Canada’s Nepalese communities cancel Teej festivals after deadly floods in Nepal

For the first time, the Nepali Canadian Women’s Society of B.C. cancelled its sold-out Teej celebration. The decision came as devastating flash floods in Nepal and China left communities mourning and families searching for missing relatives.

Teej is a Hindu festival in which women gather to pray, fast, sing, dance and celebrate their traditions. Organizers had spent more than two months preparing the event, which was expected to draw about 300 people. Instead, they redirected $15,000 in ticket sales to humanitarian relief.

“

It is a time where women to come together, pray, fast, sing, dance and celebrate their tradition.

“It is a time where women to come together, pray, fast, sing, dance and celebrate their tradition,” said Punam Dhungel, the organization’s president. “We were excited. We were planning for like over two months, and it was a hard decision, but the situation happened to Nepal and we felt this is not the right time to celebrate.”

“

We were excited. We were planning for like over two months, and it was a hard decision, but the situation happened to Nepal and we felt this is not the right time to celebrate.

Organizations in Toronto, Brampton and Calgary also cancelled their celebrations. Dhungel said the priority had shifted to people affected by the disaster. “Now the main thing is how to support the victims in Nepal. They are suffering, they’re crying, people are mourning and we cannot just celebrate … so we just decided, OK, let’s cancel for now and support the victims. That’s more important for now.”

The floods, which followed the collapse of a glacier in the Himalayan border region between Nepal and China, killed about 800 people and left roughly 3,000 missing. Nepalese authorities warned of possible further flooding and urged residents in affected districts to remain on high alert. Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said one Canadian who had been unaccounted for was found safe.

“

Now the main thing is how to support the victims in Nepal. They are suffering, they’re crying, people are mourning and we cannot just celebrate … so we just decided, OK, let’s cancel for now and support the victims. That’s more important for now.

Sudarshan Sapkota of Nepalese Canadian Community Services in Toronto said many diaspora families still cannot reach relatives in Nepal. He said two friends working on hydropower projects had been rescued, while another remained missing. Sports clubs and other organizations have begun fundraising, collecting thousands for relief efforts.

“

Two of my friends were rescued and are fine, but one of my friends was inside one of the tunnels, we don’t know where he is. The family and everyone is worried.