Celebrating Himalayan Heritage and Building Intercultural Bridges

2024 marked another year of significant growth and impact for Dabuli, as we continued our mission to advance deeper understanding and strengthen the rich music, arts, and cultural heritage of Nepal and the Himalayan region. Through a diverse range of performances, workshops, collaborations, advocacy efforts, and community engagement initiatives, we fostered intercultural connections, empowered individuals, and celebrated the vibrant traditions of the Himalayas. This review highlights our key accomplishments and the positive impact we’ve made throughout the year.

Dabuli’s 2024 programming focused on expanding our reach, deepening community engagement, and providing meaningful opportunities for cultural exchange. Here are some of the highlights:

Celebrating Himalayan Culture:

Himalayan Winter – A Cultural Collaboration (January 2024): Dabuli partnered with Tasveer and the Nepal Seattle Society to bring the magic of Himalayan winter to Seattle’s Tagney Jones Hall. This immersive event featured captivating traditional music and dance performances, complemented by a film screening, offering a rich tapestry of Himalayan culture to a diverse audience.

World Newah Day (March 2024): In collaboration with the Newah Organization of America – Seattle Chapter, Dabuli played a pivotal role in coordinating the cultural segment of World Newah Day. This celebration of Newar heritage showcased the richness of Nepalbhasa music, dance, and storytelling, preserving and promoting these vital traditions.

Nepal Festival 2024 – Our Annual Flagship Event (December 28, 2024): Our 9th annual Nepal Festival at Carco Theatre in Renton, WA, was a resounding success, drawing a large and enthusiastic crowd. Featuring over 40 talented artists, the festival showcased the diverse tapestry of live music, dance, and cultural traditions from Nepal and the Himalayan region. This inclusive event provided a platform for artists to share their talents and fostered a stronger sense of community.

Empowering Through Music and Education:

Rhythmic Echoes – Madal & Dhimay Drum Classes (March – April 2024): Dabuli’s six-week beginner’s drumming class provided 20 participants with the opportunity to learn the fundamentals of the Madal and Dhimay drums. The program culminated in a student performance at World Newah Day and Biska Jatra celebrations in Seattle, showcasing their newfound skills and passion for Newar percussion traditions.

Online Dhimay Drumming Classes (September – October 2024): Extending our reach beyond Seattle, Dabuli co-organized a six-week online Dhimay drumming class with the Newah Organization of New England. This initiative connected learners across geographical boundaries, culminating in a student performance at the Indra Jatra festival in Boston, MA, demonstrating the power of online learning to preserve and promote cultural heritage.

Cultural Rhythm Festival – A Celebration of Music and Dance (November 9, 2024): Held at the Bitterlake Community Center, the Cultural Rhythm Festival offered a vibrant and inclusive experience for attendees of all backgrounds. The free event featured community drum circles, dance workshops, yoga, and meditation sessions, led by esteemed trainers such as Sshantamann, Subhash Prajapati, Chandra Subba, Minu Kayastha, Natty Riddims, and the Seattle Hand Drummers.

Preserving Language and Expanding Digital Access:

Nepalbhasa App Launch (June 2024) – A landmark achievement for Dabuli in 2024 was the launch of the Nepalbhasa App, developed with support from Kathmandu Metropolitan City and Nepal Lipi Guthi. This valuable resource, featuring a 40,000-word dictionary, proverbs, baby names, and interactive quizzes, is designed to preserve and promote the Nepalbhasa language for future generations.

Technology for All – Expanding Digital Inclusion: Dabuli’s commitment to digital equity continued through our Technology for All program, in collaboration with the City of Seattle. Monthly free workshops on various technology topics, along with specialized training series focusing on job and career skills, were offered with language support in Nepali, Nepalbhasa, Sherpa, and Tibetan, ensuring that digital literacy is accessible to all members of the community.

Amplifying Voices and Fostering Dialogue:

Voices of the Himalayas – Celebrating Narratives of Resilience (September 2024): Dabuli organized “Voices of the Himalayas: Female Migrants’ Narratives,” an impactful event featuring inspiring immigrant and refugee women from Nepal, Tibet, and beyond. Led by Chetana Shakya and moderated by Linda Iltis, the event provided a platform for these women to share their stories of resilience, identity, and community, fostering deeper understanding and empathy. The event featured presentations by Prabina Bhandari, Lila Ghising, Sharon Sherpa, Binita Joshi Shrestha, Shreeya Dhakal, and Namgyal Dolker Nanglo.

Community Engagement and Partnerships:

Dabuli actively engaged with the broader community through participation in events such as Nepal Rising – Seattle’s Fundraiser & Felicitation Program and the Seattle Aquarium – AAPI Community Day. These engagements provided opportunities to share information about our programs and connect with individuals passionate about cultural exchange and community building.

Looking Ahead to 2025:

2024 was a year of significant accomplishments for Dabuli. We are deeply grateful to our partners, artists, volunteers, and supporters who made these initiatives possible. As we look forward to 2025, we remain committed to expanding our programs, deepening our community engagement, and continuing to build bridges of intercultural understanding through the power of music, arts, and culture. We invite you to follow us on Facebook for the latest updates and upcoming events and join us in celebrating the rich heritage of the Himalayas.