Non-resident Nepalese Association (NRNA)-NCC-USA Oregon Chapter's New Office Bearers Sworn In at Portland in America

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, July 29 (Nepal Oregon News): The swearing in ceremony of the newly elected office bearers of Non-resident Nepali Association-National Coordination Council USA (NRN-NCC-USA) Oregon chapter kicked off on Saturday, July 27 2019 amid a special function at the US West Coast Taekwondo Hollywood in Portland, Oregon with national anthems of the United States of America and Nepal. 

Mr. Pashupati Pandey, General Secretary of NRN-NCC-USA gave away certificates of election to the newly elected office bearers. On the occasion, Mr. Pandey also wrapped the traditional Nepali khata on the recipients of certificates of election. 

Certificates of election were issued by the National Election Commission, NRN-NCC-USA. 

Mr. Pandey threw light on the growing importance of NRNA. He said that the NRNA is the most effective and most organized international organization of the Nepalese abroad. 

Non-resident Nepali Association National Coordination Councils have been established in 80 countries of the world, Mr. Pandey added. He then congratulated the newly elected office bearers of the NRNA-Oregon chapter.

Mr. Daya Shakya was already sworn-in as the Oregon chapter's newly elected president at a recent NRN conference in Chicago. That is why NRNA Oregon chapter's newly elected President Shakya gave the oath of office to the newly elected office bearers in the august presence of NRNA-NCC's general secretary Mr. Pandey. 

Those who were given oath of office were newly elected officials of NRNA Oregon chapter: Niranjan Shrestha -- vice president, Laxman Darlamee -- secretary, Kamal Shrestha -- treasurer, and executive members Alisha Mitchell, Chandra Amgain, Padam J Thapa and Sonam Sherpa. 

Speaking on the occasion, outgoing president of NRN-NCC-USA Oregon Chapter and noted taekwondo guru Diwakar Maharjan said that NRN movement should not be contracted by viruses of political maneuvers and bickering. 

President of Nepali Association of Oregon Bharat Banskota said that number of Nepalese organizations are increasing in Oregon. Banskota also urged the need for opening up a Nepali official consular office in the West Coast too. 

NRN activist Nripendra Dhital said that Oregon is among a few states to have a chapter status, and also to have a chapter office.

Also, on the occasion, in their brief presentations, newly elected office bearers of the Oregon chapter Niranjan Shrestha, Laxman Darlamee, Alisha Mitchell, Chandra Amgain and Padam J Thapa shed light on how they were inspired to jump onto the NRN bandwagon.

Newly elected president of the chapter, Mr. Daya Shakya said "Necessity of Oregon Chapter was realized when the NRN NCC activities were shadowed in Oregon due to the lack of of mutual exchange of news and activities."

At that time, there was no reliable source for obtaining information and disseminating them to local community, Mr. Shakya went on to say.

The program, which was conducted by NRN member and journalist Rabin Man Shakya, was followed by potluck dinner.

Outgoing  NRNA Oregon Chapter president Diwakar Maharjan addressing the program.

NRNA-NCC-USA General Secretary Pashupati Pandey was the chief guest.

Newly elected NRNA Oregon Chapter officials being sworn in.

Oath of office continues.

Newly elected NRNA Oregon office bearers with their certificates.

Outgoing and incoming office bearers of NRNA Oregon Chapter pose for a group photo.




(Nepal Oregon News writer Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA)

Nepal Govt Withdraws Controversial Guthi Bill

Rabin Man Shakya
Portland, USA.

The government of Nepal led by Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli has decided to withdraw the controversial Guthi Bill.

Speaking at a  hastily organized press conference organized in Kathmandu, Minister for Land Reform, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation Padma Kumari Aryal announced that the bill has been withdrawn as it was deemed necessary to hold further deliberations and consultations with the stakeholders.

The proposed controversial Guthi Bill was totally outrageous and unacceptable for the Newah community in the Kathmandu valley.

The Newah Guthi movement against the controversial Guthi Bill spread like wildfire across the Kathmandu Valley prompting the Oli government to yield to the powerful Newah voice by withdrawing from the controversial Bill.

