36th Nepal Day celebrated in Germany

Bonn – The 36th Nepal Day (Nepal Tag)  grandly concluded in Bonn, Germany’s former capital city. Held on Saturday, June 28, and organized by the German-Nepal Friendship Association (Deutsch-Nepal Gesellschaft), the event further strengthened the people-to-people friendly relations between Nepal and Germany.

The program showcased various presentations reflecting Nepali art, culture, and tradition. Participants were mesmerized by Nepali dances, an exhibition of handicraft items, traditional costumes, and diverse musical programs.

Visitors showed particular interest in the stalls featuring Nepali tea, spices, and idols of mythological deities produced with the support of German NGOs, as well as books about Nepal written by German citizens.

On the occasion of Nepal Day, representatives of German non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that have been active in various sectors in Nepal for decades shared their experiences. They provided information about their contributions to education, health, sanitation, and infrastructure improvement in the rural areas of the Himalayas, hills, and Terai.

Nepali and foreign participants present at the event became emotional as German volunteers expressed their feelings about their time spent in Nepal and their close bond with the Nepali community.

Dr Shail Rupakheti, Nepali Ambassador to Germany, was chief guest at the inaugural ceremony chaired by Ram Pratap Thapa, President of the German-Nepal Friendship Association. Mayor of Bonn, Katja Dörner, and Mayor of Cologne, Henriette Reker, sent messages of goodwill, wishing for the success of Nepal Day.

The opening ceremony began with a devotional song by Ani Choying Drolma, followed by a welcome dance performed by Kamala Dahal’s team.

Addressing the program, Ambassador Rupakheti stated that German NGOs have made a significant contribution to Nepal’s development and that the embassy, as a representative of the Government of Nepal, will provide necessary support for the NGOs’ Nepal-related projects. He added that the embassy’s doors are always open to all organizations working for socio-economic upliftment of Nepali people.

Shashi Kumar Khaniya, Mayor of Khairahani Municipality in Chitwan, thanked the Nepali diaspora in Germany for their support in the municipality’s waste processing and green campaign. He also requested German donor organizations to collaborate on development projects initiated by the municipality.

Prof. Dr. Pushpa Raj Joshi presented an analytical commentary on Nepal’s unstable politics and its tangible impacts.

Prof. Dr. Beatrice Knerr presented a paper on Nepal’s economic and social future in the era of globalization, while Dr. Arne Drews discussed the current state of public health in Nepal.

Cornelia Stolle-Flemming of the German donor organization ‘Nepalmed’ discussed the concept of operating an air ambulance service in Nepal and the fundraising initiative started by the organization for this purpose, highlighting the need for such a service.

Dr. Michael Mühlich presented his research findings on the use of ancient stone spouts (Dhunge Dhara) in  Patan area, the historical lifestyle of the valley, environmental impacts, and related cultural and tourism aspects.

Kathrin Hoffstetter, a teacher at Mekharnik Secondary School, and her students shared their experiences from a trip to Nepal, praising the country’s beauty and  friendly nature of its people.

President Thapa of the German-Nepal Friendship Association committed to moving forward with future plans based on the papers, concepts, and suggestions presented at the event. He also facilitated an interaction with the participants regarding the topics presented. Participants raised questions and offered suggestions about the reports and plans.

On the day following Nepal Tag, the German-Nepal Friendship Association held a meeting to review the event and discuss future action plans.

The event was facilitated by Alka Khanal and Tamara Bülow.

During the program, yoga and meditation instructor Om Sharma spoke about the importance of yoga and meditation for the development of human consciousness and world peace, and led a practice of aura meditation.

The program, which began with a welcome dance, also featured various Nepali dance performances by artists including Kamala Dahal, Anjana Ghising, Krista Karki Dholi, and Roshani Budhathoki.