Celebrating Eid with song and dance

Nepali expatriates were in a festive mood this past week, participating in multiple musical programmes organised through the three days of Eid al-Fitr. The Nepal Magar Society grabbed a rare chance to showcase their folk Salaiju dance at a community programme. Nepal Tamang Society, Bishwokarma Service Society, Nepalese Cultural Center and Nepalese Tamu Society also performed at the programme that was organised in Asian Town on the first and second days of Eid al-Fitr. Members of the Indian, Bangladeshi, Pakistani and Indonesian communities also performed. Elsewhere, Raktim Cultural Initiative organised a musical programme on the first day of Eid at Shalimar Palace. More than 500 people attended the programme. Nepal Charge de Affairs Mani Ratna Sharma attended the programme as the chief guest. Jeevan Sharma was the main draw of the programme and performed fifteen songs. His songs provided a recipe for how Nepal could be changed into an egalitarian society. Jeevan has recorded over 3,000 and penned more than 15,000 songs. Acknowledging his contributions to Nepal’s music scene, he was awarded by former Nepal prime minister Baburam Bhattarai and current PM KP Sharma Oli. He has performed in more than 30 countries and this was his second performance in Qatar.The Chitwan Youth Society organised its Chitwan Dhamaka-2016 at Shalimar Palace on the third day of Eid. Folk singer-dancer Bhumika Giri, singer Jyoti Gurung, pop singer Sanjeev Singh Rana, model-dancers Deepshikha BC and Mina Magar, comedian Jyoti Kafle, folk singers Netra Jeet Panta and Bal Bikram Thapa, and musician-singer Tanka Budhathoki entertained more than 400 people who attended the event.Doha-based The Range Band covered two popular songs of Nepathya Band. Netra Jeet Panta rendered two songs. Deepshikha BC performed two dances on Nepali film songs. Mina Magar performed a cultural dance and then danced to a remixed song. Jyoti Kafle impersonated Dr Baburam Bhattarai, former Nepali prime minister, and KP Sharma Oli, the current PM, to illustrate the current political dynamics in Nepal. Tanka Budhathoki performed a contemporary song, and Jyoti Gurung rendered two songs.Bhumika Giri performed four songs at the programme. Giri has recorded over 300 songs and has performed in over five countries. It was her first performance in Qatar.