The University of Idaho Argonaut

Taste of Nepal draws
hundreds to SUB Ballroom

Navin Chettri's band The Cadenza Collective, perform a piece of Nepali Jazz fusion during the Taste of Nepal in the SUB Ballroom on Saturday night. Roger D. Rowles/Argonaut

The annual event, hosted by the university and organized by the Nepali Student Association, has been the Nepali Student Association’s signature event for the past six years.
However, this year’s event could not include as many people as group members had hoped.

“We had to turn people away at the door,” said former Nepali Student Association President Bharat Baral. “University fire, code kept many people from taking part in this year’s event.”
Baral helped organize the event when it first began in 2002.

“Our first event was small,” Baral said. “We held it in the Silver and Gold rooms and with the success of that first event we moved into the (SUB) Ballroom.”
Six dances, two drama scenes, a cultural costume show and two songs highlighted the event.

Students of the Nepali Student Association display traditional Nepali clothes during a fashion show at the annual taste of Nepal in the SUB Ballroom on Saturday night. Roger D. Rowles/Argonaut

Chettri said he wrote the song, “BOOT Buddha is out of town” while in Nepal.
“This song means a lot to me, helping me cope with struggle in my home country,” Chettri said.

He also performed an improvisational adaptation of a classical Bach tune on the drums, with flute accompaniment.
In 2002 the Nepalese Student Association was made up of more than 50 members, however this year there are around 25 members.

“We had a hard time getting students to help out,” Baral said. “We needed to ask WSU students to help with set-up, food, etc.”
All the proceeds this year will be donated to UNICEF.

“We have rotated the donations over the years,” Baral said. “UNICEF is doing great things for children in Nepal and we are happy to provide whatever we can.”
A land of rich culture and tradition, Nepal is a small landlocked country in central Asia with a population hovering just below 29 million.

North of India, Nepal is home to the tallest mountain range in the world and Mt. Everest, the tallest mountain in the world.

The country has battled for their sovereignty for the last 60 years and most recently with a civil war with the Maoist Nepalese communist party.

“We are looking forward to a peaceful Nepal,” said Avishesh Dhakal, Nepali student Association President. “I would like to thank everyone involved, from our club adviser to the WSU Nepalese students.”

For those who missed this year’s “Taste of Nepal,” there will be another next year, but make sure to buy a ticket in advance.

Anyone interested in checking out tunes from the event, Navin Cadenza Collective will perform at OneWorld Café in Moscow on Feb. 2 and is also on
MySpace.