Washington D.C.- The International Nepali Literary Society Headquarters organized the 196th Bhanu Jayantee on 19th July.

 

 

 

The enthusiasm of the participants was a clear indication of the growing love for the mother-tongue, Nepali. The credit must go to the INLS for its continuing efforts at encouraging the development and spread of the national official language of Nepali across all the world’s continents wherein Nepalese people reside.

The credit for the grand success of  the Bhanu Jayantee celebration goes to the organizers, especially  Kamala Prasai, the INLS HQ’s Treasurer and the Coordinator of the 196th Bhanu Jayantee, who worked very hard, and to the prominent writer Hom Nath Subedi, referred as the Bhanu Bhakta in Diaspora, who encouraged her and also chaired the celebration.

 

Bhanu Jayantee is the celebration of Bhanu Bhakta Acharya, the first poet in our Nepali language. He made the language so popular after he translated the very famous Hindu epic ‘Ramayana’ from Sanskrit to Nepali. Since then, the tradition of teaching and writing Sanskrit was changed and the pride of the Nepali language began to rise. Today it is the lingua franca of Nepal. It is considered to be the most scientific and most sweet language of the world.

A significant part of the celebration was the Jayanta Devi Prasai Poetry Competition for adults sponsored by Ms. Kamala Prasai. Chetan Sitaula sponsored the renowned Astrologer Trilochan Sitaula children’s poetry competition. The judges of the competitions were HB Bhandari, Ganga Ligal, Narayan Adhikari, Ram Prasad Khanal, Sharad Nirola and Tirtha Pandey.

The children’s poetry competition winners were Bhandari (First), Ashish Sitaula (Second), Anmol Sitaula (Third), Priya Subedi (Consolation). Each child received a prize and a certificate.  Kabita, Sapana and Vikalpa Satyal also recited beautiful poems. The competition was concluded with the poets reading their touchingly beautiful poems. The winners of the competition were Kamala Kharel (First), Manish Bastakoti (Second), Shristi Humagain (Third) and Kishore Dhungana (Consolation). 

Among adult competitor and non-competitor poets were Madhav Prasad Regmi, Maiya Dhakal, Raj Kumar Khadka, Journalist Ritu Ashik, Bhagwati Neupane, Ganga Ligal, Sharad Nirola, Puru Subedi, Narayan Adhikari, Chetan Sitaula, the national award winner Madan Kumar, Ram Sharan Humagain, Kamal Bhusal and  Durga Sitaula.

During the Bhanu Jayantee many prominent Nepalese figures were honored for special contributions made in their respective fields. Among them, Gita Khatri was honored as the Best President among the INLS chapters. Khatri successfully led the INLS New York chapters for more than four years. Ramhari Subedi of DC Nepal.com was also honored for his contributions in the field of web media. DC Nepal.com had a live cast of Bhanu Jayantee celebrations and could be viewed by the Nepalese living around the globe. Govinda Giri Prerana, Ganga Ligal, Dr. Shyam Karki, Bhim Regmi, HB Bhandari Prabhat, Nagendra Neupane, and Ram Prasad Khanal were honored for their roles in the promotion of the language, arts, culture and literature of Nepal. Nanda Devi Subedi was recognized for her encouragement and continued support of the cause of the Nepali language and literature. Each was honored for their outstanding contributions for the year 2008.

The Bhanu Jayantee continued throughout the day, moderated by Bhim Regmi. The celebration inaugurated by Acting Nepalese Envoy, Kali Prasad Pokhrel was followed by the beautiful song, ‘Maiti Ghar’ sung in the melodious voice of Pabita Pariyar. Many prominent Nepalis who currently reside in different parts of the United States attended. Bharati Gautam, INLS HQ Vice President, Sharad Nirola, Chetan Sitaula, Puru Subedi, Ram Khatri, Kabindra Sitaula, Madan Kumar, Manju Nirola, and the diplomats from the Nepal Embassy were enthusiastic about the event.  John, the chief of the venue management, welcomed the appreciation expressed to him by the INLS and invited both the children and nature loving adults to visit the grounds adjacent to the venue whenever they wish. During the celebration Dr. Shyam Karki, who has been playing the role of INLS Ambassador, announced the winners of the Biennial INLS Book Awards. Hom Nath Subedi’s two books and the INLS book, ‘Insight’ have also been released.

The Bhanu Jayantee included the Bhanubhakta Memorial Volleyball Competition. Khem Bhattachan, the sports coordinator, the winners, the runner-up and the best volleyball player received certificates.

The Bhanu Jayantee, held to celebrate the 196th anniversary of the birth of the first Nepali Poet Bhanu Bhakta Acharya and aiming to highlight the importance of our Nepali language and literature, delivered a profound message to those who are attempting to undermine our mother language in the land of its origins. This was the message imparted by the event’s prominent speakers, Hom Nath Subedi, Dr. Shyam Karki, Gita Khatri, Govinda Giri Prerana, the Chief Guest, Acting Envoy Pokhrel and by Kamala Prasai, who made the 196th Bhanu Jayantee remarkable and memorable. 

-Sanatan Dharma, INLS