Nepali American Friendship Association
Traditions come alive at NAFA's festive scholarship fund-raiser
Traditions come alive at NAFA's festive scholarship fund-raiser
The people behind the Nepali American Friendship Association of Madison, Wis.--Board and
Officers led by NAFA President Shreedhar Ranabhat (middle photo, right)
Officers led by NAFA President Shreedhar Ranabhat (middle photo, right)
By Laura Salinger
Nepal is country rich in culture and diversity, steeped in ancient and diverse religious
traditions, and a country that is still very near and dear to the hearts of those who have left it.
Close to 50 some people gathered at the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center on Madison’s east side
recently to celebrate Nepal, feast on Nepal’s culinary treasures, and connect with friends and
the community.
The Nepali American Friendship Association (NAFA) based in Madison, Wis. once again
hosted their annual fundraising dinner to support area scholars. Established in 2005, NAFA
provides a number of social and educational events and opportunities to Nepali community
members and those interested in the culture. They are dedicated to preserving the rich
cultural heritage, language, and identity of Nepal and its people.
The Wil-Mar Center crowd feasted on Himalayan cuisine (featuring rice, beans, lentils
chicken, and goat meat flavored with an array of rich spices) as part of a fundraising dinner to
raise money for NAFA’s scholarship program, their annual Academic Excellence and
Leadership Scholarship Award. Each year, NAFA awards scholarships of $500 to students
demonstrating academic excellence and leadership in the community. Students must be NAFA
members to be eligible.
The crowd mingled with friends, took in a traditional Nepali dance performance, and
viewed a slide show presentation of NAFA’s year-in-review. It was, all in all, a festive
evening of good food and good friends.
The annual fundraising dinner is one of many events that NAFA holds which bring the
community together to celebrate Nepali culture. NAFA President Shreedhar Ranabhat said that
the Nepali community in Madison has been growing slowly but surely through out the years.
He says that what was once a group of about 10 families has turned into around 40 to 50
families who are active in the Nepali community in Madison.
“The community has definitely grown,” Ranabhat says. “We felt the need for some sort of
organization as the community was growing, so we founded NAFA in 2005. Our goal is really
to promote friendship among Nepali community members and with the greater community. We
look to NAFA to make sure it connects people.”
Bigger events for NAFA include a New Year celebration in April and their Dashain celebration
in the fall (which will be held on Oct. 23 this year at the Eagle Heights Community Center). The
group also hosts a number of kid-centered events focusing on sports, language-learning, art,
and simply coming together.
In 2009, the group embarked on a banner project that, perhaps, became more ambitious
Nepal is country rich in culture and diversity, steeped in ancient and diverse religious
traditions, and a country that is still very near and dear to the hearts of those who have left it.
Close to 50 some people gathered at the Wil-Mar Neighborhood Center on Madison’s east side
recently to celebrate Nepal, feast on Nepal’s culinary treasures, and connect with friends and
the community.
The Nepali American Friendship Association (NAFA) based in Madison, Wis. once again
hosted their annual fundraising dinner to support area scholars. Established in 2005, NAFA
provides a number of social and educational events and opportunities to Nepali community
members and those interested in the culture. They are dedicated to preserving the rich
cultural heritage, language, and identity of Nepal and its people.
The Wil-Mar Center crowd feasted on Himalayan cuisine (featuring rice, beans, lentils
chicken, and goat meat flavored with an array of rich spices) as part of a fundraising dinner to
raise money for NAFA’s scholarship program, their annual Academic Excellence and
Leadership Scholarship Award. Each year, NAFA awards scholarships of $500 to students
demonstrating academic excellence and leadership in the community. Students must be NAFA
members to be eligible.
The crowd mingled with friends, took in a traditional Nepali dance performance, and
viewed a slide show presentation of NAFA’s year-in-review. It was, all in all, a festive
evening of good food and good friends.
The annual fundraising dinner is one of many events that NAFA holds which bring the
community together to celebrate Nepali culture. NAFA President Shreedhar Ranabhat said that
the Nepali community in Madison has been growing slowly but surely through out the years.
He says that what was once a group of about 10 families has turned into around 40 to 50
families who are active in the Nepali community in Madison.
“The community has definitely grown,” Ranabhat says. “We felt the need for some sort of
organization as the community was growing, so we founded NAFA in 2005. Our goal is really
to promote friendship among Nepali community members and with the greater community. We
look to NAFA to make sure it connects people.”
Bigger events for NAFA include a New Year celebration in April and their Dashain celebration
in the fall (which will be held on Oct. 23 this year at the Eagle Heights Community Center). The
group also hosts a number of kid-centered events focusing on sports, language-learning, art,
and simply coming together.
In 2009, the group embarked on a banner project that, perhaps, became more ambitious
Laura Salinger is
a freelance
writer based in
Madison, Wis.
a freelance
writer based in
Madison, Wis.
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as time went on. Manoj Kanskar led the group on the near year-long project
which resulted in a beautiful and richly colorful mural representing the Nepal
culture. On display at the fundraising dinner, the mural features the handiwork of
around 40 to 50 child and adult artists. Kanskar, who sketched the design, said
the NAFA community spent several hours every Sunday for around nine months
gathering and painting to create this artistic testament to Nepali culture.
As NAFA continues to grow, it continues to draw members from the greater
Madison community. The crowd at the scholarship fundraising dinner certainly
reflected the diverse support that surrounds the organization and the notion that
anyone is welcome to come and enjoy Nepali food, customs, and community.
Their events are warm, welcoming gatherings that overall spread the message
that is also their motto, “together we can create a difference.”
which resulted in a beautiful and richly colorful mural representing the Nepal
culture. On display at the fundraising dinner, the mural features the handiwork of
around 40 to 50 child and adult artists. Kanskar, who sketched the design, said
the NAFA community spent several hours every Sunday for around nine months
gathering and painting to create this artistic testament to Nepali culture.
As NAFA continues to grow, it continues to draw members from the greater
Madison community. The crowd at the scholarship fundraising dinner certainly
reflected the diverse support that surrounds the organization and the notion that
anyone is welcome to come and enjoy Nepali food, customs, and community.
Their events are warm, welcoming gatherings that overall spread the message
that is also their motto, “together we can create a difference.”