Celebrating the 211th Bhanu Jayanti
This year, the 211th Bhanu Jayanti became a special day for me. Several events were organized in Australia to commemorate and honor Bhanubhakta Acharya (1814–1868), the Nepali writer renowned for translating the epic Ramayana from Sanskrit to Nepali. Bhanubhakta Acharya, often referred to as "Aadikabi," meaning "the first poet," holds a pivotal position in Nepali literature.
I was privileged to attend two events dedicated to Nepali literature and Bhanu Jayanti.
The first event was jointly organized by the International Nepali Literary Society, New South Wales Chapter, in collaboration with the Nepali Art, Culture, and Literature Foundation, and Tanahu Society Australia on Saturday, 15 June 2024, at Rato Ghar, Granville. The first part of the event focused on poem and ghazal recitation, while the second session included art and culture, with activities such as dance, singing, award distribution, and various other activities. Thanks to Prakash Poudel and Bhabana Parajuli ji for your cordial invitation and congratulations to all organizing members for making this event successful.
The second event I attended was organized by the Association of Bhutanese in Australia (ABA) Sydney on Saturday, 13 July 2024. At the event, Puspa Acharya ji, Nagendra Sharma ji, and I recited Ghazals. We have been practicing Ghazal writing in a small group with a few other members for the past couple of months, and this was the first time both Puspa ji and I recited Ghazals at such a wonderful program, where more than 15 poets and personalities recited their poems and discussed the importance of preserving and promoting the Nepali language.
I would like to thank President Devendra Gautam and the entire organizing committee of ABA Sydney for bringing discussions on Bhanubhakta's contributions to the Nepali language and literature, and for the recitation of Bhanubhakta's Ramayana. On this occasion, Ramesh Gautam was honored for his extraordinary contributions toward the Nepali language and the Bhutanese community in Norway.
I was aware of a third event, which was held in Queensland by the International Nepali Literature Society Queensland Chapter and the Nepalese Association of Queensland (NAQ) on 20 July 2024 in Brisbane. All these events were evidence of the growing scope and magnitude of Nepali languages, arts, literature, and culture in Australia.
Ghazal Catch-up - Sunday, 16 June 2024
We once again gathered in a small group at Choice Academic College, Parramatta, before the poet Gyanu Walker Poudyal left for Nepal. He wished to meet us and learn about our progress in our Ghazal writings. During the catch-up, we discussed our learning journey and recited our Ghazals written during the learning process. It was impressive to see our improvement after almost three months since our first Ghazal Writing Workshop in April 2024 at Max Webber Library. I would like to thank Gyanu sir for his mentorship and time, which really encouraged some of the passionate writers in Western Sydney.
WestWords Online Seminar - Sunday, 7 July 2024
I attended the 'WestWords Online Seminar - How to Run a Writing Workshop'. The workshop aimed to equip authors with the tools to host their own workshops. Thanks to Ally Burnham for running the workshop and sharing her experience, which helped us hone our skills and pitch workshops.
I look forward to running some creative workshops as discussed and learned during the seminar in the near future. I also advise providing an opportunity for aspiring authors to shadow some of the workshops organized by WestWords to build confidence and gain experience.
A Project 2024 - Wednesday, 10 July 2024
I would like to thank and acknowledge Mahesh Poudyal for accepting my invitation to facilitate an online session on the use of symbols in short story writing workshops. It was inspiring to see some participants have started to apply learning from the session in their writing. I am excited to see the final product of the project next year.
Meeting with Nawa Raj Khatiwada - Friday, 12 July 2024
On the cold afternoon, I met Nawa Raj Khatiwada, Rita Khatiwada, and Sanu Ghimire. We all gathered to attend WestWords' Open Mic Program at Parramatta. We shared brief introductions while waiting for warm Momo in the recently opened Nepali 8848 Restaurant. It was a pleasure to learn that Nawa Raj ji is a writer and thinker, having published several academic and thought-provoking articles in journals and online. His travelogue ‘Jholako Bar’ was published in 2019. My best wishes to him.
WestWords Academy Open Mic Program - Friday, 12 July 2024
Personally, this was a proud moment for me as I saw Sanu Ji, one of our Nepali writers, capture the attention of the English-speaking audience with her captivating short story "The Shades of Lipstick" recitation at the Open Mic Program.
There is a saying, "You wish, I will fulfill it." It seems our Australia-based Nepali writers' shared vision and effort have started to work. Thanks to everyone who is inspiring each other, working hard, and exploring outside their comfort zones to promote Nepali writers and literature in the Australian context.
J. Marahuyo successfully brought the program to life with her skillful emceeing. She was also a 2022 WestWords Academic and the recipient of the Living Stories Award 2024.
The 211th Bhanu Jayanti became a memorable celebration for me, marked by a series of special events in Australia to honor the Nepali first poet. I attended several events where various poets, including myself, recited our works, which showcased the growing influence of Nepali culture in Australia. Additionally, I participated in a Ghazal writing catch-up, an online seminar on running writing workshops, and a session on using symbols in short story writing.
While reflecting on my continued engagement with diverse literary groups and communities, I have found the following positive and motivating outcomes:
Strengthened connections with my fellow Nepali writers and artists, fostering a sense of community.
Increased my participation in cultural/literary events, which helped promote Nepali language and literature in Australia.
Improved my Ghazal writing skills through practice and feedback from peers.
Fostered a supportive environment for aspiring poets, encouraging collaboration and learning.
Gained valuable insights into running writing workshops, equipping me with tools to host my own.
Inspired me to consider organizing creative writing workshops in the future to share knowledge and skills with others.
Learned effective techniques for incorporating symbols into my short stories, enhancing the depth and meaning of my writing.
Observed participants applying these techniques, which validated the effectiveness of the workshop.
Experienced the joy of seeing a fellow Nepali writer captivate an English-speaking audience, which was a proud moment for our community.
Recognized the importance of supporting and promoting Nepali writers in diverse literary settings.
Overall, I believe my involvement in these activities has not only enriched my personal and professional growth as a writer but also contributed to the promotion and preservation of Nepali literature and culture in Australia.
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