Dear Community Members, Jwajalapa – Namaskar,
Nepa Pasa Pucha Amerikaye (NPPA) cordially invites you and your family to join us in the annual summer picnic to get-together, have fun, enjoy varieties of Nepalese food, drinks, sizzling chicken barbeque, and much more. NPPA is pleased to announce that from this year NPPA will organize/celebrate Sa Paru (सा पारु – Gai Jatra in Nepali, Cow Festival in English) festival every year in the United States in Gunlathwa (गुंलाथ्व) Bhadra (August/September) month. One of NPPA’s objectives is to preserve and promote Newah culture in the United States. Participation in this festival is free.
The annual Summer Picnic organized by NPPA coincides with Sa Paru this year. Please mark this event in your calendar, following is the date and venue Information:
Date: Saturday, August 20, 2016
Time: 12:00 PM till 6:00 PM
Venue: Wheaton Regional Park, SHELTER – A
Address: Shorefield Ct, Silver Spring, MD 20902
[Turn left on the round-about of the park]
NPPA requests all those community members who lost their loved ones and would like to participate in Sa Paru festival, to please contact the Sa Paru Committee, which consists of the following members:
Manohar Shrestha
manohar.shrestha@nppa-usa.org
703-599-0469
Shanti Shrestha
shanti.shrestha@nppa-usa.org
301-385-2761
Bijaya Shrestha
minubj@hotmail.com
443-540-2308
Sa Paru literally means cow festival and it is one of the unique festivals celebrated mostly by Newars (but not limited to) of Kathmandu valley in Nepal. It is observed on the first lunar day (प्रतिपदा) of Gunlathwa (गुंलाथ्व) Bhadra (August/September) month. This festival commenced in the medieval era as tantric (तान्त्रीक) ritual to pay homage to Yamaraj (यमराज), the lord of death in Hinduism. However, in the current era, Sa Paru is observed in memory of and to celebrate the life of the departed family member.
Rallying a cow in the Sa Paru procession is considered holy. However, most of the families choose to dress male toddler as lord Krishna or sadhu/santa (saint), or dress young boys in traditional outfit with a headgear which depicts the head of a cow. NPPAwill lend the headgear and jama (जामा) for free of cost.
NPPA welcomes everybody, regardless of cast, creed, belief, and nationality to observe and/or participate in Sa Paru festival.NPPA will also welcome any kind of sponsorship and donation to support this event.
The park has mary-go-around, train rides, playgrounds, slides, etc. We will also have several games and live music for entertainment. Everyone is welcome to bring their favorite dish (optional) to share with friends and family!
Thank you for your continued support and cooperation. For more information please contact:
Saroj Prajapati:………….. 240-246-5821
Raju Joshee:…………….. 410-697-5663
Buddha Maharjan:………. 240-838-0245
Manohar Shrestha:……… 703-559-0469
Shanti Shrestha:………… 301-385-2761
Magan Shrestha:………… 301-675-9377
Sarita Dongol:……………. 240-361-8536
Prabin Tamrakar:………… 301-346-1525
Sunita Amatya:………….. 847-687-1679
Anugh Shrestha:………… 703-887-3426
NPPA Summer Picnic admission and Sa Paru participation is free.
Let’s strive together to preserve our culture.
Subhay, Dhanyabad,
NPPA Executive Committee
नेपा: पासा पुच: अमेरिकाय्
Nepa Pasa Pucha Amerikaye (NPPA), established in 1991, is a Newah organization based in the metropolitan Washington, DC. The Nepa Pasa Pucha Corporation is a registered legal name of NPPA which is a nonprofit tax-exempt organization under the IRC Section 501(c)(3). Its primary mission is the preservation and promotion of Newah cultural heritage, traditions, and customs in the USA.