By KACEY D. RICHARD

kdr011@latech.edu

 

Tech’s Namaste Nepal Association hosted its first Nepal Night 2007: An Evening in Nepal, Feb. 1 in the Student Center, second floor.

The room was masked with the smell of Middle Eastern spices as the sound of traditional Nepali music played in the background. The tables centerpieces were religious statues of Buddha and Ganesha.

The table décor also included Nepal’s flag, a red banner with two peaks symbolizing Mt. Everest, which is located in Nepal. 

Ashutosh Koirala, a junior electrical engineering major, served as the master of ceremony for the event during entertainment set changes. Koirala quizzed the audience about Nepali culture and handed out handmade picture frames from Nepal as gifts for the crowd.

The women of Namaste dressed in different colorful dresses, traditionally called saris, while the men wore dhakatopis, traditional hats worn at prestigious ceremonies.

Ritu Tuladhar, a senior sociology major, is a member of Namaste and served as hostess for the night.

“It is important for us to be involved at school and this also helps us to bond with each other,” Tuladar said.

Namaste presented a slideshow with details of Nepal’s culture, architecture and geography followed by musical entertainment from students Mudit Swaroop, graduate student of science engineering, Manindra Prajapati, sophomore electrical engineering, and Milinda Shakya, sophomore computer science major.

The students played a series of traditional Nepali songs before ending on an English note with Pink Floyd’s “Wish You Were Here.”

Namaste also prepared an authentic Nepali buffet.

The menu included lentil soup, bamboo shoot curry and spiced chicken.

The organization presented adviser Reggie Hanchey and the director of International Students, Daniel Erickson, with copper engraved plaques from Nepal thanking the faculty for their continued help and support.

“I admire other cultures that not only do well in the classroom, but also socially,” Hanchey said.

Samar Bhattari, a graduate student of science engineering, and Nooresh Bajracharya, a senior computer science major, helped form the group after much discussion over the topic in the past year among the Nepali community.

Samar Bhattari, a graduate student of science engineering, and Nooresh Bajracharya, a senior computer science major, helped form the group after much discussion over the topic in the past year among the Nepali community.

Tuladhar said the group’s main purpose for the event was to educate other Tech students about Nepali culture, and in return learn more about American culture.

Kelly Smart, a senior family and child studies major, said, “I saw a flyer for the event and thought it would be fun to go. I love to learn about culture.”

“I think these students have done all that they can do to become a part of Tech,” Hanchey said. “I hope this will be the first of many [Nepal Nights] to come.”