Newsletter of Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire
July 2014
WRD Observed in New Hampshire
On Saturday, June 14 folks
from across New Hampshire
observed World Refugee Day
(WRD) in Manchester, New
Hampshire to draw attention to
the plight of refugees, celebrate
their courage and resilience
and renew commitment to
solve refugee problems. New
Hampshire World Refugee
Day (NHWRD) included
multi-cultural performances,
a community resource fair,
kid’s activities, and more.
This event was an opportunity
honor the lives of refugees
in our community and raise
awareness of the millions of
refugees in the world who have
been forced to flee their homes.
Bhutanese folks dancing on cultural song.
In 2000, the United Nations established World
Refugee Day which is observed 20 June each year in
order to honor the courage, strength and determination
of women, men and children who are forced to flee
their homes under threat of persecution, conflict and
violence. More than 50 million people worldwide
currently are refugees, asylum seekers or internally
displaced within their own countries, the U.N.
refugee agency said Friday, in a new report released
to mark World. That figure is more than the entire
population of Spain, South Africa or South Korea,
or more than double the population of Australia. The
51.2 million registered for 2013 is also 6 million more
than the 45.2 million reported in 2012, according to
the UNHCR’s annual trends report-- a big jump in the
wrong direction.
Over the past 30 years New Hampshire has become
home to over 7,500 refugees who have overcome
Bhutanese Community of NH
unimaginable trauma and persecution. These
amazing Granite Stater’s are determined to survive
and contribute to their new home country.
Dear Readers,
If you have suggestions or comments that could
help us improve the quality of our services, we
would be more than happy to hear about it.
Chief Editor: Julia Freeman-Woolpert
Editor: Tilak Niroula
[email protected]
Designed by: Hari Kumar Dahal
Associate Editor: Ashish Bhattarai
510 Chestnut Street, Manchester, New Hampshire
Buddha Jayanti Observed in NH
The 2,558th Buddha Jayanti (Lord
Buddha’s birth anniversary) was
observed in New Hampshire with great
grandeur on Wednesday, 14th May
2014.
Bhutanese Community of New
Hampshire (BCNH), New Hampshire
Nepali Community (NHNC) and
Tammu Samaj of New Hampshire
(TSNH) jointly celebrated the event
at Manchester to pass the message of
peace, harmony and discussing Lord
Buddha’s philosophies.
Buddha Jayanti commemorates the
day on which the Light of Asia was
born, attained enlightenment, and got
"Mahaparinirvana" (died). The day
falls on the full moon day in the Nepali
month of Baishakh.
It is said that the Buddha delivered
religious sermons 84 thousand times
in his life, which are codified in the
scriptures like Tripitak, among others.
BCNH begins Nepali Classes
The Bhutanese Community of New
Hampshire (BCNH) began its Nepali
language classes on May 3rd in Concord
and May 4 in Manchester. Devi Khanal
has been appointed to tutor in Manchester
on every Saturday and Rajesh Koirala in
Concord every Sunday.
Classes are located at 510 Chestnut Street
in Manchester and 90 Airport Road in
Concord. Altogether 35 students in both
cities are attending the classes.
Nepali language classes have been formed
to promote Nepali language, literature,
culture, arts and heritage.
Bhutanese Community of NH
510 Chestnut Street, Manchester, New Hampshire
Planning Ahead For Summer
Co-written by Basanta Hangkhim and Ashish Bhattarai
Reading about the places of
your dreams and actually visiting them
are completely different experiences.
Washington DC, capital of the United
States of America is one of those places
that everyone wants to visit. Seeing the
White House in a picture is not exactly as
fulfilling as getting to see it in reality.
Washington DC is not just a place
where you go to see the incredible things
the capital has to offer. It also gives a deep
understanding of the nation’s history. It
gives kids the understanding of how the
government works. A US curriculum
requires everyone in high school and Bhutanese students in Senator Ayotte’s office in Washington DC.
middle school to learn about the history of Students raised money to make the trip during the Summer of 2013
US. Visiting the nation’s capital acts as a
possible
supplement to what you learn in school.
