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!!
Tag: culture
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!
A Happy Kukur Tihar to All our Four-Footed Friends!
Yampanchak Begins Today with Kaag Tihar
With Dashain behind us, Nepalis begin round two with the second most popular festival in the Himalayan nation – Tihar. People provide tender morsels for crows, hoping to avert grief and death in their homes. The black birds can be seen on virtually every rooftop, enjoying their meals and cawing with pleasure!
Bada Dashain Begins in Nepal – Happy Ghatasthapana!
People are celebrating Ghatasthapana with the planting of barley, rice, wheat, and corn seeds in a clay pot as part of a puja, or offering, in their homes. Sprouted seedlings are called jamara and will be offered as part of tika on Vijaya Dashami, or the main festival day, which occurs in ten days time. The… Continue reading Bada Dashain Begins in Nepal – Happy Ghatasthapana!
Sheshnarayan Temple
Pharping lies in a beautiful green area beyond Chobar, and is highly sacred to Tibetan Buddhists and Hindus alike. There you will find Sheshnarayan, one of the four most revered temples of Narayan, or Vishnu, in Nepal. The area is steeped in a blend of religion and lore where caves and cliffs form the backdrop… Continue reading Sheshnarayan Temple
Happy Teej!
Red sari-clad women are thronging Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu today to celebrate Teej through prayer, offerings, music, and dance. Teej is the beautiful festival in which women pray and make offerings to Lord Shiva for the their husband’s longevity, prosperity, and happiness. For unmarried women, it is hoped that this worship will lead to a… Continue reading Happy Teej!