The Nepal Festival Melbourne Cultural Parade, organized by the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Victoria State Coordination Committee, set a new record for the highest participation in Australia, with over 1,000 participants. This year’s festival was made even more special by the presence of Victoria State Premier Jacinta Allan, marking her first participation in the event. The cultural parade, which started at 10:30 AM from the State Library, saw Nepalis traveling from Ballarat and Bendigo to take part.
To facilitate their participation, NRNA arranged buses. The 1.5-kilometer-long parade featured various organizations showcasing unique presentations, while many Nepalis spontaneously joined in traditional attire men in Daura suruwal and topi, and women in sarees and cholo adorned with traditional jewelry. Mahadev Dhanuk, the Deputy Coordinator of NRNA Victoria, mentioned that local Australian residents observed the parade with great interest. He also shared that guests from other states praised the event for being the largest cultural parade to date.
Following the grand parade, the Nepal Festival Melbourne carried on with an array of cultural performances on stage. The event featured energetic showcases by children from different language schools, adding to the festival’s vibrant atmosphere. More than 130 young performers took part, highlighting Nepal’s rich cultural heritage through dance, music, and traditional acts. Their enthusiasm captivated the audience, setting the stage for the formal proceedings that followed.
At around 4:30 PM, the official ceremony commenced with a historic moment Victoria State Premier Jacinta Allan graced the occasion as the chief guest, marking the first-ever participation of a Victorian Premier in the Melbourne Nepal Festival. In her speech, she expressed her excitement about being part of the celebration and recognized the invaluable contributions of the Nepali community to Victoria’s progress. She assured the attendees of the government’s continued appreciation and support, reinforcing the growing influence of the Nepali diaspora in Australia.
Anil Pokharel, President of NRNA Australia, emphasized that despite the Nepali community’s significant financial contributions to Australia’s economy, it has not yet received the recognition it deserves. He acknowledged the community’s impact and stressed the need for greater appreciation of their role. Additionally, he expressed his gratitude to all the organizations that collaborated to ensure the Nepal Festival in Melbourne was a resounding success. Pokharel highlighted the festival’s importance in showcasing Nepali culture while strengthening community ties, reinforcing the need for continued efforts to elevate the presence and contributions of Nepalis in Australia’s multicultural landscape.
Nepal’s Ambassador to Australia, Chitra Lekha Yadav, praised NRNA Australia for organizing such a spectacular event. She urged everyone to pass on Nepali language, music, arts, and culture to the next generation. She also noted that Australia’s multicultural society reminded her of Nepal’s diverse geography the Himalayas, hills, and plains and concluded her speech with a Sanskrit verse wishing for global peace.
Other Australian dignitaries who addressed the event included Federal MP Peter Khalil, Deputy Leader of the Opposition Shaun Leane, Minister for Corrections and Justice Enver Erdogan, Victorian Legislative Council member Evan Mulholland, MP Kathleen Matthews, Vice President of the Victorian Multicultural Commission Bee Thai, and Melbourne City Councillor Mark Scott. They all acknowledged the Nepali community as hardworking, supportive, and an essential part of Victoria.
Additionally, Victoria’s Honorary Consul for Nepal, Nirajan Gauli, NRNA ICC Vice President Binod Shrestha, and Oceania Regional Coordinator Dinesh Pokharel also shared their views. The event was welcomed by NRNA Victoria Coordinator Maniratna Sapkota, while NRNA Australia General Secretary Santosh Kunwar and NRNA Victoria Secretary Sashendra Gautam KC jointly hosted the program. The festival concluded with musical performances by singer Samikshya Adhikari, singer Shiva Pariyar, and Bibek Shrestha from Kandara Band, entertaining the audience until 9 PM.
