NPPA Annual Summer Picnic/Sa Paru – 2023
सा पारु (Sa Paru)
(Gai Jatra in Nepali, Cow Festival in English)
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, September 2, 2023
Time: 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Venue: Wheaton Regional Park
Address: 2000 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 | Shanti Shrestha | Suman Tuladhar |
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. NPPA will 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.
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