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

Nepalese community organizations have cancelled their annual Teej festivals across Canada due to the deadly flash flooding that recently struck Nepal and China. Teej is a Hindu celebration of womanhood that typically occurs over the weekend. The disaster forced organizers in cities like Toronto, Brampton, and Calgary to cancel celebrations, marking the first time they have done so in their history.

Punam Dhungel, president of the Nepali Canadian Women’s Society of B.C., explained that their sold-out event was canceled for the first time ever. The decision was a difficult one, as they had been planning for over two months, but the situation in Nepal outweighed their desire to celebrate. The organization redirected the $15,000 in ticket sales from around 300 people to aid relief efforts for the victims in Nepal.

Punam Dhungel emphasized that the main priority now is to support those affected, rather than celebrating. The flash flooding on Wednesday killed over 800 people and left roughly 3,000 missing after a glacier collapse in the Himalayan border region between Nepal and China. Authorities have warned of possible fresh flooding, urging residents in affected districts to remain vigilant.

Nepalese Canadian community services president Sudarshan Sapkota noted that many in the diaspora have family members in Nepal who are still missing or unaccounted for. Sapkota expressed deep concern for his own friends working on hydro-power projects, with one still missing. Despite the tragedy, many community organizations have turned to fundraising to help with disaster relief, raising thousands through sports events. The Canadian federal government has pledged $5 million in urgent humanitarian aid to support Nepal.