Nepalese students showed off their culture on March 23 at the annual Nepali Night in Bayou Pointe. Through musical performances, traditional Nepalese cuisine and cultural trivia, the ULM community experienced a taste of Nepal from afar.
Each spring semester, Nepali Night brings Nepalese students together to celebrate and promote their culture on campus. The program began with organizers playing both the Nepalese and American national anthems. A fashion show followed the opening ceremony, showcasing traditional Nepalese attire. Participants wore a variety of costumes to represent their cultures.
Freshman computer science major Binod Bist showed off his style at the fashion walk, wearing a traditional Kurtha, a long decorative shirt traditionally worn in Nepal.
“I am happy that I participated in the event. I chose to wear a Kurtha Surwal for the walk,” Bist said. “It was a great feeling and the support from the audience made me more confident while walking on the stage.”
The evening continued with a lineup of performances featuring traditional Nepalese songs and dances.
Freshman biology major Ayush Adhikari expressed his delight with the musical performances shown throughout the night.
“There were a lot of good performances. The cultural dances and Nepali songs made the event even better,” Adhikari said. “I liked Mimosha’s singing. She sang lot of songs and her voice blended beautifully with the music.”
Nepali Night brought smiles to many faces, giving students the chance to learn about and experience Nepalese culture.
According to sophomore NSA representative Binit Karki, Nepali Night provides a platform for expression, giving students a chance to share their culture with others.
“This event is a great opportunity for Nepalese students to show their talents,” Karki said. “We encouraged most to participate in the event because it helps our event to be more entertaining and successful.”
The Nepali Night concluded with sentimental statement from Karki to the board members, volunteers, sponsors and attendees.
“We are far from our home and events like this allow us to come together and be there for each other,” Karki said. “NSA hopes to organize more events like this, and we hope to see many others experience Nepali culture next time.”