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VNY 1998 reception at the British Museum
The Royal Nepalese Ambassador His Excellency Dr Singha B Basnyat and HRH Princess Jotshana Basnyat hosted a reception in collaboration with the Trustees and Directors of the British Museum in the Joseph E. Hotung Gallery of Oriental Antiquities on the occasion of the celebration of Visit Nepal Year 1998 on 6 May ’98. The gracious presence of HRH Princess Helen Shah symbolizes the importance of the occasion, who made a long journey from Kathmandu specially to grace the reception. Their Royal Highnesses Prince Nirajan, Princess Praerana, Princess Jayanti and His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester also graced the celebration of the reception. The reception was also attended and addressed by Hon. Minister for the Arts Mark Fisher - MP and the Chairman of the Trustees of British Museum Mr Graham Green. They have highlighted on the historical cordial relations between two Monarch countries and its people through arts, culture, tourism etc. Mr Green even recalled that he had visited Nepal in 1961 and is still happy that Nepal has successfully preserved the ancient arts, culture and tradition and learned to go ahead with modern civilization.
The reception was the first of its kind ever to be held in the British Museum for the cause of promotion of Nepalese culture, arts and tourism. The world famous ‘Sur Sudha’, cultural group from Nepal, was one of the attraction of the reception. The reception was attended by huge number of British and Nepalese distinguished invitees.
His Excellence the Royal Nepalese Ambassador, Dr. Singha Bahadur Basnyat in his speech read out the following message from Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
(PM’s Message)
I have been very much delighted to learn that to mark
the celebration of Visit Nepal Year 1998 the British
Museum of London in collaboration with His Majesty’s
Government, Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Royal
Nepalese Embassy London and Britain Nepal Chamber of
Commerce has organised an exhibition on Nepal,
exclusively devoted to highlight the traditional art and
life of the Kathmandu valley including the Buddhist and
Hindu sculptures and painted manuscripts are the
manifestations of Nepalese culture life and spiritual
beliefs.
For the first time, in the tourism history of Nepal we have, in partnership with private sector begun refurbishing our tourism products by way of making them value based and qualitative. People, private sector and the government have joined hands together to enhance Nepal’s image as an unique tourist destination.
I would particularly like to avail of this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks to all the departments of British Museum for their excellent effort to make this exhibition a landmark. My thanks are also due to the Colt Group Limited, Veedon Fleece Limited, The O’Hea Charitable Trust and Bright Sun Travel for their additional support to make this event a memorable one in the context of Visit Nepal Year 1998.
It is my firm belief that this
exhibition organised in the premises of the British
Museum in London, UK would go a long way to establish
Nepalese Tourism in international tourism arena.
(End of PM's message)
In his speech, His Excellency the Royal Nepalese Ambassador, Dr. Singha Bahadur Basnyat welcomed the gracious presence of HRH Helen Shah and other members of Royal Families of Nepal and HRH the Duke of Gloucester He also expressed grateful thanks.
First of all, to Hon. Minister Mark Fisher for his kind gesture in attending the reception, whose presence symbolized the happy state of Nepal - Britain relations that have continued for over a century and three quarter.
H.E Dr. Basnyat said "Nepal and Britain have worked closely as allies for the cause of peace, democracy, and freedom. Nepal is ever grateful to Britain and , in turn, Her Britannic Majesty’s Government and the British people have been very generous in expressing their warmth and goodwill towards Nepal. Modern Britain’s contribution and her continuing efforts for peace and justice in the world is well appreciated in Nepal."
He also expressed to thanks to Sir John Stanley, Chairman of the Britain - Nepal Parliamentary Group, Sir John Knott, Col. Jimmy Evans, Royal Nepal Airlines, the Flemings, the prestigious institution in UK, Lord Robin Renwick, the former British Ambassador to the United States, Mr. John Manser, Chairman Mr. Graham Greene, all the trustees, Mr. Robert Knux, Dr. Michael Willis, Mr. Andrew Hamilton and Ms. Marjorie Caygill of British Musuem for the excellent co-operation, Mr. Prem Rana, Mr. Surendra Shrestha and Mr. Bijaya Vaidy of Sur Sudha along with all the Nepalese organisations and the entire Nepalese Community in the United Kingdom, for their kind co-operation.
In the end of the well attended reception world famous Nepalese cultural group Sur Sudha presented live musical concert playing sitar, flute and tabla with ancient devotional music of Nepal.
2nd Nepal Himalayan
Festival
A great Success
The two-day second Nepal Himalayan Festival held recently in the city of Manchester, UK, with the aim of raising awareness of the cultural heritage of Nepal ended with warm responses by both the regional press and the public. The festival, organised by a Himalayan Yeti, and funded by the Manchester City Council, was launched on the evening of 29th May by the Royal Nepalese Ambassador, Dr Singha Bahadur Basnyat, and the Lord Mayor of Manchester City, Councillor Gordon Conquest. In his inaugural speech Dr Basnyat said that events like Nepal Himalayan Festival encourages closer cultural ties between nations & nationalities.
As the festival opened for visitors the following day, hundreds of people, including many Nepalese who had gathered to help and participate in the festival, were fascinated to see a 16-foot long Nepalese flag flying on top of the Manchester Town Hall. Inside the hall a variety of functions were held throughout 30th and 31st of May which included handicraft exhibitions, mini-fashion shows, travel displays, film shows, cookery demonstrations and folk songs and dance performances. The cultural programme of the local members of the Nepalese community received an added flavour by the performance of the visiting Nepalese artistes led by Kumar Basnet. Similarly a cookery demonstration of the winner of the Egon Ronay’s Oriental Chef of The Year Award (Britain), Mr Ganesh Shrestha, became another favourite attraction for the visitors. Other attractions at the festival included lectures by celebrity guests like Sir Edmund Hillary and Mr George Lowe. The famous mountaineers talked about their climbs and their continuing work for the Himalayan Trust, for which the festival is said to have raised about £1,500.
