Fairfax, VA – The America Nepal Society (ANS) held its Annual Dashain Tihar Chhath Nepal Sambat Get-Together and Fundraising Lunch on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at Tandoori Fairfax. From 11:00 AM to 2:30 PM, attendees including ANS life members, friends of Nepal, and young performers gathered for an event showcasing Nepalese culture, performances, and community service initiatives.
The occasion saw young talents mesmerizing the audience with exceptional performances, adding a vibrant touch to the event. Yugraj Pandey, Economic Counselor at the Embassy of Nepal in Washington, DC, shared greetings on behalf of the Embassy and extended warm wishes to attendees.
Two distinguished guests were awarded certificates of appreciation by former ANS leaders Krishna Nirola (2nd VP, 1969-1970) and Jagadish Upadhyaya (President, 1981-1983). Dr. Gopi Upreti was recognized for publishing his book, Ecosociocentrism – The Earth First Paradigm for Sustainable Living, by Springer Nature, while Keith Federman was acknowledged for his work leading the “Bridges of Kindness” project under the NPPA, which supports education and assistance for underprivileged girls in Nepal’s Chitwan District.
ANS 2nd Vice President Nilu Upreti Kharel welcomed guests and thanked event sponsors. ANS President Sujeet Aryal discussed ANS activities and the purpose of the annual meet, while 1st Vice President Richard Sellers highlighted the impact of projects initiated by “Friends of Nepal,” a group founded by returned Peace Corps volunteers from Nepal and based in Rhode Island.
Special messages and stories were also shared by Krishna Nirola, Jagadish Upadhyaya, Dr. Gopi Upreti, Keith Federman, Jeff Rocheteau, Kathy Stien, and Dr. Balram Aryal. Notable contributions included Srijana Karki’s presentation of the Nepali-English Dictionary, authored by her father Tika B. Karki, and book donations by former ANS President Jagadish Upadhyaya to promote Nepali language learning.
The event raised a total of $5,107, with expenses tallying $3,437.59, yielding a net gain of $1,669.41. ANS announced that $300 of this amount would be donated to Friends of Nepal, as agreed during the team’s monthly meeting.
ANS extends sincere gratitude to all sponsors, including:
Kamal Parakh, Parak Homes, Aldie, VA
Bipin R. Uprety & Nerisha Joshi, Galaxy Event Solutions, Lorton, VA
Sirjana Sharma, Paralegal Services of Torrent County, Euless, TX
Classic Diamond, Wheaton, MD
Raju Regmi, Mo
Spot, Chantilly, VA
Aarati Khanal, AK Collections, Lorton, VA
Bijaya Shrestha, DMV Black Car Services, VA
Pooja Aryal Pyakurel, Hair Sense, Chantilly, VA
Additionally, Everest IT Training of El Monte, CA, contributed mousepads for the attendees, adding a practical keepsake to the day’s memories.
Event photos can be viewed at the ANS Facebook Page. Click here. Video clips from the event can be seen at the ANS YouTube Channel.
ANS Meet & Greet - March 9 2024 Gallery
