On Tuesday, Oct. 17, Washburn University International Club hosted Dashain Festival. It is considered the main festival of Hindus in Nepal. This festival happens in September or October and is traditionally celebrated for two weeks.
Dashain is a long-running festival in Nepal celebrated to acknowledge the victory of good over evil spirits, which dates back thousands of years. It lasts for 15 days and includes a range of rites and customs.
“It’s about that time of the year where families gather to celebrate it together. I could not return to my roots this Dashain. I am hoping to celebrate it together with my family next year,” said Dipesh Aryal, a freshman business studies major.
Dashain is often regarded as a time of homecoming in Nepal.
In order to start the celebration, everyone assembled inside the church for music, reunion, food and fun. Students were dressed up in their traditional clothes. They even performed cultural events, dances and music performances.
“In Nepal, we wear ‘tika’ on the forehead with an amount of cash known as ‘Dakshina’ in Nepali,” said Shova Dhamala, a freshman nursing major. “We also sacrifice goats, ducks, chickens and the meat is often distributed among family members and relatives.”
The food prepared for the event consisted of Nepalese-style rice called Pulao, cottage cheese, butter chicken, yogurt, soft drinks and fruits.
While students were busy chatting with each other, Andy Vogel, coordinator of international student recruitment and retention, collected them for the group picture. Nepali students continued representing their culture as they sang and danced, forming a circle. They also got other students, Japanese, Bengali and American, involved in the festivities.
“It is essential because it is a family gathering festival, and we are far away from home so let it be here. We can be a family and have each other to celebrate. Let’s continue celebrating more of these festivals together,” said Mohammad Asfaque, a member of the International House and mathematics major.
The International Club has several events planned for this semester, with each of them indicating various groups of international students on campus and honoring a unique tradition.
For more details, contact International Programs at [email protected] and stay tuned for the most recent events they have.
Edited by Jeremy Ford and Sydney Peterson
