All Nepalese organizations celebrated Dashain jointly in Amsterdam
Approximately 350 NRNs and a significant number of Dutch people celebrated Dashain on Sunday 17th October 2010 in Amsterdam. The celebration was jointly organized by Nepal Development Academy, Jana Samparka Samiti, Nepal Loktrantik Munch, Nepal Music Foundation, Nepalese Eyes Foundation, National Unity Netherland and Nepal SamajNederland and coordinated by Hari Paudel, president of Non-Resident Nepali Association in the Netherlands.The celebration was unique not only because of the involvement of all the Nepalees organizations but also because of the performance of Nepali band Mukti & Revival. People took tika and blessings from the elderly respected persons and Nepal Music Foundation and Himchuli Cultural Group performed music. The Nepali rock music of Mukti & Revival was one of the highlight of the festivity, along with lottery ‘Bingo’. There was a stall of Nepal Tourism Board with promotional materials to promote Nepal as an unique and versatile holiday destination. On behalf of NTB, the honorary PR-Representative for tourism affairs has provided the travel informations and distributed the leaflets, posters, dvd, maps, etc.
The presidents of the concerned organizations inaugurated the ceremony by lighting the candle for Durga Bhawani. Hari Paudel welcomed all Nepalese and Dutch people to the biggest and most important festival of the Hindus. According to the Hindu mythology Dashain symbolizes the conflict of good and evil, waged between Goddess Durga and a demon named Mahishasur. In this battle Goddes Durga (good) defeated Mahishasur (bad) after ten days of fighting. The Hindu people celebrate the victory of Durga on Mahishasur. Addressing the audience Hari Paudel expressed the added value of the joint celebration and thanked to all volunteers, especially the members of the Dashain organizing committee. Without the crucial efforts of partner organizations this joint celebration was impossible, he concluded.
