ULM transported students to Nepal with this year’s celebration of Teej. The Nepalese Student Organization (NSA) commemorated the holiday with a gathering at the Wesley Center on Thursday.
The NSA began the evening by welcoming new members to the organization. NSA President Subik Sapkota and Vice President of Cultural Affairs Anjan Mandal introduced the newly appointed board members. Sapkota discussed the significance of Teej and its cultural importance, particularly for those living away from home.
“Teej is a special festival, especially for women. And we decided to organize this event to pay respect to all the Nepalese women.” Mandal said. Teej is a festival celebrated by the woman of Nepal that signifies the union of the goddess Parvati with Lord Shiva.
Following the introduction, the NSA played traditional Nepalese music. Teej is often celebrated by dancing throughout the night. To recreate the atmosphere of Nepal, the NSA invited members to dance on stage. Attendees took to the stage, enjoying their home away from home.
“My favorite part of the event was music and dance. We used to celebrate similarly in Nepal, and experiencing the festival here was such a beautiful feeling,” Sophomore biology major Kabu Khadka said.
Famished after dancing all night, partygoers enjoyed traditional Nepalese cuisine. NSA offered members kheer and achar, with kheer being a traditional porridge-like dish commonly enjoyed during Teej.
As the event drew to a close, students played a few rounds of trivia centered around Teej. The NSA awarded winners gift cards. NSA sophomore representative Deepika Baruwal reflected on the event’s success and turnout.
“The vibe and environment that the event created was what Teej is all about. The event was organized so we could all gather around and enjoy the beauty of our tradition.” Baruwal said.
Sapkota, working with the NSA, plans to schedule more events centered around Nepalese holidays throughout the semester.
“We will be organizing more events like this in the future. These events will create a good bond among us.” Sapkota said. “Coming October, we are planning to organize Dashain-Tika and Dashain-Tihar Night to celebrate our festival Dashain and Tihar.”
