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K-State Today

October 28, 2014

Nepalese Student Association at K-State celebrates Tihar, or Dipawali

Submitted by Ammar

In Nepal, October is the month of festivals. Nepalese people just celebrated their two great festivals Dashain and Tihar, or Dipawali.

Being on another half of the globe and missing family and loved ones especially during festivals would be tough for everyone. Therefore, the K-State Nepalese Student Association celebrated Tihar, or Depawali, from 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 24, to 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 25.

The holiday is celebrated as a Festival of Lights in Nepal. Nepalese living in Manhattan gathered and went Nepalese residents door to door to play Deusi-re, a popular festival song. The group was greeted and served with different Nepalese cuisine at each house and spent approximately 15-30 minutes singing and playing typical Nepalese music with instruments such as Madal or hand drum, Basuri, or flute, and a guitar.

A short script of the Deusi re:
Say it my brothers, Deusi-re. Say it my sisters, Deusi-re. Say it louder, Deusi-re.
Red mud trails, Deusi-re. Slippery trails, Deusi-re. Slipping and sliding, Deusi-re. Singing and dancing, Deusi-re.
Say it my brothers, Deusi-re. Say it my sisters, Deusi-re. Say it louder, Deusi-re.

The K-State Nepalese Student Association organize the Deusi Bhailo Program to mark the Tihar every year. It is celebrated among all Hindus around the globe. Tej Shrestha, the organization's advisor, highlighted the importance of Deusi-Bhailo event as an opportunity to preserve and keep alive the Nepalese tradition in U.S. and provide exposure to the younger generation and other internationals in the K-State community.