On Sunday, September 27, 2015, More than 500 community members, friends & family were gathered to celebrate the 5th Annual Yenya Punhi (Indra Jatra) festival organized by the Newah Organization of America at the scenic Black Hill Regional Park in Maryland (around Washington DC area) from noon to 5PM.
NOA is proud to bring community together to preserve our culture alive in the United States. NOA continued the event tradition with authentic Newah food, a pyramid-style Samay Baji display with many different Newah indigenous food items, the Lakhey (Demon) Dance, the Pulukisi (White Elephant) Dance, and a traditional local Kumari along with Ganesh, Bhairab and Kumari procession dance for the very first time.
Authentic Newah pyramid-style Samay Baji was displayed on the occasion, completed by Mr. & Mrs. Divakar Dhaubadel. Respected Newah priest Mr. Basav Rajopadhyay explained about the Yenya Punhi (Indra Jatra) in brief and its importance in our life.
During the occasion Mr. & Mrs. Rajiv Shanker Shresta handover “Karuna Devi Samarak Dharmarth Guthi, Sikkim, India awarded “Jai Samman Puruskar” in recognition of NOA’s exemplary outstanding works of excellence dedicated towards promotion and preservation of the Newah culture, heritage, custom and language, traditions worth emulating by the Newah world over. The Award was jointly received by NOA’s founding members, past president and current EC members on presence of large crowd. Mr. Rajiv Shanker Shresta extended congratulation and best wishes to NOA.
NOA President Mr. Ram Lal Shrestha welcomed all representatives from different Organizations and all the enthusiastic attendees and thanked the dedicated Executive Committee and their families, NOA founding members for their generous donations and all the food and beverage contributors. President Mr. Shrestha has welcomed and thanked all the media personalities Mr. Khem Bhattachan, DC Nepal, Mr. Bishwa Raj Thapa, eNeplalese.com, Mr. Bipin Uprety, Sagarmatha Television USA, Mr. Neeraj Shrestha, enepalisansar.com, for the event coverage and freelance photographers Mr. Rajeev Shrestha, Mr. Saurav Manandhar, Mr. Bipindra Shrestha for their Glimpse.
He also extended special thanks to Mr. & Mrs. Mahindra Pradhan for the Food & Beverage coordination, Clay Oven Restaurant and Chutney Restaurant for food contributions. Mr. Kiran Shrestha, Mr. Sushil Lal Shrestha & Mr. Madan Bahadur Shrestha, for the store and transport of Pulukisi. Mrs. Krishna Pradhan, Mr. Yagya Man Shakya & Mr. Divakar Dhaubhadel for the presentation of cultural show, Airzone Travel & Classic Diamond for sponsoring Yenya Punhi Theme T-shirts 2015 and Mr. Rajesh Lal Shrestha and Kiran Ranjit for coordinating the venue.
NOA presided over on going “Nepal Earth Quake Relief, Recovery and Rebuild Fund Raising Campaign” and highlighted updates of the present development and extended special thanks and presented an appreciation letter to partner organizations and individuals for their effort.
NOA recognized respected personalities recently visiting from Nepal Mr. Anar Shresthacharya (Freelance Writer), Mr. Suraj Rajkarnikar (Senior Architect) and Mr. Rajeev Shrestha (Senior Photographer). NOA also extended special thanks to NOA Past President Mr. Rajesh Shrestha and Mrs. Rohini Shrestha for custom designed life-sized Pulukisi (White Elephant) donated to NOA, and Past President Mr. Season Shrestha and Mrs. Heather Shrestha for actively involved partner. And also President Mr. Shrestha express special thanks to Mr. Yagya Man Shakya for presentation of traditional culture dance of this year.
NOA is proud to share another milestone towards preserving Newah cultural this year added a Kumari Procession Dance presented by Mr. Yagya Man Shakya and played Ms. Lochani Tara Shakya (Kumari), Mr. Kohil Shakya (Ganesh), Mr. Divakar Dhaubhadel (Bhairav). And in Musical instrumental conducted by Mr. Sujay Shrestha, Yussuf Man Shrestha, Jwoyal Ranjit and Mahindra Pradhan. Mr. Yagya Man Shakya has entertained large crowed as the Lakhey (Demon) and traditional Dhimey and Bhusuya played by Mr. Pushkar Prajapati, Mr. Divakar Dhubhadel and Mr. Yussuf Man Shrestha. Sound system arranged by DJ K&K (Kijan&Kohil) from Ellicott City, Maryland. Mr. Pushkar Prajapati, Master of Ceremonies, open and closed the event of day.
This year local Kumari Ms. Lujala Ranjit offered blessing and the large crowed enjoyed the Lakhey & Pulukisi performance at the park also children enjoyed recreational games along with delight while running away from the Lakhey and Pulukisi.
The Yenya Punhi celebration was very festive moment to keep our culture alive this year as well. NOA extended sincere thanks to all who stretched well into the day and ended with a lot of wonderful new memories. Please visit NOA's website at www.newah.org or find us on Facebook or on YouTube to view photos and videos of this great event.