With the leadership of Lyn Betz, an intern
minister of Unitarian Universalist Church of Concord,
NH and Ghana Shyam Sharma, ELL tutor of Concord
High School and a community volunteer, and the hard
work of all the students and church members involved,
a fundraising event was organized. The event was
named “Ramailo Din,” translated to “Fun day” in
English. The event happened March 16, 2014 and
I have heard someone say, “You never get involved traditional Nepali food and entertainment.
free lunch.” People might start thinking about how
While the Bhutanese high school students
public schools provide that. One thing people need to realize is that the lunch comes from the tax money were working towards making their trip to the nation’s
we pay to the government. But that is not the point. capital possible there were several students from the
To make something happen you need to work hard. church itself who were working towards making a
service trip to Nicaragua possible.
In this case, that something is money.
As for the Bhutanese High School students,
being in the country for less than 5 years, it is
impossible to learn the complicated history of this
newly formed nation in a semester of history. The
Bhutanese high school kids of Concord, NH took
the initiative and endeavored to provide a grand
experience for themselves.
As March rolled on, a handful of Bhutanese
youths worked together to raise money for their trip
to Washington, D.C. for the upcoming summer. The
kids have worked very hard to raise a few dollars
that would help them to go and see the capital of
the United States of America during the summer of
2014.
Bhutanese Community of NH
There was Nepali food served to the people
and several talented Bhutanese kids volunteered to
show their unique dancing talents.
The performances were unbelievably well
created and all the audiences were absolutely into..
Contd. Next Page #4
510 Chestnut Street, Manchester, New Hampshire
4
... for Summer
the dances and songs even though
there was a language barrier.
Everybody loved the food as well as
the dancers.
While it was a fundraising
event, it was not just limited to it. “I
absolutely loved the opportunity to
taste Nepali food, see the beautiful
traditional dress that our Nepali
speaking Bhutanese neighbors wear,
to see all the kids showing their
talents, to join in the fun of dancing
and playing together. It felt like a
moment when the many cultural and
language differences that so often
Everyone in the audience joined the dancers on the stage.
make it hard for us to connect on a deep
(Photo by: Julia Freeman-Woolpert)
level just disappeared into the music
and suddenly we were a room of joyful, connected everyone from the audience jumped off their seat and
human beings sharing a common experience”, said joined the dancers.
Lyn Betz.
The event “Ramailo Din” was deemed a huge success
The fact that it was just not the kids dancing truly as $925 dollars were raised. The money was split into
reflects how the connections were formed. The latter half between the trip to Washington and the trip to
part of the event was almost like a dance off when Nicaragua.
Mother’s Day Marked in Manchester
The Sanatan Kirtan Mandali (SKM) observed Mother’s
Day in a program organized Sunday by the Manchester
New Hampshire Hindu temple.
According to Bishnu Maya Koirala, president of SKM,
the event honored some 25 women from different ethnic
backgrounds, including Americans, with khada as a
token of love. They were mostly in their 70s and 80s.
Talking to BNS, sister Jacquelin, Executive Director Santan Kirtan Mandali honors sister Jacklin, Executive
of Holy Cross Family Learning Center, said she was
Director of Holi Cross Family Work Center in NH.
(Picture: Guru Subedi)
extremely delighted to receive recognition from the
Bhutanese community.
Mother’s Day in Nepali is also known as Mata
Tirtha Aushi. People pay homage to their mothers,
“I am honored to be chosen by the Bhutanese in this presenting her with her favorite food, clothing and
function. I am so happy at this hour,” she expressed.
various gifts on this day.
“We haven’t observed Mother’s Day for a long time. We
took it as a privilege today to organize this event,” said The day is marked as an auspicious occasion to see
another woman, Sumitra Subedi.
Mother’s face, and express respect and love.
