NEWAH ORGANIZATION OF AMERICA
Public
Charitable Organization, A 501 c3 Tax-exempt, Non-profit
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Press Releases of Kayeta Puja (Bratabhanda) 2017
Newah Organization of America (NOA) successfully
completed 7th Group Kayeta Puja (Bratabandha) Ceremony on Sunday,
July 9, 2017 at Washington Kali Temple, Maryland on the presence of respected
community members, family members, and various organizations & media
partners. Kayeta Puja is a unique most significant religious ceremony and is
considered rite of passage where the boy transitions to the young adulthood
accordingly in Newah Culture. Renowned Newah Priest & Scholar Mr. Basav Rajopadhyay
performed the milestone ritual ceremony.
This year participants were as followings:
1. Mr. Sachet Man Manandhar (s/o Mr. Sagar
& Mrs. Lata Manandhar) Springfield, VA
2. Mr.
Oshen Shrestha (s/o Mr. Sharan & Mrs. Shahana Shrestha) Clifton, Virginia
3. Mr.
Prasiddha Katila (s/o Mr. Shyam & Mrs. Archana Katila) Nottingham, Maryland
4. Mr.
Shrey Tamarakar (s/o Mr. Shreejan & Mrs. Julie Tamrakar) Baltimore,
Maryland
5. Mr.
Purnesh Shrestha (s/o Mr. Shailesh & Mrs. Purna Shrestha) Herndon, Virginia
6. Mr.
Divyanshu Pradhan (s/o Mr. Suman & Mrs. Diya Pradhan) Frederick, Maryland
7. Mr.
Aryan Lal Shrestha (s/o Mr. Sushil & Mrs. Samjhana Shrestha) Fairfax,
Virginia
8. Mr.
Panas Thapa (s/o Mr. Dilip Thapa & Mrs. Juna Shakya) Leesburg, Virginia
9. Mr.
Ojas Shrestha (s/o Mr. Anil & Mrs. Chanchali Shrestha) Chantilly, Virginia
Newah Priest Mr. Basav Rajopadhyay initiated the
Pitri Shradda (Nandimukhi) was carried out NOA’s Senior-most Founding Members
Mr. Ganesh Lal Kayastha assisted by Mrs. Beena Baidya serving as Naki, by
symbolically inviting ancestors of all participants. Thakali and Thakali Naki
for Mandap puja performed by NOA’s Founding Members and Spouses Mr. Beda &
Mrs. Bidya Pradhan and Mr. Hariman & Mrs Laxmi Shrestha. The puja proceeded
with the traditional ritual with the participants receiving blessings from the
priest, parents, and relatives & well wished by attendees. The crowd
enjoyed gathering to witness the boy’s hair shaving, ceremonial seven steps on
betel nuts and betel nut leaves concluding to highly entertaining and lively
chases by the maternal uncles.
NOA Secretary Mr. Divakar Dhaubhadel served as emcees
and conducted the program. NOA President Mrs. Babita Shrestha welcomed all the
participants, their families, guests, and expressed appreciation for their
support and participation in this important ritual ceremony. Mrs. Shrestha
thanked Newah Priest Mr. Basav Rajopadhyay for completion of ritual ceremony,
NOA Executive Committee members along with their spouses, volunteers for
tireless efforts to facilitate this event successfully and all media partners
for covering the event. She also expressed special thanks to the NOA’s Founding
Members and Past Vice President Mr. Ganesh Lal Kayastha for serving as Nayo and
Mrs. Beena Baidya serving as Naki of the ceremony, NOA Founding members and
First President Mr. Beda & Mrs. Bidya Pradhan, NOA’s Founding members and
past Executive Committee Member Mr. Hariman & Mrs. Laxmi Shrestha as
Thakali Nakin for Mandap Puja. Mrs. Shrestha also thanked NOA’s Founding
Members, past Executive Committee members, Past Presidents and representatives
of local organization for their continued patronage. NOA is proud and honored
to have the Grandparents of the participants and she also extended sincere
gratitude and felicitated them all. She also extended sincere thanks to The
Washington Kali Temple for providing venue and all the generous food
contributors. President Mrs. Shrestha distributed Certificate of Completion
along with Tupli (Nepali Cap) with a copy LASKUS Magazine of 2017 to all nine
Kayeta Puja participants, and T-shirt as a souvenir. Mrs. Shrestha thanked
immediate NOA’s Past President Mr. Ram Lal Shrestha for coordinating the puja
who expressed appreciation and congratulated all participants, their parents
and relatives for this ritual ceremony.
NOA also distributed a Letter of Appreciation to
representative and founder charter President of Rotary Club of Madhyapur, Nepal
Mr. Surendra Bikram Prajapati in recognition of coordination with NOA to
provide Earthquake relief materials in 2015. Mr. Prajapati has expressed his
gratitude for recognition and pledged continued support to NOA endeavors in
future.
NOA Executive member spouses and volunteers served
Breakfast and delicious vegetarian lunch. The ritual ceremony concluded with
fond memories, good crowd of peoples including friends, family and relatives.
NOA takes great pride in preserving and promoting rich Newah culture, heritage
and tradition alive in the United States.
Upcoming events:
- Yenya
Punhi Gathering – September 10, 2017
- Mha-Puja
Celebration - October 20, 2017
- Nepal
Sambat 1138 Celebration –November 4, 2017