The controversial Guthi Bill sought to nationalize private and public Guthis meant for running the cultural activities and temple affairs and regulate all religious sites under a powerful commission replacing Guthi Sansthan. The Newah protesters demanded withdrawal of the controversial bill which they claim has provisions in favor of land mafias and could jeopardize Newah culture, customs and traditions.

Among the thousands of Newah voices raised against the controversial Guthi Bill, the most influential and surprising was perhaps that of Shatabdi Purush Satya Mohan Joshi who defended the popular protests of the Newahs by saying:"It is good if the government could have worked to bring Melamchi water. In stead of doing that, was it necessary to poke nose on the Guthis?"

The role played by the Nepal Bhasa newspapers as well as different remarks posted in the social media sites also rallied support to the Guthi movement. One of the social media posts said:"You (communist leaders) first rented our houses in Kathmandu, then snatched our daughters, took donations from us and also got our votes during the elections and now you are eyeing at the ancestral properties and land of the Newah communities."

It is a good thing that clever prime minister K P Oli realized Newah people's disenchantment with the performance of his government.

However, in stead of admitting to the  grave mistakes in the Bill, the government statement read during the hastily organized press conference read:"Also efforts have been made to spread illusion among the public over the bill, instigate them and spoil the atmosphere."

The government yielded before the Newah people's intense protests, but was it necessary to pour venom again?

Stop Gun Violence

Rabin Man Shakya

Gun violence is violence committed with the use of firearms, for example, pistols, shotguns, assault rifles and machine guns etc. According to Amnesty International, more than 500 people die everyday from gun violence and 44% of all homicides globally involve gun violence. Amnesty adds that there were 1.4 million firearm-related deaths globally between 2012 and 2016.

United States is is one of the countries in the world worst hit by gun violence. Everyday, 100 Americans are killed with guns and hundreds more are shot and injured. 

According to a study, 40,000 people are killed every year in the USA thanks to the gun violence.

The impact of gun violence go far beyond these casualties - gun violence shapes the lives of millions of Americans who witness it, know someone who was shot, or live in fear of the next shooting.

Buddha Purnima Celebrated at Nepalese Temple in Portland, America with Various Programs

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, May 20 (Nepal Oregon News): Buddha Jayanti or Buddha Purnima is a very auspicious day for Buddhists all over the world. Twenty five sixty third (2563) Buddha Jayanti was celebrated at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA on Saturday May 18, 2019 amid various programs. 

A number of Nepalese community members from Portland and neighboring cities took part in the event. Also present at the Buddha Jayanti celebration were a number of American Buddhists as well as Americans interested in Buddhism.

Buddha Purnima celebrations started at the Mahavihara with the chanting of Naam Sangiti Tuta by Guruju Prajwal Vajracharya and other Nepalese and American participants. During the Naam Sangiti, everyone gave bath to Baby Buddha.

On the occasion, colorful Baby Buddha Procession was taken out around the temple at the Mahavihara accompanied by the music players who played various Newah music instruments.

Also, during the Buddha Jayanti festival, a Five Buddha (Pancha Buddha) play directed and conceptualized by Axi Tristan Codrescu was staged at the Mahavihara. The play was performed by seven children and five ladies. At the end of the play, Prajwal honored the participants by giving away Vajra Necklace. Guruju Prajwal also told stories to children about Siddhartha Gautam Buddha.

108 butter fed diyos (candle-like lights) were illuminated during the ceremony.

Likewise, Refuge Dance (a performance of Buddha Bandana Dance through Charya Nritya) was also performed 108 times continuously by American and Nepali devotees. Guruju Prajwal Vajracharya honored the dancers on the occasion  by wrapping Khata (traditional scarf) on them and by giving Eight Auspicious Symbols to them.

Refuge charya dance

At the end of the function, a talent show was held. Prajwal, Uppa Shakya and Anastasia Roderick performed the Pancha Buddha charya dance. Danish Lok Nath threw light on the importance of Buddhism. He played a classical musical instrument. Likewise, Jameela performed Bengali rituals along with a Bengali song, and Sarah sang an English song about peace and happiness. 

