The Nepalese Dashain festival begins in Sydney to celebrate the culture of the immigrant community

This time of year has been the hardest for Nabin Gautam since he left his family in Nepal in 2019 to study in Australia.

Far from home for the 15-day Dashain festival – the most important festival of the year in Nepal – Gautam felt lonely and isolated.

“This festival holds quite a big place in our heart because it is the time when we come together, forgetting all the sorrows that plague us throughout the year,” he said.

There is no substitute for Zoom calls with family.

“I remember having tears in my eyes as my parents, brothers and sisters talked because they put on tika (a symbolic red dot on the forehead), which is a tradition celebrated on the 10th day of Dashain,” Gautam said. .

“This is the reality for many students. We have commitments here and we can’t just gather up and go home and celebrate.”

But this year, a Western Sydney University student’s spirits lifted when he helped organize a new Dashain festival in Campsie in Sydney’s southwest.

More than 100 people gathered to make kites, dance and taste traditional sweets at an event hosted by Canterbury Bankstown Council on Thursday to kick off two weeks of celebrations.

Now in his sixth year in Australia, Gautam has gotten used to the feeling of being away from Dashain, but he said it’s even more important for newer students to get a taste of home this month.

“I think it will be a very emotional moment for everyone,” he said.

“I think this kind of event will provide emotional support to visitors and make them feel that the Nepalese community is growing and even local authorities organize these kinds of events.”

The fastest growing immigrant community

Tickets for the Campsie event quickly sold out, reflecting the demand from the Nepali community in Australia.

According to the latest census, the number of Nepali-born people in Australia increased by 124 per cent between 2016 and 2021, making it the fastest-growing migrant community.

In the Canterbury Bankstown local government area alone, there were almost 5,000 Nepalese-born residents, up from less than 200 in 2011.

Non-Resident Nepalese Association of Australia president Anil Pokhrel expected more councils and community groups to follow suit and hold local celebrations to show appreciation for the growing community.

However, federal government restrictions on international students and other attempts to curb migration are expected to slow down the development of the Nepalese community.

Pokhrel, who came to Australia as an international student and is now 35, said while he understands the need to manage the international education sector, the contribution of international students should not be underestimated.

“Look at a generation like us who came here as international students, worked hard, paid tuition, and now work or start businesses and have children,” he said.

He called on the government to focus on regulating dodgy higher education institutions rather than blocking hard-working international students who want to study in Australia.

What is Dashain festival?

Simran Ghimire, secretary of the Nepalese Students at the Western Sydney Club, said Dashain was such a big celebration in Nepal that even “the wind smelled of Dashain.”

The festival in honor of the goddess Durga is celebrated throughout South Asia, but is especially important for Nepali Hindus.

Ms Ghimire said the highlights of the two weeks were visiting relatives, spending time together playing cards, having lavish feasts and buying new clothes.

The tenth day is especially significant when families visit elders to ask for blessings and tika – a dab of red paste on the forehead.

Kites also have a special significance in Nepal, so Canterbury Bankstown Libraries are organizing workshops during the school holidays, which coincide with Dashain this year.

Karen Luong leads the sessions and has found that the children have embraced the idea.

“It is incredibly rewarding to see them learn about a culture that is so important in our community while doing something creative,” she said.