The Nepalese community in Edmonton, Canada observed Gun Punhi and Yenya Punhi festivals amidst a special cultural event at Victoria Park on Saturday September 21, 2024. The cultural event was organized by the Newa Cultural Society of Alberta (NCSA), a local Nepalese organization to practice, promote and preserve Newa culture and traditions in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada(www.ncsacanada.com). Meanwhile, Gun Punhi is also known as Kwati Punhi as in this festival people drink Kwati, a special ethnic soup prepared from nine varieties of beans. Yenya Punhi is also known as Indra Jatra as this festival is mainly dedicated to Indra, the god of rain and the king of heaven. Both of these festivals are celebrated with joy and pride by Newa people living in Nepal and around the world.

In the beginning of the cultural event, Dr. Hemanta Joshi, President of NCSA, welcomed the guests and participants and briefly highlighted on NCSA activities in practicing, promoting and preserving Newa culture, traditions and identity in the community. According to Dr. Joshi, both the Gun Punhi and Yenya Punhi festivals have unique cultural significances in the Newa community.

In the cultural event, a Puja (worship) ceremony of deities such as Ganesh (the good of initiation); Indra; Bhairab (the god of strength); and Kumari (a representation of goddess Bhagwati – mother of the Hindu universe) was performed by offering flowers, fruits, sweets, and Samay Bajee [a special ethnic food comprised of varieties of items such as Bajee (roasted beaten rice), Syabajee (roasted puffed rice), Khen (boiled and fried egg), Woo (ethnic pancake cooked from black lentils), Nya (small fried fish), Choyela (roasted spicy meat), Simpu (boiled spicy kidney beans), Bhuti (boiled spicy black eyed beans), Mushya Wala (roasted spicy soya beans), Lava Palu (fried and sliced garlic and ginger), Wauncha (boiled and spiced green vegetable), and Aalu Wala (boiled and spiced potatoes)]. An Aarati was also offered to the deities by burning Ita (a set of oil soaked cotton wicks) and Dhun (incense sticks). The Puja ceremony was facilitated by Mrs. Devina Pradhan Dhoubhadel, senior member of the community.

In the beginning of cultural event, guests and participants were served with a bowl of hot Kwati and Chhuchu Mari (a kind of bread made from flour) as Kaula (breakfast) to commemorate recently concluded Gun Punhi festival. Similarly, after the Puja ceremony, Samay Bajee was served to all the guests and participants as Prasad (religious offering) to commemorate on-going Yenya Punhi festival. During the Samay Bajee feast, Khhaye (a religious drink made from yogurt) was also served to the guest and participants as a substitute of Thon (ethnic white wine made from rice). At the end of the cultural event, a traditional Lakhey (a demon) mask dance (performed by Mr. Birendra Piya) and Pulukishi (a white elephant that carries Indra) dance (performed by Mr. Sarad Chitrakar) were performed to create the event lively, vibrant and enjoyable. These traditional dances were performed with thumping music of Dhimay (played by Dr. Kishor Shrestha) and Bhushya (played by Mr. Prasant Baidya). Throughout the cultural event, vivid songs related to Yenya Punhi and other traditional and modern Newa songs were played in the background to boost up the ethnic environment.

During the cultural event, Annual General Meeting (AGM) was also held to review the yearly activities of the NCSA. At the AGM, Mr. Birendra Kayastha, Secretary of the NCSA, presented the annual report and Mr. Birendra Piya, Treasurer of the NCSA, presented the annual financial report of the organization. The financial report presented by the treasurer was unanimously approved by the NCSA members and the auditors. Mr. Tri Prasad Dhoubhadel, Vice president of NCSA, briefly highlighted on the importance of Gun Punhi and Yenya Punhi festivals and thanked all the guests and participants for their support in making the cultural event successful.