Melbourne celebrated its first and the 199th Bhanu Jayanti in Glenroy Neighbourhood Learning Centre on Friday July 13 in Melbourne.
More than 180 people, mostly seniors from the Bhutanese community attended the function, according to organizers.
Tracey Oliver, the community engagement coordinator graced the occasion as chief guest by lighting up the auspicious lamp (die).
She said that it is wonderful to see that community come together in such a large number to celebrate the importance of language and culture.
Meanwhile, Drona Panta, Victorian Coordinator for Non-Residence Nepalese Association in Australia and NRNA-A NCC member assisted in putting on garland to the portrait of Bhanu Bhakta and reciting a poem composed by himself.
Panta said, “Celebration of this event is a stepping stone to preserve Nepalese language, culture and heritage. Away from home country, when Nepal is going through changes, seeing these amazing programs and enthusiasm of our seniors and Bhutanese community, it makes me feel like I am in my own village in Nepal.”
The program included recitation of poems composed by local Bhutanese youths which reflected them on life in Nepal as refugees, changes that culture shock brought them in Australia and some romantic folk poems which made everyone in laughter.
Gazals, tukas and solo songs were very much became the part of celebration, added the organizer.
Ramayan verses recitation by Dilliram Adhikari and Thakur Prasad Luitel was special to all seniors and lesson to youths to keep the age old heritage of our language and culture.
A Couple of young children performed Bhutanese Nepalese traditional dances and provided entertainment in a thrilling manner.
The program was beautifully managed by a pair of master of ceremony, Roshni Chherti and Khagen Acharaya who were extremely professional but at the same time so funny that people nicknamed them Madan Krishna and Hari Bangsa of Melbourne.
The best of Bhutanese cuisine was served after the event to attendees prepared by a volunteer group led by Maya Adhikari.
Likewise, Kubir Khanal offered the vote of thanks to all and reminded that the preservation of language and culture in the foreign land, which we have decided to call our home for rest of our live, is responsibility of all and not of few in the community.
