West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor presented a proclamation declaring May 7, 2023 ‘Nepal Day’ in West Hartford.

By Ronni Newton. Photos by Renée McCue

West Hartford is home to a large and vibrant Nepalese community – and headquarters to the Nepalese Association of Connecticut – and Sunday was a day for celebration of culture and tradition.

West Hartford Mayor Shari Cantor presented a proclamation declaring May 7, 2023 as “Nepal Day,” noting the vital contribution the Nepalese community has made to the town’s “business, employment, medical, volunteer services, and more.”

Speakers at the celebration included Bishnu Prasad Gautam, Acting Consul General of Nepal and Narayan Paudel, Nepalese Association of Connecticut President .

State Rep. Kate Farrar shared at Sunday’s celebration that she is leading passage of HB 6656, which in part would allow for Nepalese to become one of the languages used for drivers’ license testing.

A check from the Lions Club Foundation for $2,000 was presented by West Hartford Lions Club 1st Vice President Jim Schwarzhaupt. The funds will support the Nepali American Summer School in West Hartford which will give children who will be attending school in the fall a chance for an extra orientation to life in America during the summer. The support was previously noted at a presentation at the United Nations Association of Connecticut event on April 30, when the Nepal Day celebration was initially scheduled to take place but was postponed due to rain.

Rupesh Parajuli served as emcee of Sunday’s program, which included music and dance, and a parade through West Hartford Center.

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