Yeti Nepali Association UK Celebrates Nepali New Year/Baishakhi with a Grand Event
Yeti Nepali Association UK, one of the oldest Nepali organisations in Europe, celebrated the Nepali New Year with great enthusiasm on Saturday. The event, held at the Clarendon Oasis Hall in Hayes, marked the first major programme under the leadership of President Pipla Pandey Dewan and saw an impressive turnout of approximately 600 attendees.
The programme was presided over by Yeti President Pipla Pandey Dewan, with Dr. Raghav Prasad Dhital (OBE) and a Trustee of the charity Yeti London Welfare Foundation Limited, a senior doctor and social worker, as the chief guest. The event was also graced by the presence of Roshan Khanal, Deputy Chief of Mission at the Nepali Embassy in London, who attended as the special guest. Nepalis from various cities across the UK flocked to the event to witness outstanding performances by national and local artists from Nepal.
The event commenced with a traditional Lakhey dance, where the chief guest, other dignitaries, and members of the organising committee were welcomed into the hall by artists carrying ceremonial Kalash vessels. Dr. Dhital and Deputy Chief Khanal formally opened the event by cutting a ribbon and lighting a ceremonial lamp (Panas). The first part of the formal programme was conducted by Yeti General Secretary Tanka Bhattarai, who started with a ‘Health and Safety’ briefing, followed by a warm welcome to all attendees. Bhattarai mentioned that the focus was on creating an entertainment-driven event with minimal speeches, to ensure maximum enjoyment for everyone.
In his congratulatory speech, Dr. Dhital expressed his emotions upon seeing such remarkable participation after a long time and extended his thanks and best wishes to the new executive committee. Special guest Roshan Khanal commended the organisers for hosting a programme that represented Nepal so well. Royal Greenwich Borough Councillor Jeet Ranabhat also praised Yeti for its efforts to unite the entire Nepali community and pursue constructive initiatives.
President Pipla Pandey Dewan concluded the formal segment by thanking all participants and the entire organising committee for their tireless efforts in making the event a success. She also announced that Yeti has many more exciting events planned for the future.
Following the formalities, Cultural Secretary Purna Bahadur Thapa (Deepak Maithane) and Assistant Secretary Aastha Joshi took over, leading the cultural programme. The event featured outstanding performances by renowned Nepali singers and artists, including Krishna Kafle, Shaima Shrestha, Ramila Neupane, Prithvi Gurung, and Babita Baniya (Jerry). Thirteen additional artists from London and beyond also captivated the audience with their performances, ranging from traditional Lakhe and Sherpa dances to Kathak and Ghatu dances, adding a vibrant and colourful atmosphere to the celebration.
All participating artists were honoured with certificates and cash prizes by the organisers as a token of appreciation for their contributions.
The event was generously supported by various sponsors, with Maya Supported Living as the platinum sponsor. Other key sponsors included HTR Care, JAAP Financial Solutions, S Recruitment, and additional sponsors were Deurali Travel, KTM Travel & Tours, Khukuri Beer UK Ltd. , GNS Associates, and Absolutely Desi. The organisers presented each sponsor with a token of love and a certificate of appreciation in recognition of their support.
Former Yeti President Umesh Raj Moktan also conducted an exciting raffle draw, where the lucky winners walked away with fantastic prizes, including a tola (11.66 grams) of gold for the first prize, half a tola of gold for the second prize, and 5 tolas of silver for the third prize, along with several other prizes.
The £15 ticket included a complimentary two-course meal and bottled water, ensuring that attendees were well-catered for as they enjoyed the evening’s festivities.
