Dashain Night Brings Nepalese Traditions and Community Together
On October 17th, the UPEI Nepalese Society brought students, faculty members and off campus friends and families for a special Dashain Night, celebration of one of Nepal’s most cherished festivals through culture, tradition and community. More than just an evening of celebration, this event offered an opportunity to share Nepalese heritage, connect with fellow students of diverse cultural backgrounds, and bring a little piece of home to campus. Smriti, who is the present of the UPEI Nepalese Society, has been wonderful sharing with us a little about how this wonderful event came to be.
1. What inspired you to get involved in organizing the Dashain event for the UPEI Nepalese Society?
“For me, the excitement of Dashain has always been tied to the people I would get to see. My parents lived abroad when I was growing up, and I remember looking forward to them coming home for Dashain. It meant our family could be together again. I looked forward to most simply having them around, sharing meals and spending time together after being apart. Those memories are a big part of why Dashain is so close to my heart. “Now that I’m living away from home myself, I understand that longing to be together in a different way. I miss my family, especially during celebrations, and I know many other students do too.”
As president of the UPEI Nepalese Society, Smriti hoped to give her peers something to look forward to here, a place where everyone could celebrate together and feel some of the warmth we associate with home.
2. What was your favourite part of planning the event, and what are some moments that stood out to you during the celebration?
“My favourite part of planning was seeing something we had talked about and imagined gradually become a real celebration. There are so many individual details to think about, and sometimes you get caught up in making sure everything is ready. But behind those details was the thought of everyone finally being there together, and that was what I looked forward to.”
Smriti also describes the moment that stood out to her the most and that was being able to pause during the event and look around. There were students, families, and community members from different backgrounds all sharing the evening. Some had their own memories of Dashain, while others were getting to know the celebration for the first time. It was amazing to see them all there.
“I had spent so much time thinking about what needed to be done that it felt special to finally take it in. Our team’s work had brought people together, and I got to enjoy that with them. That feeling is what I’ll remember most.”
3. What does Dashain mean to you personally, and how did you hope the event would help students connect with Nepali culture and traditions?
“Dashain means family and belonging to me. I think of Dashain as receiving tika and jamara, blessings from elders, and the time we make for one another. Those traditions carry memories of people I love, which is why they feel especially meaningful now that I’m far away. They remind me of where I come from and of the relationships that continue to be part of my life, even across the oceans.”
Smriti hopes that the event gave Nepali students a chance to reconnect with that part of themselves. She highlighted an important note regarding how our lives here can become so busy with classes, work, and responsibilities that we don’t always have space to celebrate our traditions together. “I wanted us to have that space to enjoy being ourselves and share something familiar with people who understood what it meant.”
4. What were some of the challenges you faced while organizing the event, and how did you and the team work together to overcome them?
Smriti described that one of the challenges was balancing the planning with studies and other commitments.
“There were many details that needed attention, including registration, food arrangements, and performances. As president, I felt responsible for keeping everything moving, and because the event meant so much to me, I really wanted people to have a good experience. “Our team made that responsibility easier tomanage. We divided the work, kept each other updated, and talked through things that needed decisions. I appreciated having people I could turn to and knowing that we were working toward the same goal. Our collaboration with the PEI Nepalese Association was also important in bringing the student community and wider Nepalese community together. “The experience made me allowed how much people give behind the scenes. Everyone had responsibilities outside the event, but they still made time to contribute. I feel grateful for that, because the evening was the result of many people caring enough to put in the effort.”
5. Why do you think events like this are important for building community and helping international students feel connected to their culture while studying at UPEI?
“When you move abroad, you expect to miss your family, but you also begin to miss things that used to feel ordinary, your language around you, familiar celebrations, and being with people who understand the significance of a particular day. Those feelings can become stronger during festivals, when you know everyone back home is coming together.”
Smriti discusses how an event like Dashain gives everyone away from home the opportunity to bring those feelings forward and share them with others. “You might arrive missing home and leave having met someone you can speak to, celebrate with, or see again.” Smriti believes that those connections are an important part of feeling settled here at UPEI. “I also loved that this celebration brought us together with people beyond UPEI. The presence of families and diverse community members made it feel like we belonged to a wider community in PEI. I hope we continue creating spaces where people can stay close to their own culture while building relationships with others. I want students to know they have people here, and I want anyone joining us for the first time to feel welcome to return.”
We are so lucky to have such dedicated student leaders in our community who are passionate about bringing people together through such beautiful cultural celebrations and events. This year’s celebration of Dashain was definitely one for the books, creating lasting memories and a meaningful opportunity to celebrate culture, tradition and community. A heartfelt thank you to Smriti for taking the time to share her insights and to the UPEI Nepalese Society for all the time, effort and care that went into making this event so special.
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