Students from the central Asian nation dance and celebrate Nepali culture.
THE DAILY EVERGREEN
Published: 04/05/2010
Spicy curry perfumed the air as women in vibrant-colored dresses danced, bracelets clanging, filling the Gladish Community & Cultural Center on Saturday night.
About 350 people gathered to experience foreign food and culture at the first annual Nepali Food Festival.
The event was put together by the Nepali Student Associations of WSU and University of Idaho, and it incorporated traditional food, dancing, songs and fashion. “Food allows us into another culture,” said Upendra Dahal, NSA director and graduate student.
With welcoming smiles and generous helpings, the over-capacity audience experienced authentic Nepali culture. “They all seem really nice and excited for people to show up,” said Courtney Koski, a sophomore psychology major who attended the event.
The festival began with the national anthems of Nepal and the United States, followed by a dance performed by six young girls. “We have been practicing for about six weeks, pretty much every day,” said performers Eezya Singh and Heema Koirala. The two girls moved from Nepal, which is located between India and China, only a few years ago.
“It never snowed very much where I lived,” Singh said. “It was very hot, and my dad would always go and climb Mount Everest.” The girls also performed in Moscow and at their elementary school.
“We used to be really nervous when it came to dancing, but now it’s pretty easy,” Singh said.
After their performance, Dahal and his wife gave a performance called Mathi Mathi, which tells the tale of a woman asking a man to dance with her. The festival also included a man who danced while holding onto plates, a slideshow of Nepal and a fashion show. After all of the fashion models took a bow, the audience got in line for the buffet-like feast. The menu included rice, curry beans, chicken curry, spicy potato salad, meatballs, salad and a sweet dessert that resembled a doughnut covered in corn syrup. However, everyone’s favorite part of the meal was a food called Momo, a turkey dumpling covered with sesame and tomato sauce. “They are so delicious. I can’t even explain them,” said Prafulla Nath Dawadi, who spoke at the event.
Profits will go to the Community Center, after the cost of the festival is covered, Dahal said.
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Photolink: Picasaweb of Kumud Raj Poudel
