Reflections on our Nepali Enrichment Day

Every term in the Junior School, we enjoy an Enrichment Day when the normal timetable is replaced by a programme of activities designed to enhance the childrens regular learning.  This term, encouraged by our School Council, it was decided that Enrichment Day would be a celebration of the culture of our growing number of Nepali pupils and, in particular, of the Festival of Dashain.  The dress-code for the day was National Costumes and Colours, and pupils raised a total of £400 for a charity which supports schools in West Nepal that are threatened by landslides during the heavy rains.  Great fun was had by all, and those who are less familiar with Nepali culture learnt a great deal!

Highlights of the day are described by Nepali pupils in Year 6:

Mrs Bowen's trip to Nepal

Mrs Bowen (who used to be our Boarding Housemother) visited Nepal last year and brought her photos in to show us.  I have been to many of the towns and temples that Mrs Bowen visited.  The streets in Nepal are narrow and often crowded and noisy.  The temples are large and contain many colourful statues of gods.  The monks who lived there wear red and orange shirts.  Nepal is famous for its range of mountains called the Himalayas.  I am proud to have Nepal for my home.  By Manjil Ghale

The Gurkhas

My father is a Captain in the Gurkha army and I am very proud of him.  He brought some of his soldiers to tell us all about Nepal and the Gurkha code.  Gurkhas always put others before themselves.  We were lucky to be shown the Kukri knife dance and my father played his flute.  I found out a soldier has to prove he is brave and strong and only 172 men are allowed to join the Gurkhas every year.  They have to pass an intelligence test, run up a mountain carrying weights on their back and pass an assault course test.  The highlight for me was seeing a real rifle!  By Suman Gurung

 The Temple

I enjoyed our visit from Pandit Ji, our Hindu Priest.  He teaches Nepali to young children and works in the temple at Shorncliffe Barracks and in Dover.  Julets birthday is on the same day as Krishnas and chants are spoken and blessings given in celebration of the special day.  We also give fruit as a gift and drink holy milk.  Pandit Ji gave us a tikka on our forehead which is bright red and made from rice, yoghurt and powder.  It is the sign of a divine eye.  By Bishan Rai

Nepali Food

Nepali food is delicious!  On Nepali Day I enjoyed watching Sushma and Sandhya make alu dum and rice which is a spicy potato dish.  We tasted it and it was so delicious.  My mother is a great cook and often makes alu dum and momos which are made out of any sort of meat, mixed with coriander and onion which is rolled into a ball or a moon shape.  All Nepali children love momos!  Lunch was special as we had proper Nepali curry and it tasted so good.   By Shivadeep Jimee

Nepali Dance

Dashain is our main festival and we celebrate it as a day of victory over demons.  We have many traditional dances and each tribe has its own dance.  The main tribes in Nepal are Pun, Rai, Ghale, Limbu, Phagami, Paija and Gurung.  My sister has performed on stage and I have seen both my mother and sister dance at parties.  There are lots of colourful costumes that are specially made for dancing.  The dances are great fun to see.  By Ujwal Gurung

Traditional Nepali Games

We played three games Guacha, Kunji and Khabadi.  I had never played these games before but Bishan had played the rubber band game and the marble game.  In Guacha you have to throw a marble into a plastic cup placed about 2 metres away.  In Kunji, you have a circle of rubber bands and jump in and out of it.  To play Khabadi you need to hold your breath and touch someone and cross over a line before someone touches you back.  By Shrawan Rai