As Nepal embraced the auspicious beginning of Dashain with Ghatasthaapana celebrations, Leo Club of Kathmandu Himalayas Patan hosted a vibrant "Dashain Meet & Greet Fellowship Program" on Thursday, Ashwin 17, 2081 (October 3, 2024). The event, held at BK Center in Kupondole, Lalitpur, created a meaningful space for intergenerational connections as current members welcomed past presidents back to share their wisdom and experiences. This thoughtfully timed gathering not only honored the cultural significance of Ghatasthaapana—the formal beginning of Nepal's most important festival—but also strengthened the organizational culture of one of Nepal's oldest Leo clubs through celebration, reflection, and knowledge transfer.
The afternoon program, which began at 3:00 PM, seamlessly blended festive enjoyment with purposeful connection. Through dance, conversation, and shared celebration, current Leo members forged deeper bonds with each other while connecting with the club's rich heritage through interactions with past leaders. The presence of these alumni, particularly Past President Leo BK Raman Bhattarai from Leadership Year 2002, provided a living link to the organization's history and evolution over its five decades of service to the Kathmandu Valley.
Bridging Generations Through Shared Experience
This Dashain meet-up represented far more than a seasonal celebration—it created a rare and valuable bridge between Leo generations. In youth organizations like Leo clubs, where membership naturally turns over as young people transition through their educational and early career phases, maintaining organizational memory and continuity presents unique challenges. Events that bring together current and past members help address this challenge by creating direct knowledge transfer opportunities outside formal documentation.
The past presidents who attended shared not just memories but practical insights gained through their own leadership experiences both within the Leo Club and in their subsequent professional endeavors. These perspectives offered current members a broader understanding of how their Leo experiences can shape future leadership opportunities and personal development. For newer members particularly, hearing from alumni who have successfully translated Leo leadership skills into career advancement provides powerful motivation and concrete examples of the long-term value of their current service commitment.
Beyond specific knowledge transfer, these cross-generational interactions help current members feel connected to something larger than themselves—a continuing legacy of youth leadership and community service spanning decades. This sense of being part of an enduring tradition strengthens commitment and enhances the meaning members derive from their service activities.
Cultural Celebration with Organizational Purpose
By timing this fellowship event to coincide with Ghatasthaapana, the Leo Club demonstrated cultural mindfulness while creating a natural opportunity for celebration. Ghatasthaapana—the day when families traditionally establish the kalash (sacred vessel) for Dashain worship—marks the beginning of a festive period characterized by family reunions, celebration, and renewal of relationships. The Leo Club thoughtfully extended this cultural practice into its organizational context, treating the club as an extended family coming together at this auspicious time.
The venue choice of BK Center in Kupondole further enhanced the event's significance. As a space dedicated to spiritual growth and peace education, it provided an appropriate setting for an event that transcended mere entertainment to include deeper reflections on human life and inner peace. This dimension added substance to the celebratory atmosphere, creating a multi-layered experience that honored both the festive spirit of Dashain and the more profound aspects of human connection.
The inclusion of these reflective elements demonstrates the Leo Club's maturity in balancing enjoyment with meaning—a balance that characterizes the most successful youth development organizations. Rather than compartmentalizing fun and purpose, the club seamlessly integrated them, modeling how celebration and personal growth can naturally complement each other.
The distribution of gifts and souvenirs during the event served multiple organizational purposes beyond simple enjoyment. These tangible tokens of appreciation recognized members' contributions while creating lasting mementos of the event and the relationships formed there. The psychological impact of such recognition can be significant, reinforcing members' sense of belonging and validating their service contributions.
For the past presidents who attended, these gestures of appreciation acknowledged their continuing importance to the organization even years after their active leadership. This recognition helps maintain the vital alumni connections that provide both institutional memory and potential mentorship resources for current members. Organizations that successfully maintain relationships with past leaders gain access to expanded networks, historical perspective, and potential resources that strengthen their current operations.
The public acknowledgment of Past President Leo BK Raman Bhattarai's role in initiating and managing the event highlights another important organizational practice: recognizing the specific contributions of individuals whose initiative enhances the club's activities. By publicly crediting his leadership, the club reinforces a culture where member initiative is valued and celebrated, encouraging others to step forward with their own ideas for meaningful activities.
Creating Memories That Strengthen Organizational Culture
While the immediate experience of the Dashain Meet & Greet created joy and connection in the moment, its lasting impact lies in the memories created and the stories that will become part of the club's shared narrative. These stories—of dancing together, of wisdom shared by past presidents, of laughter and celebration at the threshold of Dashain—become touchstones that members reference in future interactions, strengthening their collective identity.
The photographs and social media posts documenting the event extend its impact beyond those physically present, allowing the broader Leo community to share in the celebration virtually. These visual records also become part of the club's historical archive, documenting not just formal service activities but the equally important relational dimensions of organizational life.
The timing of this fellowship event early in the Leo year provides momentum for the months of service ahead. By starting the year with a positive, relationship-building experience, the club creates emotional resources that will sustain members through the more challenging aspects of service leadership. The connections formed or strengthened during this celebration make future collaboration more effective and enjoyable.
A Model for Meaningful Organizational Celebration
The success of this Dashain Meet & Greet provides a replicable model for how youth organizations can create celebrations that meaningfully advance their developmental and organizational goals. Key elements of this success include:
- Aligning organizational gatherings with culturally significant occasions
- Creating intentional spaces for intergenerational knowledge exchange
- Balancing enjoyment with substantive reflection and learning
- Recognizing contributions and initiatives that enhance organizational life
- Documenting and sharing celebrations to extend their impact
- Using celebratory occasions to strengthen organizational identity and cohesion
By thoughtfully incorporating these elements, Leo Club of Kathmandu Himalayas Patan transformed what might have been a simple social gathering into a multi-dimensional event that advanced leadership development while honoring cultural traditions. This approach demonstrates how youth service organizations can craft experiences that simultaneously celebrate, educate, connect, and inspire—creating memories that strengthen both individual commitment and organizational culture.
