Preserving Nepali culture down under

MELBOURNE, Australia, March 24 - They have grown up with Aussie style barbecues and yet they play holi with equal vigor. The second generation Nepalis who have grown up here – now in their 20s – have not forgotten their culture and heritage.

"I think we have the best of both worlds," says Saurabh Sapkota, who has been living in Sydney since he was five years old. The 22-year old understands the importance of his Nepali heritage

"We are in a position to take the best of our Nepali values and combine it with the modern values of western thought," he says. Although, Sapkota has not visited Nepal since his arrival in Sydney, he speaks fluent Nepali.

Core values are being preserved in the Non-Resident Nepalese (NRN) families throughout Australia. This has all been possible thanks to the environment the first settlers have maintained at home.

Most second generation NRNs have grown up with the sound of bells from puja in the morning, speak Nepali at home and celebrate all the religious functions. "My mom does puja every morning, we celebrate Dasain and Tihar," says Anish Aryal of Sydney.

Aryal organised a successful holi celebration for the second time last Saturday. "I believe I am every much Nepali as I am an Australian," he says. The 26 years old left Nepal when he was five years old, has lived in Sydney for the past 12 years. However, his parents have maintained Nepali culture at home that has helped shape them into proud Nepali-Australians. The number of Nepalis in Australia is nearly 20,000.

Often, these NRNs have been brought up with values, which are even conservative by present-day Nepal standards. "People think that because we live in Australia we are modern, I can tell you that youngsters in Nepal seem more modern then we are," says 16 years old Akriti Shrestha.

Sure, this generation of Nepalis have grown up with the heritage their parents brought with them to Australia. But what about the next generation?

Ashish Pradhan, who has lived in Sydney since he was nine years old, believes that there is a need to develop schools and cultural institutes to teach the Nepali heritage to children. "We learnt from our parents but generations after us need someone to teach them."

Pradhan adds such places of learning need to be well structured like many other multicultural communities that form Australia. "There needs to be proper teachers and a strong commitment to such facilities," he says.

Pradhan, who doesn’t speak Nepali, says that if there had been schools when he grew up he might have learnt the language. But, then he also adds, "I think learning depends on the individual. My friends speak Nepali."