A Band of Performers Is Coming to Town to Mesmerize You with Their Magical Performances
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www.fridayweekly.com.np Every Thursday | ISSUE 84 | RS. 20 SUBSCRIBER COPY 14 September 2011 | @* efb| @)^* ISSN 2091-1092 9 772091 109009 www.facebook.com/fridayweekly 33 104 6 1810 1912 15 PAGE 3 FEATURE EVENTS HALLOFFRAME ENTERTAINMENT GOURMET With time, Teej has evolved. A story about those who For the devoted, Babaji Bob Our lenses meet beautiful Highway brings hope to Relishing the Mediterranean Is this change for the good? didn’t win the title but came is here to share your belief. people at Miss Nepal 2011. Nepali cinema. Read about territories, three couples give This is our question. Read the out winners – five souls who Join him in series of satsangs Catch them on the center comments, comparisons and their verdict on The Olive answers on page 3. made it to the Top Ten. and bhajans. spread. opinions on the movie. Garden. NEWS | CLASSIFIED | SHOPPING tech | style | decor Dream a Little Dream — Yukta Bajracharya Drum rolls… a band of performers is coming to town to mesmerize you with their magical performances. This September, get ready to be wowed by the Charity ourtesy: Nayantara Gurung Kakshapati Nayantara ourtesy: C Circus Show – a creative collaborative hoto P effort by the Rickshaw Theatre Project and Sapana, the company of dreams. Turn to page 2 for more. 2 Issue 84 | 14 September 2011 Fr!day cover Dream a Little Dream Seventeen year old Sharmila ele- cum-puppeteer Ivan Smith, who and teenagers to share expertise gantly balances the hula hoop on have been with EBT for about with them and to empower them. her waist and will convince you two months, are coaching the Helen Shelmerdine, fundrais- that she does it without much ef- Sapana team. “The approach we ing support officer, shares that fort while Bijay and Aman somer- take focuses more on fun aspect though this is not the first time sault like it’s a task that is as easy and involves more group work that the group has been in Ne- as blinking the eye. As members and games,” says Smith. pal, it is the first time that they of the audience, it will not take Sapana will be heading for are working with EBT. Starting you much time to realize that the Doha and Dubai this October 5 September, RTP has been con- action you are seeing on stage is and November where they will ducting workshops with Sapana no less than a miracle – one that be staging a mythical story titled as well as other young children has burst out from within the tal- ‘Dakini’ which tells the tale of at The British School. In fact, ented spirits of the children who a quest for love. “The interna- the charity circus show will were once repressed and stigma- tional show is very exciting for be the end product of this one tized. Sapana, the company of Sapana because it is the first time week long social theatre and cir- dreams, is a group that has been that the group is going abroad to cus workshop. “The show will formed by young people who This group that has twelve pro- on international stages. Sapana perform,” says Shaun. But before be a culmination of theatre as have been rescued from Indian fessional young artists (aged 16 trains three times a week with the professional team from Sa- well as circus skills. It is a ‘social circuses and rehabilitated from to 22) as the core team is Nepal’s international volunteer coaches. pana flies abroad, it will be com- theatre and circus workshop’ other vulnerable situations by the first contemporary circus group Professional circus performer ing together with the Rickshaw which means that it is open to Esther Benjamins Trust (EBT). and will soon be performing Shaun Plumtree and performer- Theatre Project and students all. It goes beyond the barriers from The British School, to stage and brings together everyone The Rickshaw Theatre Project (RTP) is a theatre-in- a fundraising social circus show. who is interested, giving them The proceeds from this will be the opportunity to showcase education program run by students of Cambridge utilized to sustain other art proj- their new-found skills alongside University in the UK. The group tours India and Nepal, ects by the EBT. those of the professional art- interacting with children and teenagers to share expertise The Rickshaw Theatre Proj- ists,” says Shelmerdine. ect (RTP) is a theatre-in-educa- “The circus that is being with them and to empower them. Starting 5 September, tion program run by students performed is different from the RTP has been conducting workshops with Sapana as well of Cambridge University in the traditional circuses that we are as other young children at The British School. UK. The group tours India and accustomed to,” Shelmerdine Nepal, interacting with children points out. The picture is