Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire (BCNH) and its Youth wing-Bhutanese Youth of New Hampshire concluded a half day long ‘Annual Cultural Event- Euphoric Night II’ in Concord City Auditorium in New Hampshire on November 29th, 2014. The major objectives of organizing this year’s Euphoric Night were: honoring established and emerging Bhutanese artists across the USA who have contributed significant time and energy in the field of music and to share Bhutanese culture and heritage with the hosting community.
Tika Acharya, the Executive Director of BCNH formally inaugurated the event by welcoming all to the event and highlighted the major projects operated in FY-2014 and the prime accomplishments achieved by the organization. “The event was a huge success with a titanic turnout of community members”, Acharya informed BNS.
BCNH’s Director for Programs & Development, Bhagirath Khatiwada highlighted the mission of organizing the event for bringing as many Bhutanese artists as possible from across the country in a single platform for them to meet and greet after long they been separated and for them motivate in taking determined actions for the promotion of Nepali music in diaspora.
Mr. Khatiwada thanked all the artists, volunteers, well-wishers and the entire community for their presence in the event.
“Many of the artists could not make to the event due to their busy schedule despite their immense desire to come, some of them could not respond on time and to some BCNH could not reach out, said Mr. Khatiwada and apologized on behalf of the organizing committee of the event to those artists who are not reached out.
Taking this auspicious opportunity, Board Chair of BCNH, Guru Subedi informed the completion of the organization’s Five Year Strategic Plan to the public.
Speaking in the event, Mr. Subedi said, “We are reexamining our core values and purpose to set priorities for future plans”.
The strategic plan will define our priorities of the community development and help us reach new heights in rendering our service, he further added.
Artists who have demonstrated their determined efforts in building the musical foundation where honored with the Distinguished Service Award of BCNH in the event.
The recipients of the award include: Ram Gurung, Balaram Gurung, Mahesh Thulung, Amber Subba, Govinda Phuyel, Kishor Siwakoti, Dhan B. Baraily, Manoj Dhakal, Krishna Dhakal, Saran Gurung, Monika Khadka, Nabin Dhakal, Nikky Karki, Bhakta Ghalley and Kedar Neopaney.
Varieties of songs and dances were performed in the Euphoric Night-II. Artists from 16 states had participated in the event.
Speaking on behalf of the artists, Ram Gurung a student of veteran music composer and singer, Amber Gurung, expressed that it is very challenging for any artist to manage time to devote to music while handling the demands of life, career, family and public expectation.
Thanking BCNH and the organizing committee of the event, Mr. Gurung said, “We have attended several cultural functions after resettlement but this is the historic one for having these many artists in one platform with such a neat and unique mission and objectives”.
In the mid of the event, Devi Timsina Foundation releases its first Ghazal Album ‘Jodera Samjhanaharu’.
The revenue generated from selling album will be deposited in the account of the foundation for carrying out various charitable activities, said Bhola Siwakoti (Puranaghare), the Executive Director of the foundation.
Representing Bhutanese youth in New Hampshire, Rabi Pathak and Subash Gurung applauded the hard work and commitment demonstrated by all individuals involved in making this event a great success.
They further stated that Bhutanese youth in New Hampshire have learned a lot from the senior Bhutanese artists from across the country in this event.
BCNH hosted ‘Post Event Panel Discussion’ focusing on challenges, opportunities and the future strategies of Bhutanese artists. Tilak Niroula, Media and Communication Manager of BCNH moderated the session.
Majority of the artists opined and aspired to have a national platform for the artists and requested the community leaders and intellectuals to help create productive environment.
Dadhi Rai, Puspa Adhikari, Tika Chhetri and Becky Field were honored by New Hampshire State Council on the Arts in recognition of their invaluable contribution in the field of arts.
Rohit Suvedi, Bikash Bhattarai, Hema Gautam, Bhola Siwakoti (Puranaghare) and Chuda Mani Niroula were the program hosts. Bikash Bhattarai gave the vote of thanks and thanked all the participants and the audience.
