Celebrating Nepali New Year at BestStart Stoddard Road
At BestStart Stoddard Road, we love celebrating the rich cultural backgrounds of our tamariki and whānau. Recently, we were delighted to come together to celebrate Nepali New Year, also known as Bikram Sambat, marking a time of renewal, joy and fresh beginnings.
Our centre was filled with excitement as tamariki explored Nepali culture through meaningful, hands-on experiences. We shared conversations about Nepal and what New Year means to families who celebrate it, supporting children to develop respect for different cultures and traditions. Kristina (Kiara’s mum) led a mat time with tamariki, sharing about her culture.
Tamariki engaged in creative activities inspired by Nepali celebrations, including using vibrant red colours, singing, dancing to cultural music and making flags. Traditional music created a joyful atmosphere, and children enjoyed dancing and movement, building confidence while expressing themselves.
A special highlight of the celebration was the support from our whānau. Parents generously brought in traditional Nepali dishes for the children and teachers to share. This created a rich sensory experience and allowed tamariki to learn about cultural food practices in a safe and inclusive way.
Celebrating events like Nepali New Year supports our commitment to inclusion, belonging and the principles of Te Whāriki. It helps tamariki see their own identities valued while learning about the diverse world around them.
We are grateful to our families who share their cultures with us and help make our learning community so special. We look forward to continuing to celebrate the many cultures within our BestStart whānau and creating meaningful learning moments together.
नयाँ वर्षको शुभकामना! (Naya Barsa ko Subhakamana – Happy New Year!)