By Bishnu Luitel

On October 27, 2024, Sunday, the 116th birth anniversary of the great Nepali poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota and the Lakshmi Puja of 2024 were grandly celebrated at the Himalayan Taekwondo Hall in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, organized by the Trivini Saahitya Manch .The event was attended by dignitaries from the Bhutanese Nepali-speaking community and others.

Prem Ghimire, Vice President of the Trivini Saahitya Manch, delivered the welcome address, and literature enthusiast Bishnu Luitel presented a brief introduction in remembrance of the poet Devkota. With scholar and literary figure Guru Hari Phuyal as the chief guest . young girls Divya, Dipiska Ghimire, and Ayusa Chapagai performed a welcome dance and song. The program was enlivened by poetry recitations in remembrance of Devkota, with children reciting beautiful lines from his poems.

On the occasion of Lakshmi Puja, a group of women performed traditional “Bhailo” songs and dances, adding vibrancy to the event. Both men and women presented “Deusi” songs and dances together, with Prem Ghimire leading the “Deusi” chanting. Hindus, Jains, and Sikhs around the world traditionally light lamps during the Diwali festival, sharing joy and blessings and hoping for peace, health, prosperity, and progress for everyone.

Among the festivals celebrated by Nepalis since ancient times, Diwali or Tihar is considered the second largest. Celebrated in the autumn, Dashain is viewed as the festival of the triumph of truth over untruth, while Diwali is regarded as a symbol of light. According to Hinduism, the festival is associated with figures like Bali Raja, Goddess Lakshmi, Yamaraj, and Yamuna.

According to chief guest Guru Hari Phuyal, “The fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu, Vamana, granted King Bali a boon to rule over the heavens, earth, and the underworld for the five days of Yampanchak. Thus, Bali ruled these three realms. Since Yamaraj and his sister Yamuna had not met, Yamuna sent an invitation to Yamaraj through her messengers, a crow and a dog. Yamaraj accepted the invitation and visited his sister’s home.
From that time, the tradition of worshiping the crow on Trayodashi and the dog on Chaturdashi began. On Amavasya (New Moon), Gau (cow) puja in the morning, and in the evening, special worship is conducted for Goddess Lakshmi. Lamps are lit in the evening, making this day known as Deepawali or Diwali.

‘Deepawali’ is derived from Sanskrit, ‘Diwali’ from Hindi, and ‘Tihar’ from the native Nepali language.

On Pratipada, oxen are worshiped, and on Yamadwitiya, brothers and sisters exchange blessings by applying the seven-colored tika, symbolizing their bond. This festival commemorates the love between brothers and sisters through the lighting of lamps. Yampanchak begins on the Trayodashi of the Kartik dark fortnight and concludes on the Dwitiya of the Kartik bright fortnight,” Guru Hari explained.

The popular games “Bhailo” and “Deusi,” played during the Tihar festival, are explained in this way: At one point, there was a separation between Goddess Lakshmi and Lord Vishnu. The reunion of Lakshmi with Lord Vishnu was made possible by King Bali. This moment of Lakshmi’s reunion with Vishnu is celebrated as Deepawali or Lakshmi Puja, and in this joyful occasion, women traditionally play “Bhailo.”

Additionally, Lord Vishnu needed to send King Bali to the netherworld (Patal Lok). Taking on the form of a dwarf (Vamana), the Lord asked King Bali for three paces of land as a donation. Unaware of the divine play (leela), King Bali agreed. With two steps, the Lord covered all realms, leaving no space for the third. To fulfill his promise, King Bali offered his head for the third step. This selfless act of surrender brought joy throughout the world. Expressing this joy, people began singing “Deu Sir Ram” or “Ram Lai Sir Deu,” marking the tradition of Deusi, as referenced in the Kartik Mahatmya.

Trivini Saahitya Manch, a non-profit organization dedicated to literature, culture, and art, emphasized unity in diversity through this program. Talented student artists showcased their skills, and 11-year-old Taekwondo athlete Suvarna Sharma performed a demonstration. Suvarna has previously won three gold medals in her age and weight categories in competitions held in Thailand and South Korea. Nakul Sharma, the director and coach at Himalayan Taekwondo Harrisburg, addressed the gathering, offering Diwali wishes in memory of poet Devkota.

Especially after being exiled from their homeland, Nepali-speaking Bhutanese had to separate, with members of the same family resettling in various countries around the world. Escaping the dire conditions of refugee life to secure a brighter future for themselves and their children was a necessity for these refugees. Accepting this reality meant that Bhutanese families were separated across different nations, a division that was certainly not by choice.
Despite the forced separation, Nepali-speaking Bhutanese have made every effort to keep their hearts connected with their elderly parents, celebrate their significant festivals, and preserve their traditions. The pain of family separation is something anyone can easily imagine.

Among family members, some remain in prison in Bhutan, some are within Bhutan, others are in refugee camps in Nepal, while many are spread across eight resettlement countries. It’s a reality beyond what anyone would wish to imagine, yet this is the fate that Bhutanese people have had to endure. However, Nepali-speaking Bhutanese have not lost hope; with strong morale, they remain deeply dedicated to their language, festivals, and culture.

During the event, former president of the Bhutanese Community of Harrisburg, Binay Luitel, welcomed other guests and conveyed Diwali wishes. He also thanked Governor Josh Shapiro for officially recognizing Diwali as a public holiday in Pennsylvania, which enhances the state as a symbol of diversity and unity. Patty Kim, Dave Madsen, and Jeanelle Stadelson, who accepted the invitation from the Trivini Saahitya Manch also conveyed Diwali greetings and encouraged everyone to exercise their civic rights by voting in the upcoming U.S. general elections.

The program, emceed by the Manch Secretary, Narad Acharya Sudham, was chaired by Keshav Ghimire Bairagi Milo,President of Trivini Saahitya Manch , who extended greetings and thanks to all attendees. He announced the formation of a two-member committee to expand the Manch Lancaster branch, appointing social activists Om Ghimire and Dipesh Chapagai. They expressed their commitment to organizing a literary event in Lancaster soon, with full support from the central forum to complete the committee’s establishment.

Chairman Bairagi Milo concluded the program by outlining the upcoming plans of the Trivini Saahitya Manch, including the publication of a short story collection, an emceeing training program, and the operation of Nepali language classes, expressing gratitude to all present.

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