(Danish Lok Nath performing on a rare musical instrument.)

A group of Nepalese ladies and gentlemen also performed Sheel Prarthana and Tri-Ratna Bandana on the occasion. 

(From left to right: Gyani Maharjan, Devi Laxmi Maharjan, Padma Laxmi Manandhar, Naveena Shakya, Dina Shakya, Anjali Bajracharya, Ekamananda Bajracharya and Pradeep Bajracharya performing Sheel Prarthana and Tri-Ratna Bandana.)

The program was followed by a Kheer  dinner (rice cooked in milk with sugar, cashews, cloves, cardamoms, raisins, coconuts etc) along with Jeri-Swari, Maarpa, and other Newah delicacies. The celebration of Buddha Purnima in a number of countries across the world highlights the significance of Buddhism as a major religious force in the world with an estimated 480 million adherents. 

This is again a testimony that Shakya Muni Siddhartha Gautam Buddha who was born in Nepal is adored and respected worldwide as the apostle of peace and light of Asia, and his teachings about peace and non-violence are  relevant today more so than ever when so many nations are mired in violence and civil wars. 

The four noble truths and eightfold path are the most important teachings of Lord Buddha. Buddhism, in fact, is not just a religion, it is also a way of life, a realism of non-violence and peaceful co-existence. 

After all, why do Buddhists all over the world celebrate Buddha Purnima? As a matter of fact, Purnima means full moon day. For Buddhists, every full moon day of the month is sacred and pious. The full moon day in the month of Baisakh has an additional and special significance. On this particular day, Siddhartha Gautam was born, attained enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana. 

The four noble truths are the most basic formulation of the Buddha's teachings: All existence is Dukkha (suffering). The cause of Dukkha is cravings. The cessation of Dukkha comes with the cessation of craving. Noble eightfold path is the means to end the Dukkha.

(Nepal Oregon News writer Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA)

Slideshow about Nepal Visit Organized at Nritya Mandala Mahavihara at Portland in USA

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, Nov 12 (Nepal Oregon News): A slideshow presentation about experience of visit to the Kathmandu valley, Pokhara and Tansen was organized at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland on Saturday  May 11, 2019.

Jeanean Rauch and her 12 year old son Andrew traveled and worked in Nepal for ten weeks. Ms Rauch shared pictures and stories from the trip. They lived at the Kevin Rohan Memorial Eco-Foundation which is an NGO in the kathmandu valley.

The Foundation was established in 2008 in Khahare, a village near Kathmandu. After the accidental death of their seven-year old son, Krishna and Leela Gurung decided to establish a foundation to remember him and to develop a project to make a better world that they would have liked Kevin to live in.

The Foundation has a health clinic,  a Waldrof-inspired  school, biodynamic workshop, sustainable carpentry workshop, and are building bottle houses for sustainable housing solutions.

The mom and her son were in Nepal during the Nepalese festival of Tihar and American holiday of Thanksgiving Day.

The slideshow presentation was a nostalgic deja vu for some Nepalese Portlanders, and lots of interesting and esoteric information about Nepal for American guests.

The mom and her son witnessed Kag Puja, Kukur Puja and Govardhan Puja in the Kathmandu valley. There were pictures and stories about a rice feeding ceremony for a newly born child. Also, they celebrated the Thanksgiving holiday with a Nepali family.

The slideshow offered a wide spectrum in terms of Nepalese lifestyle, Nepalese festivals, ceremonies and rituals, the Himalayas, trips to religious and historical places like Boudha Nath, Monkey Temple and Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.

And it looked like they loved Daal Bhat Tarkari, Momo dumplings and other Nepalese delicacies. 

Answering to a query of this scribe, Jeanean said she liked the Nepalese cuisines, Nepalese hospitality, helpfulness of the people, their generosity and spiritualism. But she also added that she did not like the deteriorating pollution, crowdy and noisy bus rides and dirty rest rooms.

Many American guests who were present at the program have been to Nepal. The good thing about the program is that the slideshow impressed upon a kind of interest and curiosity about Nepal on those who have not yet been to Nepal.

