Editorial
Cultural Pride

In order to promote and preserve our cultural heritage the Nepa Pasaa Puchaa Dabuu Magazine is making an effort to bring out the best of the Newa culture had to offer. Well, you are probably thinking about the special "Bhoye".

We are not just trying to have the Bhoye and forget about other aspects. In this issue we have gathered many old stories, cultural information, and facts about the Newa culture so that we can remember them and have the next generation take pride in our traditional heritage.

As community leaders, teachers, parents and concerned Newa citizens, it is our responsibility to teach our children positive values which the Newa cultural offers us. Only being proud of our cultural heritage is not enough. We have to have an understanding of our traditions, ideals and values as well. How do we teach our kids about cultural festivals like Matya, Yomari Puni, Ghoda Jatra and Mohani? When was the last time you made Yomari with your children? Do we have any significance in America?

Living in a world community with many different values and norms we are slowly starting to assimilate western tradition. We are definitely loosing our Newa cultural identity, while back home our bahals, mandirs and toles have been converted into a mini malls. Haku parshi, (black sari) has been replaced by makhamali sari. Candlelights have been replaced with Phillips light bulbs. Is there anything left to be proud of ?

As we nostalgically yearn for bhoye during the Bhintunaa celebration, our friends in Nepal are having catered buffet and blasting Hindi tunes during their motorcycle rally. Our old hangouts in Kathmandu have been replaced by a tourist traps. It is quite disconcerting to know that we are loosing our battle.

There is no question that as we assimilate more in western culture we will further loose some of our old cultural tradition.

As we go about transmitting our culture to our kids, we will have a difficult time because we are missing many valuable pieces that bind us together. Many childhood experiences that helped to built our cultural characteristics are missing in our new life in America.

Nepa Pasaa Puchaa, is trying to increase interest and address the concerns we all have. We are trying to provide an opportunity for everyone to learn more about our culture and traditions through the means of DABUU, special gatherings and the World Wide Web. We ask that everyone get involved and share their experiences so our children can learn about Newa culture and be proud of being a Newa.

If we really want to call ourselves true Newas, we must learn about our own culture first and respect ourselves as well as respecting others. Without being able to respect ourselves, we will not be able to respect others.

In order to bring the best of our cultural tradition, the NPPA is bringing you this new issue of DABUU magazine so we cannot just contemplate but begin searching for the future. I would like to thank those people who contributed to this Magazine. Also special thanks goes to all those individual who placed ads to cover the cost of publication. As writers have pointed out, we have many things to be proud of being a Newa. But only being nostalgic will not help us preserve our cultural heritage. Let's encourage our youth to learn and appreciate our true culture. Let's support all activities that helps to promote and educate about Newa culture. Taremam - !!! Subhaaya