Celebration of Yomari Punhi (Nepal Era 1135) in Canada

Описание: The Nepalese communities living in Alberta, Canada celebrated belated second annual Yomari Punhi cultural festival with great joy and pride amidst a special cultural event at Duggan Community Hall in Edmonton on Saturday February 7, 2015. The cultural event was organized by Newa Cultural Society of Alberta (NCSA) with the support from the City of Edmonton. Over 110 participants including local Canadians participated in the cultural event. This event was the second biggest cultural event of NCSA after the community Mha Puja and New Year (Nepal Era 1135) celebration which was participated by about 125 participants on October 26, 2014.
The cultural event was jointly inaugurated by Honourable Naresh Bhardwaj, Associate Minister, Government of Alberta, and Dr. Hemanta Joshi, President of NCSA, by lighting the traditional artistic oil lamps, Twadewas. After the inauguration of the cultural event, Ms. Bejuna Joshi, a senior lady of the Newa community in Edmonton, performed Puja of Annapurna, the Goddesses of grains, offering Arati and freshly cooked Yomari (a unique Newa delicacy). Meanwhile, the Newa people celebrate this festival worshiping Annapurna, the Goddess of grains, as a gesture of acknowledging her for good harvest by offering Yomari cooked from freshly harvested crop of sweet rice.

In the cultural event, a live demonstration of Yomari preparation was arranged for the participants. Participants, especially the local Canadians, keenly observed the procedures involved in preparing Yomari. A booklet on Yomari prepared by NCSA, that contains information about Yomari and Yomari Punhi festival, Yomari recipe, as well as lyrics of Yomari song with English translation, was distributed to the participants. Participants were also served with freshly prepared Yomari, Chatamari, and Achar after the live demonstration of Yomari preparation.

A ferocious Lakhey mask dance was other main attraction of the cultural event. This dance is very popular in the Kathmandu valley and other Newa settlements throughout Nepal. Although Lakheys are considered demons they are also believed as protectors of the people. Thus, Newa people worship them as deity. Beside Lakhey mask dance, participants were entertained with popular and lovely modern Newa dances, fashion shows and cultural quizzes in the cultural event. Exhibitions of Newa artifacts and photos depicting Newa culture as well as NCSA’s programs and activities were also displayed in the cultural event.

A delicious ethnic dinner was served to all the participants at the end of the cultural event.