The slideshow presentation was followed by a delicious potluck dinner.

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in America)

Talk on Traditional Newah Music by a Nepali Music Expert Held at Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, America

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

Portland, April 28, (Nepal Oregon News): The history of Newah music dates back to 6th century which is mentioned in a Shilalekh  (historical inscription) "Baditra Gosthi" or Baja Guthi found at Lele, Patan in Nepal.Dr Subhash Ram Prajapati, a music expert and a musician himself, said this at  a program  organized at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland, USA on Saturday April 27, 2019.

Newah traditional music is an integral component of broader South Asian musical history, Prajapati added.

The talk also examined the historical narratives, cultural traditions and recent changes in traditional music from Nepal.

During his presentation, Prajapati focused on the ancient and mediaeval music of Nepal, its history and culture.

Gunla Bajan, for example, is a tradition which is as old as almost 800 years from today, Prajapati said, referring to "Gunila" mentioned in Gopal Rajvanshavali.

Prajapati also answered to the questions of the guests during the program.

At the end of the talk, Prajapati gave a performance on various drums of the Nepalese traditions accompanied by fellow musicians.

Prajapati gave live rendition on Newah drums like Dhimay, Dhaa, Paschima and also Madal. Other musical instruments like Taa (a Newah cymbal) and Naykhin were also played.

However, it was musician David Suhay who stole the show by playing "Woh Chhu Galli, Thwo Chhu Galli" and "Resham  Phiriri" on the violin.

About 60 Newah Portlanders and local Americans were present at the program which was followed by a sumptuous potluck dinner.

Prajapati has recently completed his Ph D in Ethnomusicology from the University of Washington.

His research focuses on traditional, folk and fusion music from Newah communities on a global perspective of musical changes.

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in USA)

Khin (Newah Drum) Playing by a Nepali Musician Organized at Portland in USA

Dr Rabin Man Shakya

In terms of economic development, Nepal may be an LDC or a least developed country, but the tiny Himalayan nation is rich in arts, traditions, culture and mediaeval architecture, and more so in traditional music and musical instruments.

In the past, hundreds of musical instruments were in vogue in Nepal. Those musical instruments which were the integral part of the Newah life were used and practiced during different festivals and rituals. According to a research, there were about 200 original instruments used and practiced in Nepal in the past and only 108 of them are still in use. It is so painful to note that many of the musical instruments have already disappeared owing to the neglect of the state. 

Nevertheless, the fact that Newah culture is rich in traditional music is proved by use of numerous musical instruments, such as, Payntah (a long trumpet), Dhimay (a huge double sided drum), Dhaa (a double sided drum), Khin (also a double sided drum), Taa (a small cymbal), Bhusya (a large cymbal) and the list goes on.

Meanwhile, a Khin (double sided drum) presentation was organized at the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara in Portland on Saturday April 20, 2019. The Khin was played by artist Amir Raj Maharjan who is currently on a visit to the United States. About 50 Newah Portlanders and local Americans were present at the program.

Prajwal Bajracharya of the Nritya Mandala Mahavihara expressed the view that Newah Portlanders could take advantage by learning about Khin and listening to it.

Speaking on the occasion, musician Maharjan said that a Khin is a classical membranophone widely and popularly played during the Bhajans and different festivals. Giving a brief introduction of Khin, Maharjan said that a Khin is made of a wooden trunk with thin animal skins covering both sides.

In his words, the right side of the Khin is covered with cow skin and left side with goat skin, having a black tuning paste called Khau attached in both sides. On the occasion, Maharjan also presented a popular Newah folk song "Rajamati". No doubt, the traditional popular folk song like "Rajamati" is a part of rich Newah cultural heritage.

Quintessentially, the Newahs have a huge legacy and heritage of traditional and classical music and dances. The music and musical instruments of any ethnic community are reflected in the way of living and lifestyle of the particular ethnic community. Rich Newah music and musical instruments are testimony to the magnificent Newah culture.

(Rabin Man Shakya is a Nepali journalist in America)