Community recognition for Samunnat Nepal
Kopila Basnet, Chair of the Samunnat board, has told us about a wonderful celebration that has recognised and appreciated the work of Samunnat in its community.
Every year the festival of Teej is celebrated across Nepal and India. Traditionally, this was a festival in which women performed rituals to promote the long-life of their husbands. Things are changing! Teej has become, increasingly, a festival for women – married and single - to celebrate their own roles in community and get together to have fun. Many Teej celebrations aren’t focussed now on ‘husband as God’ but celebrate women’s empowerment.
In Birtamod Municipality (Samunnat’s home), the Women’s Chamber of Commerce (Mahila Udyami Samuha) invited many community organisations to its Teej event. This gathering included 500 women wearing their traditional red Teej saris and bangles. Kopila was uncertain about attending – she had a lot of work to do. The organising committee twisted her arm so, a little reluctantly, she put on her red sari with a Dustin-collaboration necklace and headed out.
Kopila receiving the award on behalf of Samunnat Nepal
Just as well she did - there was an official purpose to the event. Every year, the organising group selects an organisation to be recognised for its service to the community and its impact on the lives of women. You can see in the photo that Kopila was quite overwhelmed and emotional as Samunnat Nepal was chosen to receive this recognition. The award recognised Samunnat’s 15 years of quiet achievement in providing assistance and shelter to women in need and helping them rebuild their lives. Kopila felt the genuine love and appreciation of all of the people at the celebration.
Another remarkable part of this event was the music. Traditionally, music at such celebrations is provided by a group of musicians playing the ‘panche baja’ – ritual horns and drums played by men of the appropriate caste. This time the instruments were played by women, including Samunnat’s Ambika. And they didn’t have to be of the ‘right’, traditional caste . We don’t have a photo of this but here is a video of a similar event. The music and dancing would have been in the same style!
Dancing to the panche baja
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo6P1utCOec Acknowledgement to Ritraj Chalise
Kopila was so moved by this event because she could see women hearing about Samunnat for the first time - and these women were excited to know about the impact Samunnat is having. She also knew that more resources would be needed to help the new women who will be referred along now!
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