Nepali Songs Ring Out on Busan Campus... International Students Long for Home During 'Dashain'

Festival featuring traditional dances, songs, and talent shows

102 participants, including 97 Nepali students

A university campus in Busan was filled with the festive spirit of Nepal. Traditional Nepali dances and songs took the stage, and international students introduced their home country's culture to their friends. Although they celebrated the holiday in Korea, their hearts were back home.

Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, led by President Kim Youngdo, held a Dashain festival on October 22, the university announced on October 26. A total of 102 people took part, including 97 Nepali students and five faculty members. The event was organized to celebrate Dashain, Nepal's biggest holiday, and share one another's cultures.

The festival opened with cultural performances prepared by Nepali students. Traditional dances and songs were followed by other dance performances. The students showcased their home country's culture on stage, and friends from other countries enjoyed the performances with them. Nepali traditions led to new connections on campus.

There were also quizzes and talent shows. Participants mingled as they took part in a variety of activities. They did more than watch the performances and applaud; they laughed and enjoyed themselves together, getting to know one another. Though they came from different countries, they shared the same enthusiasm for the festival.

Nepalese international students pose for the camera at the Dashain festival.

Dashain is one of Nepal's major holidays, when families and relatives gather to wish for happiness and prosperity. For students who have left home to study in Korea, not being able to celebrate with their families can be difficult. Celebrating the holiday with friends at school gave them a chance to share their longing for home. It also allowed them to introduce their home country's culture to friends from other countries.

Nepali student Dhungana Santosh, who attended the event, said, "I felt sad that I couldn't spend the holiday with my family while living in Korea." The student added, "Enjoying the Dashain festival with my friends at school made me feel as if I were back home. It was even more meaningful to introduce Nepali traditional culture to friends from other countries and enjoy it together."

Kim Taekyung, head of the Office of International Cooperation at Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, said, "This is an occasion for international students who have left their home countries to study in Korea to celebrate their national holidays together. I hope it will help them understand one another's cultures and communicate with each other."

Kim added, "We will support international students so they can adjust to university life and interact with students from diverse cultural backgrounds."

Dong-Eui Institute of Technology plans to expand traditional cultural events and exchange programs for students from different countries. It will also continue extracurricular activities to foster communication and harmony among international students. The university aims to create a campus where different cultures naturally come together.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.