Article by Shivakumar Gurung -London: The Hartalika Teej/Ladies Night programme 2024 by Tamu Samaj UK Mother Group concluded with great success.
The Hindu ladies’ auspicious festival, Teej, was celebrated on Saturday, 31st August 2024, at the Tamu Samaj UK Nepalese Community Centre in Wembley Barham Park, London. The festival included elderly and younger ladies from the Tamu Samaj UK and Nepalese women from around London.
Secretary Ramila Gurung conducted the programme under the Chairmanship of Bimala Gurung, Chairperson of Tamu Samaj UK Mother Group. Senior citizen Bishnu Kumari Gurung, President of Tamu Samaj UK Bindu Ghale, Chairperson of Mother Group Bimala Gurung, outgoing Chairperson of Mother Group Uma Devi Gurung and former Chairperson Maya Gurung jointly inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp.
The special guests included Mr Hari Gurung, President of Tamu Dhee UK; Mrs Sandhya Gurung, Chairperson of Mother Group of Tamu Dhee UK, Mrs Lina Gurung, Head of Chelibeti of Kone (Ghotane/Ghonde) Gurung Tamu Society UK, Mrs Radha Gurung, President of Hate malo Samaj UK, Ranju Shrestha, Proprietor of Ashmi Jewellers South Hero, Asa Bhusal, Managing Director of London Fashion House, Entrepreneur Eli Gurung; and others.
During the event, Secretary Ramila Gurung provided information about health and safety. Vice-Chairperson Mathura Gurung of the Mother Group delivered a welcome speech, and Chairperson Bimala Gurung delivered the vote of thanks. Additionally, Treasurer Biba Gurung read out the names of donors who contributed to the Teej programme and expressed gratitude to all the supporting donors for their various types of support and financial sponsorship.
For the Teej event Mrs Durga Gautam, the proprietor of Jai Shree Krishna Jewellers from South Harrow London , sponsored a gold chandrama as the first prize of raffle draw. The second prize was sponsored by Ashmi Jewellers from South Harrow a Khukuri shape gold Sari Pin. The third prize was sponsored by mother group committee member Laxmi Gurung from Harrow. The other prizes in the Raffle Draw were sponsored by the members of the mothers’ group. During the Teej event, the youth girls organised a raffle draw programme for the first time.
Similarly, the best dancer prize provided by Tamu Samaj UK 2nd prize was sponsored by Mrs. Dhan Maya Gurung and Mrs Seema Gurung first lady of Sonpal Samaj UK and the third prize was sponsored by Ms Eli Gurung. The Mother Group ladies of Tamu Samaj UK sponsored the other prizes.
Ritika Shrestha won the title of best dancer in the dance competition of Teej programme. Bishnu Ale and Mina Tamang won the second and third positions, respectively. Mrs Bishnu Mati Gurung, former first lady, won the first prize of this year’s raffle draw.
At the Teej programme, Senior journalist Danda Gurung came from Nepal and was welcomed and honoured. Senior journalist Gurung is the editor of ABC News, the national television of Nepal, and the patron and editor of Gurung News.com. He is also the former president of the Federation of Indigenous Nationalities Journalists of Nepal (FONIJ) and the former president and advisor of the Tamu (Gurung) Media Association Nepal.
Mr. Gurung has made significant contributions to the development and prosperity of the Tamu community through the media. Additionally, he supported and participated in Tamu Samaj UK’s relief distribution efforts for Nepalese people who have been living in misery due to the COVID-19 pandemic, floods, and landslides. His outstanding contribution to the publication of the “Sali Ta” (The Orchid) magazine of Tamu Samaj UK resulted in Mr Gurung being honoured with the ‘Tamu Samaj UK Distinguished Social Service Award-2024’ in recognition of his outstanding work in the Gurung community and broader community in Nepal.
During the welcome programme, the outgoing General Secretary of the Society, Dharam Bal Gurung, welcomed and felicitated the Senior journalist, Gurung. The President of the organisation, Bindu Ghale, and the founder president, Chitra Bahadur Gurung, presented the Distinguished Social Service Award-2024 to Journalist Gurung with full respect.
Former Presidents of Tamu Samaj UK, Shiva Kumar Gurung, Arjun Kumar Gurung and Shiva Chandra Gurung, along with former Chairperson of Mother Group Maya Gurung and Mrs Uma Devi Gurung, former President of Tamu Dhee UK and Advisor of Tamu Samaj UK, Mr Suba Sing Gurung (BEM), and executive committee members were present at the event.
During the welcome and felicitation programme, senior journalist Gurung expressed his happiness over the honour received from Tamu Samaj UK and his gratitude to the organisation. He said, “I am indebted to society, and it is because of your inspiration and encouragement that I can survive as a journalist in Nepal.” He also expressed his gratitude to Mr Chitra Bahadur Gurung, the founder President of Tamu Samaj UK, and to the former Presidents and outgoing President who brought the society to this point.
“Tamu Samaj UK currently has a female president, which is a matter of pride for us. In our society, women play a significant role in leading our households, so it’s great to see female leadership in our community as well. The organisation has welcomed its first female leader, Bindu Ghale, and I want to extend my warmest congratulations and best wishes to her. I encourage everyone to support her in leading the society forward.
At the event, Society President Bindu Ghale expressed her gratitude. Additionally, Danda Gurung, a senior journalist, editor, and writer who travelled from Nepal to celebrate Teej, the festival of women of Tamu Samaj UK, was warmly welcomed and honoured by Tamu Samaj UK.
At the end of the program, Mrs Bimala Gurung, Chairperson of the Mother Group, expressed her gratitude to all the supporters, sponsors, and volunteers. She also thanked the members who worked hard to run the event successfully. Additionally, she mentioned that it could not have happened without the support of volunteer members.
Tek Gurung captured the event on camera. This year, there was a significant representation of women and girls at the Teej programme; even the grandmothers joined the dancing. The programme began at 2:30 pm and continued to entertain the audience with dancing until 10 pm, accompanied by Prajwal man Gurung’s Teej DJ and delicious food provided by Rara Caters.
