UPEI Nepalese Society Celebrates Dashain 2025 with Culture, Community, and Connection

Laughter, music, and tradition filled the room as the UPEI Nepalese Society celebrated Dashain 2025 — a festival that connects students and the wider Island community through culture and togetherness. The evening brought leaders, students, and community members together to reflect on the values of unity and shared celebration.

Charlottetown Mayor Phillip Brown attended the celebration and shared his thoughts on diversity and youth engagement, stating: “PEI is a very diverse, multicultural, inclusive, and equitable community. When I get the opportunity to celebrate with our new Canadians, it’s always a great joy. This afternoon, I was celebrating with the Nigerian community for their 65th Independence Day anniversary. Tonight is Happy Dashain — an opportunity to see the vibrancy of the Nepalese community and others coming together to celebrate. What I enjoy most is the energy of the youth. As mentioned earlier by Mark Ledwell, candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party, this is what we need to focus on: empowering youth, creating new jobs, and building a diversified, inclusive, and equitable community. That’s how we strengthen not just the Nepalese community but also our Filipino, Iranian, Syrian, and Ukrainian communities. Tonight, I’m sitting with the president of the UPEI Student Union — she’s Peruvian. That’s the beauty of a multicultural community: we share different experiences and learn from one another.”

Luciana Quiroa Paredes, President of the UPEI Student Union, spoke about the Union’s support for student-led cultural initiatives. “It’s an honor to be here representing the UPEI Student Union at this event supporting one of our own clubs, the UPEI Nepali Society. It’s also great to see Mayor Phillip Brown again — we’ve met a few times during advocacy meetings. In the Union, we really value supporting all our clubs, especially during big cultural celebrations like this one. I see so many UPEI students here tonight, and it’s inspiring. Events like this are not only cultural celebrations but also great learning opportunities — students gain experience in event planning, logistics, and networking with community leaders and politicians across PEI.”

Sushil Khatri, founder of the UPEI Nepalese Society, shared what it meant to organize this year’s Dashain celebration. “It’s always a very fun experience. Personally, it makes me happy to organize an event like this when we’re all far from home. That was the purpose of founding the UPEI Nepalese Society back in 2022 — to create a second family for those studying far away. Dashain is one of Nepal’s major festivals, and having everyone come together here feels special. Of course, it can be stressful and hectic, but seeing the happy faces of Nepalese students and community members makes it all worthwhile. This year’s celebration also holds deeper meaning, following the recent protests and casualties back home. Dashain symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, and tonight’s gathering is both a remembrance and a celebration of that spirit.”

Mark Ledwell, a candidate for the Progressive Conservative Party, reflected on the strength of the Nepali community and the importance of civic participation. “It’s a beautiful event — full of beautiful people. I’ve been struck by the enthusiasm and the number of young people here. It’s a close-knit, nurturing community that supports one another and contributes greatly to Prince Edward Island. My message would be: support one another, get involved in your community, aspire to leadership positions, and participate in local governance. The more diverse voices we have in leadership, the stronger our province becomes. This will benefit not only PEI but also Nepalese students and their families, helping them feel more connected and engaged in society.”

From students to city leaders, the Dashain 2025 celebration stood as a reminder of PEI’s growing diversity — and the shared joy found in coming together.

Smriti Khatri, the current President of the Society, explained the deeper meaning behind Dashain and its importance to Nepali students abroad. “Dashain is a festival that brings families together to celebrate joy and unity. For students like us who are far from home, the UPEI Nepalese Society aims to bring a piece of Nepal to Canada — keeping the festive spirit alive even miles away from our families.”