com- pletely different. “It moves away from the conventional ways of using animals in unethical ways and forcing people, even little children – which is something that most people are against and hence, object to circuses,” says Shelmerdine who shares that Sapana was formed primarily because the young kids, those who were previously trafficked into the circuses, showed inter- est in honing their skills and talents in an enjoyable, rather than forceful environment, and using their abilities to empower themselves. This ‘dream’ that germinated in August 2010 ex- posed the young dreamers to the positive and expansive na- ture of circus that stretched be- yond their limited experiences, thus provoking a genuine desire amongst the young people to develop their skills. The enthu- siasm and the passion of these young people are evident in the way the group is progressing. Supported by an English con- temporary circus company – Floorless Productions – Sapana has, up until today, performed in small-scale programs such as the Book-a-bee, an annual book reading festival for children, as well as in programs at The Brit- ish School. This particular show which has been organized in align- ment with Bal Divas (Children’s Day) not only helps raise funds for EBT but also gives the de- serving artists the exposure they need while also spreading awareness about what EBT is doing. Come celebrate Chil- dren’s Day, in the truest means, by encouraging these talents. Bring your family and friends to witness this spectacle which will magically bring to life Nepali story-telling through a dynamic fusion of cutting edge, acrobat- ics and theatre. Become a part of the dream. ! The Charity Circus Show is taking place at The British School on 14 September from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. Tickets for the first six rows are priced at Rs. 500 while tickets in general for adults are at Rs. 400 and for children at Rs. 300. Tickets are available at The British School gate one week prior to the show. Write to [email protected] for more information or advance booking. one question page3 Do you think the way of celebrating Teej has become more extravagant? make your statement Holy books read that goddess Parbati fasted and prayed fervently for the great Lord Shiva to become her husband. Finally touched by her devotion, the lord took her for his wife. Goddess Parbati, in gratitude sent her emissary to preach and disseminate this religious fasting among mortal women, promising them prosperity and longevity with their family. Thus was born the festival of Teej. One of Nepal’s annual festivals where Hindu women pray for marital bliss, well-being of their spouse and children, and purification of their own body and soul through fasting, Teej has evolved much throughout the history. The meaning of this tradition has changed over time. We ask few of our female figures if they think that the way of celebrating Teej has become more extravagant over the years. Yes I think Teej has definitely become extravagant for no — Mannat Shrestha reason. Previously there would be celebration only a day ahead; nobody celebrated it a month before the festival. I wonder why people need to waste their time and celebrate it for 30 days just to starve for one day. The festival has now become an excuse to have fun. Sophie Upadhaya is the chairperson of Bhancha Ghar, one of the oldest restaurants in Nepal which introduced When you compare the way in the culture of serving authentic Nepali which Teej used to be celebrated food in the country. before and now, there have been I believe it has become more some changes. Previously, women extravagant. One example of this used to be with their families during could be: women used to celebrate the occasion but now they are seen with their friends. Also the focus Darr only a night before Teej, but There has been a gradual change in There is no doubt that on entertainment has increased a nowadays they celebrate it month the way Teej is being celebrated, at Teej has become too much lot. One thing, however, I do not ahead. Even the practice of fasting least in the cities. Gone are the days extravagant and the actual agree with is when people criticize has become something out of when Teej used to be the only time meaning has disappeared. about the dress up – the color of the urge to show off rather than married women could visit their maitis. The whole idea of Teej was Teej is red, so it will obviously look dedication. Back then, women used Women are on the move now. They are about women fasting for the bright; and it comes once in a year, dance in local folk songs during educated; they earn for their families, prosperity of their husbands Teej must be celebrated because so there is no harm in dressing up Teej but these days, they play Hindi and are more empowered.