Saturday, March 19   04pm
P.S. 69 Jackson Heights
77-02 37th Avenue, Queens, NY 11372

‘Reviving Nepal Bhasa’ is a story of the an indigenous group of people of Nepal who are called Newars. They are considered the original inhabitants of Kathmandu Valley who are attributed to many of the art and architecture that decorate the valley. Newars speak Nepal Bhasa, different from that of the national language of Nepali and they have their own set of unique ritual activities and cultural norms. The history of Newar people is full of legends, foreign invasion and political oppression. Despite these obstacles, the Newars have managed to maintain their language and culture for centuries. In modern times, however, globalization is one challenge that has proven difficult to fight. Indigenous languages around the world, including Nepal Bhasa, are being threatened towards extinction at an alarming rate. Linguists claim that a language dies every 14 days. Shot on location around Kathmandu Valley, Oregon, and New York, Reviving Nepal Bhasa highlights the plight of the Newar people to maintain their precious heritage through preservation of Nepal Bhasa. UNESCO has listed Nepal Bhasa as definitely endangered, which means that children no longer learn the language at home. So how can Nepal Bhasa be saved? What would happen to the Newar people if the language disappears?

For more information and tickets to this screening visit: http://www.queensworldfilmfestival.com/