Melbourne going gaga over momo
APEX Bureau: Momo, the unofficial national food of Nepal, is set to make Australia its second home with “Momo Fest—Nepalese Dumpling Festival” being organized at Coburg Cycling Velodrome in Melbourne from Mar 23-Mar 25.
The three-day culinary extravaganza is expecting a bigger audience compared to last year’s 15,000 attendees, as the organizers gear up for one of the biggest festivals for Nepalis in Australia.
The Momo Fest 2018 boasts over 30 varieties of momo—ranging from buff momo (a favorite in Kathmandu), to goat, lamb, beef, chicken, pork, seafood, and various vegetarian and vegan options. With entertainment divided between two stages, one can expect a full spectrum of eastern-influenced entertainment and grooves.
Momo Fest 2018 will have different concept for every day—Momo Dinner with Movies on Friday; Main Festival with Momo, live music, colors, multicultural performances on Saturday; and Momo Brunch with DJ music on Sunday.
The main stage is headlined by internationally-acclaimed Nepali traditional folk band, Kutumba, whose combination of explosive high-energy percussion and mystical soundscapes—inspired by the spectacular Nepali landscape—will be something to watch. Adding to the vibrant entertainment will be popular local bands, workshop and performances in Latin moves, Bhangra beats, Hip hop dance, colorful Chinese lion dancers, energetic Nepali Lakhey Dance, and rhythmic Nepali steps.
“We want to share the joy of momo with the world,” says Raju Shakya, the organizer of the event. “Nepali cuisines have not been able to get international recognition. With this festival, we will promote Nepali food, music and culture in the diverse Australian community.”
The festival will also see an exciting celebration of Holi colors, as a symbol of multiculturalism. The festival signifies the victory of good over evil, the arrival of a new season, and a festive day to meet others, play and laugh.
Under a rainbow sky, the aroma of dumplings and the hustle and bustle of food trucks, the fest is the ultimate love letter goodbye to another lazy Melbourne summer. “Momo Fest believes in celebration of life and culture by sharing love and giving back to the communities in need,” Shakya says. “We are aiming for 25,000 attendees this year. Melbourne is going crazy for momo right now.”
French Embassy celebrates French food
The French Embassy in Kathmandu is holding the fourth edition of ‘Goût de France /Good France’. Goût de France/Good France is a unique global event held across five continents in over 150 countries, involving French embassies and chefs from around the world. It unites all of them on March 21 with one common objective: to celebrate French gastronomy with local products and talents. The fourth year of Goût de France /Good France will see some 3,000 participating restaurants worldwide.
“There is a traditional link between diplomacy and gastronomy,” says His Excellency Yves Carmona, the French Ambassador to Nepal. “There was a cuisine ‘à La Française’ already in the 14th century, well before there were permanent Embassies [16th century]”.
He said the event was not about diplomacy but business. France decided to promote its attractiveness to add to the already healthy tourist arrival rate in the country (89 million in 2017). Gastronomy has helped them in this regard. The ‘Gastronomic meal of the French’ has been declared as ‘Intangible Heritage’ by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The event is growing popular in Nepal and is running in its third consecutive year in Kathmandu. Eight restaurants and school are taking part in this year’s prestigious event. On March 21 they will serve special French cuisine.
“Although the origin of the event is French, it can be considered a very Nepali event since almost all restaurants and schools are run by Nepalis,” says Carmona.
The restaurants and schools that are participating this year are
- The Old House Pvt. Ltd, Durbarmarg, Kathmandu
- Garden Terrace (Soaltee Crowne Plaza)
- La terrace (Global Academy of Tourism and Hospitality Education)
- Rox Restaurant (Hyatt Regency Kathmandu)
- The Chimney Fine Dining (Hotel Yak and Yeti)
- Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management
- Olive Garden (Radisson Hotel)
- Pauline’s Garden, Baluwatar, Kathmandu
Musicians raise suicide awareness
The Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention Center (MHPSP) has been working to raise mental health awareness among students and teachers. According to MHPSP, 13 to 14 people commit suicide every day in Nepal. With many people lacking access to psychiatric care, MHPSP is looking to establish a toll-free suicide helpline by collaborating with the Ministry of Health.
As part of an awareness raising program, musicians came together with the MHPSP in a fundraising event held in Tangalwood on March 3. Among the performers were Mental Radio, a band started with the express intent of raising awareness on mental health. The Elements, Joint Family International, 1974 AD, and a contemporary singer-songwriter from Iceland, Högni Egilsson, also performed.
Joint Family International had the crowd dancing to reggae beats but when the final band came on stage the audience really came to life. 1974 AD did not disappoint and gave a wonderful performance.
For more information about MHPSPC, contact the organization on 01-4411264.
Rights, justice and peace the focus of film festival
The sixth edition of the Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival 2018 (NHRIFF) kicked off on March 7 on the premises of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB). Organized by Human Rights Film Center (HRFC), NHRIFF will be held till March 10, and will showcase more than 70 films from across the world, 20 of which will be based in Nepal. The films will be followed by discussion with the filmmakers.
The film festival started eight years ago, and Kathmandu has hosted five of them. The theme this year is ‘Women Empowerment’. “December 10 marks the 70th anniversary of the UN Universal Declaration on Human Rights,” said Renaud Meyer, UNDP country director for Nepal. “This film festival is the beginning of the celebrations which will be held throughout the year to mark the anniversary,” he added. UNDP has been associated with NHRIFF for the past two years. Also, this year, the organizers plan to take the festival to other provinces.
The center believes films are the most influential tool to advance human rights, justice and peace. Films offer an effortless way to reach people. They appeal to the emotion of the audience, say the organizers, and can spur marginalized people into action.
“I still recollect a movie I watched 65 years ago but can barely recall a book I read recently,” said Anup Raj Sharma, the NHRC chairman, who was also the chief guest at the inauguration program. “The visuals leaves a lasting mark on people’s minds,” he added.
The film festival provides a stage for filmmakers and rights activists to come together and exchange ideas. It also helps put Nepal on the radar of the international community.
Moreover, the festival, according the film center, offers an occasion for Nepali filmmakers learn about the work of internationals filmmakers. At the festival, the best and the second-best films will bag a cash prize of Rs 50,000 while the third-best film will get Rs 40,000. The judges will be Tsering Rhitar Sherpa (Nepal), Andrea Morghen (Italy), Zohreh Zamani (Iran), Noriko Yuasa ( Japan) and Angeli Bayani (Philippines).
