Suna Sangini Sangini Bhet

Ah, marriage. It’s either something you grew up dreaming about (specifically the wedding), dreading the day that you’re expected to do it or somewhere in between. This episode we invited Nirvana, feminist writer and digital activist, for a candid conversation to reflect on the following questions: a) In Nepali society, what is the view on marriage, b) what are the expectations of marriage, and c) personal experience navigating these expectations. Grab your cup of chiya, coffee or water and press play.

Guest Speaker:
Nirvana Bhandary (IG: @nirvanabh_)
Feminist writer and digital activist

The F Project Nepal (IG: @thefproject.nepal)
Writer's collective and platform for feminist storytelling

Nirvana Vibes (IG: @nirvanavibes.ktm)
Startup enterprise that curates events and experiences for women

Grab a cup of your chiya of choice and listen to our reflections on our time in Nepal! Our Sanginis - Anustha (https://www.instagram.com/anusthashrestha/), Sweta (https://www.instagram.com/processing07/), and Shreya (https://www.instagram.com/sincerelyshreya/) describes what it was like being back after years, the adventures they embarked on, meeting Nepali celebrities, attending shows written by queer playwrights, the food they ate, friends and family they saw...and much more. We hope this episode brings you comfort, memories of home, new ideas of what to do in Nepal, and some new foods to test out.

Find us here:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanginibhet/
Website: https://sanginibhet.org/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/392358748353043
Email: sanginibhet@gmail.com

Welcome back to another episode on Suna Sangini and Happy New Year to all. We have been working on this episode for awhile during the spirit of the holidays. We hope you join us in this episode to unpack two auspicious festivals, Dashain (Vijaya Dashami) and Tihar (Deepawali and Yamapanchak or Swanti). As a lot of us continue our journey, Sanginis couldn’t help but pause and reflect on our relationship with these two festivals. Join Sweta and As Ha as they briefly share a general introduction to the festivals (according to Wikipedia). Followed by a roundtable discussion with members, Shreya and Paridhi. We unpack the following:
0:00 Introduction to the Episode
2:55 What is Dashain and Tihar
9:20 RTT: How do you celebrate?
22:40 RTT: Reminiscing on food and games
25:51 RTT: What do these holidays mean to you?
32:00 RTT: Creating space for your celebration outside of Nepal
42:26 RTT: What to do during US holidays?
51:31 RTT: Has your relationship with D&T changed or evolved?
1:12:18 Big picture summary

We hope this episode also inspires you to share your experiences, insights or questions with us on either of our platforms (enter info IG, FB, email). *Note: May include audio inconsistency to accommodate and include members from different locations*

Take a look at the clothes you are wearing right now or consumer products you are using today - who made them? How many times have you worn them? And why should we care? Join Sabrina Singh and Haushala Gurung Thapa for a conversation that is both fun and deep, touching on why fashion is worth talking about, what sustainability means, and how sustaining practices already exist in many Nepali cultures. We also talk about mental health, the implications of sustainable fashion on Nepal’s development, and so much more. And stay tuned for Sweta Shrestha's take on our conversation at the very end. 

Haushala Gurung Thapa is an educator by profession. She runs a school dedicated to marginalized children in Godavari and is the co-founder and creative head of Haushala Creatives, a cooperative supporting women and youth from marginalized communities. She is also the Country Coordinator for Fashion Revolution, a global network of designers, educators ,students and activists working towards human and environmental justice related to fashion.

Let us know your thoughts at sanginibhet@gmail.com or by finding us on Facebook and Instagram. 

