Experience Nepali culture Saturday
Many college students share the dream of traveling the world after graduation, but some can’t afford to make the trip. The Nepali Student Association (NSA) has invited University of Idaho students to its sixth annual Taste of Nepal event to experience Nepal’s music, food and dance.
Dev Shrestha | Courtesy
Guest performers at last year’s Taste of Nepal
Dev Shrestha, NSA adviser and associate professor of biological and agricultural engineering, said he hopes the event aids in taming students’ travel bug.
He said he and his colleague, Manoj Shrestha, associate professor of political science, work with area’s Nepali students to put on an event each year to share their culture with the Palouse.
“It’s basically a cultural show,” Manoj said. “They put a lot of time and thought to put it together, so the students wanted to show that this is their kind of showcase, ‘This is us.’ They try to give a sense that this depicts some aspect of Nepali culture.”
Taste of Nepal will be from 5-8 p.m. Saturday in the Bruce Pitman Center Ballroom, formerly known as the Student Union Building. The cost of admission for UI students is $12, with general admission being $15. Children under the age of 10 attend for free.
Events include all-you-can-eat Nepali food, about six cultural dances, traditional Nepali music and visiting Nepali students and faculty in customary dress.
Manoj said the event is a collaboration between Nepali students, both from UI and Washington State University. He said WSU used to host their own Nepali cultural event, but due to low funding and a small group at both schools, UI and WSU decided to combine the two, allowing approximately 30 Nepali students to work together to plan and execute the annual event.
Dev said students can even sample what to expect for Saturday’s event on YouTube by typing in “University of Idaho Taste of Nepal,” where recordings of dances, performances and other videos from previous events can be found.
Manoj and Dev said since they are the two faculty members from Nepal, they are able to serve and direct students in a special way, because they all share the same heritage.
“Honestly, we don’t have to be the advisers, but it’s through their generosity and that they regard us because we are from Nepal,” Manoj said.
Dev also said the older Nepali students mentor the younger ones.
“For the new students, we bring them up to speed — we tell them what has happened in the past,” Dev said. “There are some senior and junior students coaching (the new students) and as mentors, we just oversee the program and help them as needed.”
Emily Mosset can be reached at [email protected]