The Embassy of Nepal in Colombo celebrated Durga Puja at its premises, marking the auspicious occasion of Bada Dashain, Nepal’s most significant and widely celebrated festival.
The religious ceremony was organized to pay homage to Goddess Durga, who symbolizes the triumph of good over evil, while bringing together members of the Nepali community and friends of Nepal in Sri Lanka.
Religious Ceremony Held to Mark Dashain
Dashain is a 15-day festival celebrated across Nepal and by Nepali communities around the world. The festival is dedicated to Goddess Durga and commemorates the victory of good over evil. It is observed through prayers, religious rituals, offerings, family gatherings and the exchange of blessings.
The Durga Puja at the Embassy reflected the religious and cultural importance of Dashain while providing Nepali nationals living in Sri Lanka with an opportunity to observe the festival away from home.
Priests Perform Traditional Rituals
Priests from the Mayurapathi Sri Bhathrakali Amman Temple in Colombo conducted the religious ceremony at the Embassy premises.
They performed traditional rituals and offered prayers to Goddess Durga, seeking peace, prosperity, happiness and well-being for the Nepali community and all devotees.
The ceremony also highlighted the close cultural and religious connections shared by Nepal and Sri Lanka, where traditions of worship and devotion continue to play an important role in community life.
Chargé d’Affaires Highlights Significance of Dashain
Speaking on the occasion, Chargé d’Affaires a.i. Vijay Kumar Raut highlighted the profound significance of Dashain for Nepali people both in Nepal and abroad.
He emphasized that Dashain is not only an important religious festival but also a time for family reunion, cultural connection and the reaffirmation of shared traditions.
For Nepalis living overseas, such celebrations provide an opportunity to maintain their cultural identity and pass traditional values and practices on to younger generations.
Nepali Community and Friends of Nepal Participate
The Durga Puja was attended by diplomatic officials, members of the Nepali community and representatives of various Nepal-Sri Lanka organizations.
Representatives from the Nepal-Sri Lanka Friendship Association, Sri Lanka-Nepal Business Council and Sri Lanka-Nepal Buddhist Association participated in the ceremony, along with friends and well-wishers of Nepal.
The participation of different community and institutional representatives added a broader dimension to the celebration, strengthening people-to-people ties between Nepal and Sri Lanka.
Dashain Celebrated Beyond Nepal
Dashain is traditionally observed with greater intensity from Ghatasthapana through Fulpati, Maha Ashtami, Maha Navami and Vijaya Dashami. The festival brings families together and is associated with prayers, tika, jamara, blessings from elders and festive gatherings.
For Nepali nationals living abroad, celebrations organized by diplomatic missions provide an important platform to observe these traditions collectively.
The Colombo celebration similarly brought together the Nepali community in Sri Lanka and representatives of organizations connected with Nepal, allowing participants to share the spirit of Dashain while being away from their homeland.
Embassy Extends Dashain Greetings
The Embassy of Nepal in Colombo extended its warmest Dashain wishes to all Nepali nationals residing in Sri Lanka and Maldives, as well as friends and well-wishers of Nepal.
The Embassy wished everyone peace, happiness, prosperity and good health on the occasion of the festival.
The celebration of Durga Puja in Colombo reflected the enduring cultural significance of Dashain and the continued efforts of Nepali diplomatic missions to preserve and promote Nepal’s cultural traditions among Nepali communities abroad.