Bhutanese Community of NH
510 Chestnut Street, Manchester, New Hampshire
5
Concord TV Honors ‘Hamro Aawaz’ with Premier Production Award
A Concord community television
based in Concord,
New
Hampshire,
has honored
bhutanese
journalist and also
a communication
manager of Bhutanese Community of
New Hampshire Tilak Niroula, on May
16 amidst a
special event.
Niroula received ‘Premiere Production Award 2013-2014’ for taking an initiative to broadcast Hamro Aawaz
(our voice) from the television. “I am proud to be honored by the television. They have recognized our community works,” Niroula informed.
He also said he is indebted towards the Bhutanese community living in New Hampshire and the entire team
of hamro aawaz for their love and affection towards the program, broadcast on weekly basis and promoted by
the Bhutanese Community of New Hampshire.
Niroula has been working in media since 2006 and has been volunteering in Bhutanese Community of New
Hampshire since 2013.
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Bhutanese Community of NH
510 Chestnut Street, Manchester, New Hampshire
6
Summertime, and the Living is Healthy
Summer is here, and it’s a perfect time to get outside, visit with friends and family, and get on the road to better health. Warm temperatures, fresh produce and a slower pace make summer a great time to exercise more,
eat better, and take better care of yourself. Swim at the beach or walk in the park and you’ll barely notice
that you are getting a workout. And eating well is so easy. Cook lean meats on the backyard grill instead of
in the kitchen, and enjoy with a salad or grilled vegetables. Check out these tips to feel great this summer.
Enjoy family time. Take advantage of summer’s slower pace to relax with family for meals together. Eating
as a family can help both your mental wellbeing and your weight! One study found eating dinner together at
a table (instead of in front of the TV or on the go) is associated with lower weights for adults and kids. Other
studies have shown eating together as a family helps kids eat more fruit and vegetables.
Keep it cool. When the kitchen is hot, cool down with a meatless meal a few times a week. Swap in some
protein-rich foods from the plant kingdom. A half cup of beans or lentils has more protein than a 1-ounce
serving of meat. Jackie Newgent, RD, author of The With or Without Meat Cookbook, recommends trying
some edamame, which are young soybeans. “They have all the essential amino acids, which are the building
blocks of protein,” plus fiber, iron, and omega-3 fats. Add beans to leafy greens or pasta salads, or eat them
as a side.
Relax! Guilt over the weekend BBQ splurge won’t do any good. Just make sure to get back to healthy eating
on Monday morning. A recent study shows most people gain weight on the weekend, but it’s what they do
during the week that makes the difference. Those who stuck to healthy eating habits from Monday’s breakfast until Friday’s happy hour ended up losing weight. Most weight loss experts say even the strictest diets
need to leave room for cheating.
These are just a few of the ways to make the most of the season! NH Healthy Families offers ways to stay
health year round to our member and the NH community!
Visit www.NHHealthyFamilies.com to find out what we offer to our members including the award winning,
Start Smart for Baby Program and Health Coaches, who can guide you, one-on-one, to make small changes
that can have a big impact.
Member and non-Members of New Hampshire Healthy Families can access healthy recipes and money-saving coupons by visiting the NH Healthy Families Better-for-You Coupon Savers Program webpage.
The site is updated regularly, so check back often to find new healthy recipes your family will love and coupons for healthy options that save you money. Visit www.NHHealthyFamilies.com and click on “Coupon
Savers” for Better-For-You Coupons!
Enjoy your summer!
2 Executive Park Drive
Bedford NH 03110
Member Services 1-866-769-3085
TDD/TTY (hearing impaired) 1-855-742-0123
NH Healthy Families is underwritten by Granite State Health Plan. Inc.
Your Community Voice is important.
NH Healthy Families is proud to sponsor the printing of this month’s newsletter!
Bhutanese Community of NH
510 Chestnut Street, Manchester, New Hampshire
7
US less melting pot than salad bowl
The United States of America has seen a
large influx of immigrants and refugees over the
period of its history. From pilgrims from England
to Nepali-speaking refugees from Bhutan, all
have come to settle here in a hope for new life.