Welcome to part two of episode 1 of the Sangini Bhet podcast, Suna Sangini!
This episode focuses on the topic of self-care as an essential part of being able to show up for our community. As we heard from the last episode, COVID-19 crisis is pushing our limits and forcing us to re-examine our ways of being, connecting, and disconnecting with ourselves as well as with each other. We recognize the need to explore different methods of self and community care during this time.
We invited Manaswi, one of the Sangini members to share her practices of self-care, followed by a 10 minute guided meditation. We saw how powerful the use of our hands and breathwork can be in reconnecting with ourselves, tune into our body and release the mixture of feelings that may drive us to isolate or go on overdrive (leading to burnout). Here we'll discuss one of the ways we've practiced self-care including an audio recording of the guided meditation.
How to Help/Resources:
> Donate to Operation Two Meals: https://www.gofundme.com/f/operation-two-meals
> Bighnaharta Nepal on Instagram, DM directly to get involved: https://www.instagram.com/bighnaharta_nepal/
> Bighnaharta Nepal on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bighnahartanp/
> Nepal Rising is a non-profit working for relief, rebuilding & resilience of communities in Nepal. Find them on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/nepalrising/, sign their petition to urge the US government to send emergency aid to Nepal here https://www.change.org/p/urge-us-government-to-send-emergency-covid-19-vaccine-humanitarian-aid-to-nepal?pt=AVBldGl0aW9uABOutgEAAAAAYJ3nwMdLHs45YTU0Mjc5Yg%3D%3D&source_location=topic_page and learn about their advocacy here: https://nepalrising.org/page/covid-advocacy
> Alliance for Nepal is a group of volunteering individuals and organizations that have come together to help the country tackle the second wave of COVID-19 from local to national level. Find them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/CovidAllianceForNepal/, sign their petition to get COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal https://www.change.org/p/ambassador-randy-berry-get-covid-vaccines-to-nepal-asap-and-prevent-a-humanitarian-disaster and follow them on Twitter here https://twitter.com/alliance4nep?lang=en
Where to find Sangini Bhet:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanginibhet/
Website: https://sanginibhet.org/ 
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/392358748353043
Email: sanginibhet@gmail.com

Welcome to the first episode of the Sangini Bhet podcast!
On today’s episode, we discuss the COVID-19 crisis in Nepal. As the pandemic lessens in areas like North America, our family, friends, and community in Nepal face the dire second wave of the virus. Many of us may be feeling alarmed, anxious or uncertain. We might be going through grief or the shouldering responsibility to provide and care for others. To our community, listeners, and readers - you must be wondering:
> How can I easily and quickly learn about the COVID-19 crisis in Nepal?
> How can I help mitigate this crisis if I am not in Nepal, if I am not Nepali?
> What can I share on social media and to my network?

Our guests, Ankita Shah, an executive board member of Bighnaharta Nepal (a not-for-profit organization based in Kathmandu, Nepal established by a group of Nepali youths with the mission of creating self-sustainable communities in the most remote parts of the country) who is currently focused on “Operation Two Meals” an effort to make food supplies and medicines accessible to the pandemic affected people in Nepal and Manaswi Sangraula speak to how you, as a listener, can help fight against COVID-19 in Nepal and methods of self-care to overcome fear, anxiety, and stress.
How to Help/Resources:
> Donate to Operation Two Meals: https://www.gofundme.com/f/operation-two-meals
> Bighnaharta Nepal on Instagram, DM directly to get involved: https://www.instagram.com/bighnaharta_nepal/
> Bighnaharta Nepal on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bighnahartanp/
> Nepal Rising is a non-profit working for the relief, rebuilding & resilience of communities in Nepal. Find them on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/nepalrising/, sign their petition to urge the US government to send emergency aid to Nepal here https://www.change.org/p/urge-us-government-to-send-emergency-covid-19-vaccine-humanitarian-aid-to-nepal?pt=AVBldGl0aW9uABOutgEAAAAAYJ3nwMdLHs45YTU0Mjc5Yg%3D%3D&source_location=topic_page and learn about their advocacy here: https://nepalrising.org/page/covid-advocacy
> Alliance for Nepal is a group of volunteering individuals and organizations that have come together to help the country tackle the second wave of COVID-19 from local to national level. Find them on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/CovidAllianceForNepal/, sign their petition to get COVID-19 vaccines to Nepal https://www.change.org/p/ambassador-randy-berry-get-covid-vaccines-to-nepal-asap-and-prevent-a-humanitarian-disaster and follow them on Twitter here https://twitter.com/alliance4nep?lang=en

Where to find Sangini Bhet:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanginibhet/
Website: https://sanginibhet.org/
Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/392358748353043
Email: sanginibhet@gmail.com