Nepal Scout volunteers presented enactments of the marriage traditions among Nepal´s diverse communities. They also presented the traditional dances of various communities. [break]
With cultural vignettes of communities from the Tharus in the Tarai to the Sherpas living near the Himalayas, the jamboree volunteers sent out a massage of cultural unity in the country and entertained foreign guests.
“I was shy to pose as a bride. But it was necessary to show foreign participants the marriage traditions of various Nepali communities,” said Sunita Marahattha, a jamboree participant. Priti Shrestha presented herself as the living goddess Kumari.
Chinmoj Kaur, a Bandaleshi participant, said he was amazed at the marriage traditions of Nepal.
Scout teacher Laxmi Panta opined that the publicity for Nepali culture would help attract tourists. “There is no country like Nepal in terms of cultural diversity and originality,” she said.
According to Sarita Budha, jamboree participant from Kanchanpur, the program provided a platform for cultural exchange and mutual understanding between Nepali participants from different cultures.
Government to mobilize million volunteers
Chief Secretary Leela Mani Poudyal said that the government would mobiles one million volunteers across the country. Speaking at the concluding ceremony of the jamboree, he said the government has started preparations for the program proposed by the Bhattarari government.
Poudyal requested jamboree participants to take part in the government´s campaign as Scouts possess all the qualities necessary for good volunteers. The Scouts and the proposed national volunteerism campaign share the same goal of producing able citizens and assisting in national development,” he said.
He hoped the jamboree would help participants inculcate the courage to cope with 3D--dirty, dangerous, difficult--situations during their lives. He urged Nepal Scouts volunteers to make a new beginning, leaving behind the scars of conflict.
Chief Scout Commissioner Sri Ram Lamichhane underscored the need for Scouts study in schools as this would help instill discipline and skills needed by the county. The jamboree, held after a gap of 26 years, was participated by round 5,000 Scout volunteers from home and abroad.
Related story
Unknown group vandalizes and robs Nepal Scout headquarters
