no breakthrough or solution in the near future. The coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout is beyond imagination.

But this is not the time for panicking and saber-rattling. The right move for the whole world is to make correct decision: stay home, stay safe, keep cleaning hands, wear safety masks and keep social distancing.

The massive human casualty has elicited soul-searching around the world even as it raised more basic questions about why the world leaders were unable to take basic safety measures at the very beginning of the eruption of corona volcano. 

As the world faces a catastrophe of apocalyptic coronavirus, nations are bogged down into deep economic problems.

Poor economy affected by corona tsunami is driving the people across the world to be disillusioned by myopic vision of the world leaders.

The whole world is facing the worst crisis in its history and the situation may further deteriorate if early solution is not figured out.


*Also please read my article headlined "Coronavirus in Oregon: Nobody from Nepal tested positive" (Published in Nepal Oregon News 4-20-20).