"MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA FROM THE MOST FAMOUS FOLK SINGERS (SUNITA DULAL AND BABITA (JERRY) BANIYA,

"MUSICAL EXTRAVAGANZA FROM THE MOST FAMOUS FOLK SINGERS (SUNITA DULAL, BABITA (JERRY) BANIYA, AND MANSUDHAN THAPA MAGAR TO ENTERTAIN NEPALESE LIVING IN COLCHESTER ON SATURDAY, 13 MAY 2023"

It was a wonderful occasion for the Nepalese Colchestarians, who had an excellent chance to be entertained by the best Nepalese singers performing their folk songs and gigs and entertaining the folks in Stanway Community Hall in Colchester on Saturday evening. It was possible because Mrs. Kamala Khatri (wife of Mr. Yubaraj Khatri) had composed a TEEJ song and written lyrics. The song has been sung by Miss Sunita Dulal in Nepal already, and both the songwriter and singer decided to screenshot the music video in Colchester on the grounds of Castle Park Gardens in Colchester on Sunday morning on 14 May. Since Miss Sunita Dulal was already in Colchester, she decided to entertain the Nepalese people living in Colchester on the evening of Saturday, 13 May; this is how it was possible to be with the folk singers on Saturday evening. Miss. Sunita Dulal also invited Babita (Jerry) Bania to be with her in Colchester on Saturday, 13 May and Mr. Mitra Gurung invited Mr Mansudhan Thapa Magar and Mrs Rupa Shrestha and Mr. Suman Chaudhari.

On the evening of Saturday, everyone gathered at the Stanway Community Hall early in the evening and prepared the stage and sound system. Due to the absence of Mr. Naina Sing Gurung, who was in charge of the Sound System, Mr. Mahesh Gurung, the Area Rep, St Michael, set up the sound system, which functioned smoothly. The Area Reps (Mr. Mahesh Gurung St Michael, Mrs. Mina Gauchan Gurdon Road, Mr. Dhan Bhujuwar New Town, Mrs. Usha Gurung/Ghale Highwoods and Greenstead and Mrs. Jas Kumari Gurung Gurkha Home) who communicated and given away tickets were checking their members from their respective areas to ensure everyone was in position at the community hall. At the same time, Mr. Saroj Sherpa provided mouth-watering refreshments at a reasonable price, and Mr. Dambar Limbu provided beverages for the occasion. Mrs. Jas Kumari Gurung, Mrs. Lal Maya Pun, Mrs. Dil Maya Thapa, Mrs. Masana Limbu, and Mrs. Saraswati Shahi were there selling drinks and refreshments.

The evening was co-hosted by Mr. Mitra Gurung, cultural coordinator, and Mrs. Sanu Subba, Assistant Ladies Coordinator. They blew the atmosphere and asked the secretary to speak about the health and safety of the evening as a norm. After the health and safety brief, Mrs. Sanu Subba welcomed everyone in a civilized way and asked the Chair/Trustee to say a few words. And Mr. Mitra Gurung, Cultural Coordinator, then blew away the evening. We were initially entertained by Mrs. Rupa Shrestha and Mr. Suman Chaudhari (newly married husband and wife) with their excellent dance, followed by an excellent song by Mansudhan Thapa Magar, followed by Sunita Dulal, and everyone had taken away by her melodious songs. Miss Sunita Dulal was followed by Babita (Jerry) Baniya, who stole the limelight in the evening with her comedy and hard-hit songs. Each performance had been enjoyed so energetically and overwhelmed everyone. More dances by Mrs. Rupa Shrestha followed it, and Mansudhan Thapa Magar's solo songs. Each performance was enjoyed by everyone so energetically. Finally, there was a dohori song between Miss. Babita (Jerry) Baniya and Mr. Udek Gurung, a resident of St Michael State, both coincidentally came from the same village in Gorkha and entertained the last 30 minutes of remaining time with their excellent dohori songs. It was very touching dohori to everyone.

Finally, just before midnight, the Chair/Trustee, Major Udaibahadur Gurung MBE, thanked Mrs. Kamala Khatri, who made the evening possible in Colchester, Miss Sunita Dulal, Miss Babita (Jerry) Baniya, Mr. Mansudhan Thapa Magar, Mrs. Rupa Shrestha, and Mr. Suman Chaudhari for their performance and presented them with a (Mayako Chino) in an envelope; also thanked the Area Reps (Mr. Mahesh Gurung St Michael, Mrs. Mina Gauchan Gurdon Road, Mr. Dhan Bhujuwar New Town, Mrs. Usha Gurung/Ghale Highwoods and Greenstead and Mrs. Jas Kumari Gurung Gurkha Home for their excellent efforts for selling tickets; thanked Mr. Mahesh Gurung for standing in as a sound system provider, which was excellent. Final words to thank were the refreshment provider Mr. Saroj Sherpa, Mr. Dambar Limbu, who provided beverages; Mr. Laxman Gurung, the assistant treasurer who was in charge of funds for the evening; and the ideal audience, who spared their time and attended the evening.

Overall, my thanks to the Master of Ceremony MC (duo), Mr. Mitra Gurung and Mrs. Sanu Subba, for their excellent hosting enjoyed by everyone. It was an excellent evening of musical extravaganza for those who attended the evening; well-done, everyone.

Major Udaibahadur Gurung MBE

Chair/Trustee

Colchester Nepalese Society