UMW Multicultural Festival 2018

Mark the date on your calendar – April 14, 2018 – for the next University of Mary Washington Multicultural Festival to celebrate the richness of diversity. Utpalasia will be performing a varied cultural program of Buddhist, Classical Kathak, Bollywood, and Folk dance on the promenade of Lee Hall between 2:15 and 2:45pm. The performance participants… Continue reading UMW Multicultural Festival 2018

Celebrating Bhai Tika!

Wishing all brothers and sisters a very happy, auspicious, and wonderful Bhai Tika! Sisters offer tika to their brothers and wish them a long life, health, and prosperity. In a special ceremony, they are garlanded and given sweets, walnuts, breads, and spices. The brothers, in turn, offer tika to their sisters and give them gifts.… Continue reading Celebrating Bhai Tika!

Durga Temple Cultural Performance

Thanks to all who turned out to support our youngest dancers as they enchanted the audience with their Bollywood and Kathak items for Dussehra/Dashain at Durga Temple on Saturday. It was exciting to see our performers present original choreography by Tasherit with so much grace and charm. You rocked the stage and the house!!  

Happy Dashain 2017

A very Happy Dashain to all from everyone here at Utpalasia! Join us at Durga Temple in Fairfax Station on September 30 as we participate in the annual Dussehra Cultural Program. Students from some of our classes will be presenting two Bollywood items and a traditional Kathak religious piece from 5:00-6:00pm. More info: https://goo.gl/jpHoKD We… Continue reading Happy Dashain 2017

Happy Teej!

The women of Nepal are thronging Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu and their natal village homes to celebrate a unique festival which takes places each year in the month of Bhadau. Resplendent in their red saris, sindoor powder, glass bangles, and tilhari necklaces women sing and dance and perform cultural programs. The festival begins lasts for… Continue reading Happy Teej!

Buddha Jayanti

Kathmandu celebrated Buddha Jayanti at a freshly cleaned and painted Swayambhunath. Honoring the 2561st anniversary of the birthday of Lord Buddha, the day included special events for worship and prayer, social programs, and other festivities, including a beautiful night illumination. See more at https://goo.gl/pCNyh4  

Kathmandu Celebrates Tihar!

Devotees celebrated Laxmi and cow puja yesterday, with many women creating beautiful rangoli designs, cleaning, and setting up multi-colored lights to invite the goddess of wealth into their homes. Today, Newars observe Mha puja, or worship of self. This will be followed by Bhai Tika, or offerings to brothers by sisters tomorrow. We wish everyone… Continue reading Kathmandu Celebrates Tihar!