The President of the Himalayan Yeti, Mr Puspa Shrestha, expressed happiness over what he described as the success of the festival and said that the third Himalayan Festival would be held possibly in two or three years’ time. The first such event was held in 1996. Mr Shrestha also said that the Manchester City Council had decided to include the Himalayan Festival as a major event in its calendar.
In a message to the festival, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala said he was delighted that the event was organised on the occasion of Visit Nepal Year 1998. He also expressed confidence that the festival would go a long way in popularising Nepal and her attractions among the British public.
Kumar Basnet in UK
A team of Nepalese artistes, led by popular folk singer Kumar Basnet, performed in various parts of the UK recently. Kumar Basnet Folk Evening was held from May 24 to May 30 in Aldershot, London, Greenwich, Reading, Sandhurst, and Manchester where the show was arranged as part of the 2nd Himalayan Festival. The programme was organised by a social welfare group based in Kathmandu, Aawhan Samuha Chabahil, to coincide with Visit Nepal Year 1998 and was brought to the UK to popularise a Visit Nepal Year slogan, "bring your friends home" and give the Nepalese residing here an opportunity to see the "King of Nepali folk song" perform live on stage.
Apart from Mr Basnet, other members of the cultural team included: Meera Rana, Jayanandan Lama, Bhupendra Rayamajhi, Niranjan Maharjan, Deepak Thapa, Reema Gurung, Saranga Shrestha, Dinesh Sunam, Harisharan Lamichhane, Pramod Dhungana, Pratap Thapa and Arun Singh Basnet.
The Nepalese Embassy in London hosted a dinner in honour of the cultural team on May 28, in which the Royal Nepalese Ambassador, Dr Singh Bahadur Basnyat, spoke of his desire to promote relations between Nepal and Britain through, among other things, cultural diplomacy.
The team’s UK visit was supported by the Yeti Nepalese Association, London, and specially by the Cultural Secretary of the Association, Mr Madan Thapa and Executive Member Mr Madhav Shrestha.
Activities of BNCC :
- Participation in the 8th Himalayan
Expo at Kathmandu, Nepal from 7th - 11th May 1998
- Committee meetings to be held on 3rd June 1998 and 25th
September 1998
- The annual lunch on 30th October 1998
- Active participation in exhibition "Nepal - A
world of it’s own", in British Museum from 2nd
March -31st May
Activity of
Lumbini Nepalese Buddha Dharma Society :
- Celebrated 1st Buddha Jayanti on 9th May 1998 at Karunamaya Buddha Vihara, Southall. A mixed audience of international devotees attended the ceremony. The ceremony started with a traditional devotional song in Nepali and ended with another in Nepal Bhasa.
Three speakers Ven Dr. Vajiragnana, Maha Nayaka Thera, Sangha Nayaka of Great Britain, Ven Lodro Thaye and Dr. David Gellner spoke on Buddhist traditions of Vajrayana, Mahayana and Theravada. A inaugural issue of the society’s journal ‘Lumbini’ was also distributed.
NDA Activity :
A small reception followed by dinner was organised in honour of visiting Nepalese Health Minister Mr K.B. Gurung and high level officials from Nepal. The meeting was very amicable with exchange of ideas as regards to improvement of health services in Nepal. The Minister was of the opinion that the expertise of Nepalese Doctors residing in Britain could be utilised in number of ways in Nepal. On the occasion the Counsellor of Royal Nepalese Embassy, Mr Prahlad Prasai was also present.
Activities of NSS, UK :
- The 2nd Charity dinner is to be organised on 2nd August 1998 at Farnborough, Hampshire.
- The Society has advised the Headmaster of Shri Matribhumi Secondary School for more information in support of his request for financial help to add two more classrooms in the school.
Activities of Nepal Kingdom Foundation :
- The 2542 Buddha Jayanti was celebrated on 10th May 1998 in Reading in joint collaboration with the Nepalese Association Yeti. Lama Rimpoche and other Lama’s recited Buddhist Devotional Bhajans during the celebration.
The celebration was addressed by the Counsellor of Royal Nepalese Embassy, Mr Prahlad Prasai and Presidents of NKF and Yeti.
- The Kumar Basnet Folk Evening was organised at Rivermead Leisure Center, Reading on 27th May 1998 amidst a big crowd. His Worshipful, the Mayor of Reading, Cllr. David Geary presented the credential to the King of Nepali folk song, Kumar Basnet and his artist troupe on behalf of Mayor of Reading and NKF.
ST Lunch
The Sagarmatha Times (ST) hosted a lunch in honour of outgoing and newly appointed Royal Nepal Airlines officials on 22nd May 1998 at Monty’s Nepalese Restaurant, The Mall.
The lunch was attended by outgoing officials, Mr R.D. Panday and Mr B.K. Shrestha, newly appointed officials, Mr S. Napit, Mr S. Rimal and Mr R. Dhungana along with officials of ST. The lunch was hosted by the proprietor of Monty’s and ST advisor Mr Mahanta Shrestha.
BBC Nepali Service on MW
The BBC Nepali Service has launched a new live - night news and current affairs program for the listeners in Nepal. The programme is broadcast daily for 15 minutes on MW from Kathmandu. BBC Managing Editor for South Asia, Sam Miller and BBC Nepali Service Chief, Khagendra Nepali expressed their happiness for the sincere help of Radio Nepal to make them able to provide a news service to the Nepalese listeners.
The Nepali service at 1500 GMT on SW can also be listened on 11710 kHz in Britain provided that the radio is powerful.
