Like in years gone by, Creative Statements has already short -listed the nominees of the 8th Celebrating Womanhood day and is all geared up to bring them before the exposure by felicitating them for what they have done from their sides to strengthen women empowerment and to build up confidence within themselves to prove that they are no less competent than their male counterparts when it comes to working efficiently.
Last year’s Celebrating Womanhood saw a large numbers of nominees from South Asian countries like India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan receiving awards for their socially motivating causes in their respective countries. In its 8th edition this year, the recipients to be felicitated are all from Nepal, reveals the mind behind the ceremony, creative consultant Shrijana Singh Yonjan.
Apart from a few from Kathmandu, most of the recipients are from Bardiya, Janakpur, Pokhara, Sunsari, and Makawanpur this year.
“Our concern is not to honor those women who are initiating social activities commercially. We don’t want to pay respect to those who are already somebodies. We’ve been trying hard to bring out those nobodies of the dark corners of Nepal who are figurative personalities in reality,” said Yonjan, highlighting the objective of the annual award function.
Daughter of the late maestro Gopal Yonjan, Shrijana mesmerized the audience in last year’s Celebrating Womanhood by creating a stage act on her father’s acclaimed composition, “Danphe Chari”. Even this year, she promises that people will get to listen to some of his father’s soothing music compositions blended with some fusions in form of traditional dances.
Following its tradition of honoring women in nine categories resembling them as the nine forms of Goddess Durga – Bhagawati (for Media), Saraswati (for Knowledge), Lakshmi (for Growth), Karuna (for Compassion), Mahamaya (for Theater), Annapurna (for Art), Bhawani (for Sports), Durga (for Warrior), and Shakti (for Extraordinary Strength) – each category will be followed by dance sequences choreographed by Birendra Hamal.
The dances are choreographed uniquely to compliment and beautify the beautiful compositions of the late Gopal Yonjan. According to Shrijana, she has prepared six dance sequences complimenting the six climatic seasons of Nepal – Grishma, Barsha, Sharad, Hemant, Shishir, and Basanta. The bonus is that Yonjan herself will be performing in these traditional numbers along with other professional dancers.
“My choreographer and I have designed these numbers uniquely so as to resemble each time of the year to women’s attributes and expressions. I’m pretty sure people will admire our efforts,” she explained.
Disappointed with the corporate bodies of Nepal for their hesitation in supporting this event, Creative Statements is hosting this function somewhere else and not in a 5-star hotel for the first time since it inception.
Yonjan explained the reason, “I consistently waited these many years for large scale corporate bodies to support this cause financially. That’s why I kept on hosting the event at 5-star hotels where a lot of the who’s who from the corporate world came and appreciated the initiative. But when it came to contributing a minimum share, many have often suggested to me to rather host a fashion show with models showing their thighs if I wanted financial help from them.”
That is why, says Yonjan, she is hosting the show at a smaller venue with minimum and essential invitees this year.
Supported by the Embassy of Denmark and Yeti Airlines, Yonjan claims that Celebrating Womanhood is a different approach to promoting deserving women of Nepal.
She made it straightforward in conclusion, “I don’t think I’m doing any social work. I’m doing what I’m supposed to. I’m not even a feminist but I’ll do anything required to promote the women of Nepal. I don’t like the idea of different I/NGOs taking on some street children or trafficked women and claim that they are protecting women’s rights to life and freedom. Until we dig down to the source and see the problems, we can’t do anything. Call me “artivist”, not “activist.”
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