OTTAWA — Nepalese community organizations across Canada have decided to cancel their annual cultural festivals in response to the catastrophic flash flooding that recently struck Nepal and China. This weekend normally marks the annual Teej festival, a significant Hindu celebration honoring womanhood. However, in cities such as Toronto, Brampton, and Calgary, organizers have opted to forgo the celebrations due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
Punam Dhungel, president of the Nepali Canadian Women’s Society of B.C., revealed that her organization canceled their sold-out event for the first time in history. “It is a time where women come together to pray, fast, sing, dance, and celebrate their tradition,” she explained. “We were excited and had been planning for over two months. It was a hard decision, but given the recent disaster in Nepal, we felt this was not the right time to celebrate.”
Instead of proceeding with the festival, Dhungel's organization has chosen to redirect their $15,000 in ticket sales, which were intended for about 300 attendees, directly to humanitarian relief efforts. “The main priority now is supporting the victims in Nepal. They are suffering, mourning, and we cannot just celebrate at such a time,” she stated. “We decided to cancel the event and focus on helping those affected.”
The flash flooding, which occurred on August 30, 2026, claimed approximately 800 lives and left around 3,000 individuals missing, following a glacier collapse in the Himalayan border region between Nepal and China. Authorities in Nepal have warned of potential further flooding, urging residents in affected districts to remain on high alert.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand confirmed via social media that one Canadian, previously unaccounted for, has been found safe. Meanwhile, Sudarshan Sapkota, president of Nepalese Canadian Community Services in Toronto, shared that many in the Canadian diaspora have family members in Nepal who have been impacted, with some still struggling to contact loved ones. “We are receiving countless calls and messages from family members trying to reach their parents or relatives, but unfortunately, many are still out of contact or missing,” he lamented.
Sapkota has multiple friends who are involved in hydropower projects in the area, stating, “Two of my friends were rescued and are fine, but one is still unaccounted for. He was inside one of the tunnels, and we don’t know where he is. The family is extremely worried.” The sentiment of devastation and heartbreak resonates throughout the entire Nepalese community across Canada, as they grapple with the aftermath of this disaster.
Despite the grave circumstances, Sapkota noted that many sports clubs and community organizations have initiated fundraising efforts to assist with disaster relief, managing to raise thousands through soccer events and other gatherings. In a show of support, the Canadian federal government has pledged $5 million in urgent humanitarian aid to assist Nepal in the wake of this crisis.
