Ama Ghar Celebrates the Festival of Lights

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The Festival of Lights, known as Tihar in the Kathmandu Valley, was happily celebrated last week by the Ama Ghar kids, their aunties and uncles and visitors. The most beautiful ceremony of the entire festival is the Newari tradition of Mha Puja, or celebration of the self. At this event, intricate and beautiful designs are drawn on the floor where …

The Art of Being a Child

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Art, music and dancing are so much a part of the culture in Nepal that children learn to participate at a very young age. When the children came to Ama Ghar from their villages and neighborhoods, they were already talented performers and artists, and we encourage them to express themselves freely. Some of our children play guitar or piano, many …

A Cultural Lesson for the Ama Ghar Artists

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Thought you’d enjoy this photo of some of the older children learning more about Newari culture! Bonnie took Ama Ghar’s five best artists  to an art exhibit in Kathmandu, highlighting ancient Newari art. Newars are the majority people of the Kathmandu Valley, and they have a wonderful tradition of visual arts, including painting and carving. This particular show was of religious …

Poonam Reports from Kathmandu

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Ama Foundation Board Member Poonam Mudvari filed this report from Kathmandu – all good news! “I attended an annual PAC ( Project Advisory Committee) meeting with Bonnie and few of the Ama Ghar Board members at the Social Welfare Center in Kathmandu. We met with representatives from Social Welfare Council, Ministry of Women and Chidlren and a few other organizations …

Mha Puja

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Although this holiday was celebrated last month, we thought you’d be interested in reading Trish McCulley’s account of a beautiful Nepali holiday, which originated with the Newars of Kathmandu valley. Enjoy! “Ama Ghar celebrated Mha Puja this year on Saturday, November 6th. Mha Puja is a Newari festival celebrating ones physical self. I have come to think of it as …