Everyone arrives ready to take in everything
this world power has to offer. Immigrants and
refugees bring hope for new lives but also
cultural customs and traditions they are more
than happy to share with their new (American)
friends.
Ashish Bhattarai
What makes the United States beautiful,
and what has earned it the title of “melting pot,”
is its accumulation of cultures, language and
traditions. But sooner rather than later America
might lose its nickname because many new
immigrants seem to be holding onto their unique
identities.
The United States with its constitution
protects freedom of expression. American
society has also shown an interest in cultures
of people migrating to this great nation. For
example, the very traditional Holi festival of
India, also called the Festival of Colors, is a
great celebration in many states.
Walking the hallways at Concord High
School, one hears a lot of languages as people
communicate with each other, and sees evidence
of different customs, cultures and traditions.
Even downtown, people hear Nepali spoken on
the street, and probably you would be lying to
say you never wonder what that person is talking
about. Walking through the city one sees people
wearing saaree, daura suruwal (traditional
Nepali clothes for men), traditional African
clothes and various other items that are so new
to the American society.
Contrary to past times when immigrants
came and blended into the already existing
American culture, now immigrants freely share
their culture and traditions while working
towards attaining the traditional American
dream.
This truly shows that the United States is less a
melting pot and more a salad bowl.
To be continued….
(Writer recently graduated with high school
diploma from Concord High School and can be
reached at facebook.com/superbroz)
Editor’s Note:
Dear all readers and well-wishers, while submitting your articles to Community Voice, please ensure
your name, email and contact number clearly. There is no specific timeline; you can send us as
many articles as possible at any time. Preferably, the article should be of all content submitted to
Community Voice shall be the content originally created/developed by you over which you will own
all the legal rights. You will be solely responsible for the breach of the afore-mentioned and shall
resolve any dispute pertaining to the same at your own end at your own cost, without involving and/
or without any liability on us, whatsoever, at all times.
Bhutanese Community of NH
510 Chestnut Street, Manchester, New Hampshire
8
Bhutanese Community of New Hampshires official Key contacts:
General case management assistance:
Manchester
Health Education Assistance: Manchester
•C.M. Niroula: 603-935-9620
603-289-2001
•Narapati Poudyal 603-935-9620
603-494-7607
•Chandra Gurung 603-935-9620
603-294-7038
English Learning Assistnace:
•Tika Subedi: 240-441-6577
•Ghanashyam Sharma: 603-892-4622
•Tulashi Pokhrel: 603-820-7230
•Chuda Acharya: 603-820-0107
Concord
•Bikash Bhattrai 603-856-7507
603-568-6046
Child Care Training/ official Media and
Communication Manager:
•Tilak Niroula: 603-858-3276
ACA health insurance assistance:
•Rohit Subedi
603-854-1788
•Suraj Budathoki 603-262-0500
Workforce/Employment assistance:
•Rajesh Chauwan: 603-856-7507
603-397-2757
Children Nepali Learning Assistance:
•Rajesh Koirala: 603-591-0274
•Devi Khanal :
603-233-5940
Arts and Craft Learning Assistnce:
•Manbir Ghalley: 603-262-0092
•Diwash Chhetri
More information:
Tika Acharya, Phone: 603-935-9620
MESSAGE FROM BOARD
Dear Readers and community Members please accept the warm greetings from the BCNH Board of
Directors.
Following so many achievements and struggle while performing the community works and services
the Board has gained more strengths and insights over the years. Each year we are standing strong and
a massive involvement and support from you all can lead our Organization achieve successes, further.
Taking this opportunity, I would like to encourage all our women group, youths and future leaders to
come forward and help shape this organization to make it a common platform for all to share happiness,
sorrows and encouragements.
We are very aware that we can do much better than what we are doing now, so a support and feedbacks
from all of you will help every one prosper and make a more strong community organization.
Especial thanks to all who are volunteering and making things happen. This news letter publication is
one of the examples of the outstanding dedication and volunteerism.
Guru Subedi
BOD-BCNH
Bhutanese Community of NH
510 Chestnut Street, Manchester, New Hampshire