08 April 2009

Formidable National Games opening ceremony

I was not able to witness it as I am currently out of the country, but by all accounts the 5th National Games opening ceremony was impressive. Here is an excerpt of an email I received from a friend about the extravaganza:

"I watched briefly on NTV the inaugural ceremony of Nepal's 5th national sports competition. The cultural shows and fireworks were quite impressive. Jeevan Ram Shrestha tried to emulate the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic. While we still have a long way to go, it was a good effort.

"The songs and dances were very patriotic, and quite touching under the overall theme of 'unity in diversity' 'bibidhatama yekata' - a very appropriate theme at a time when ethnic chauvinists are arousing narrow-minded passions in the name of federalism."