Branford Nepal Day Coverage - BCTV

Branford, CT. – After months of a collaborative effort between local officials in Branford and at
the state capitol in Hartford, Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz, Senator Richard
Blumenthal, First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, and several hundred families from the local Nepali
community celebrated the announcement of every July 15 as “Nepal Day” in Connecticut.
On July 15, 2023, Branford Community Television covered this day-long event exclusively, and
we have now released a short documentary. This historical display of Nepali culture
commemorated 76 years of good relations between the United States and Nepal. Branford
town council representative Ram Shrestha, one of the few Nepalis elected to political office in
the US, announced to the crowd that day, “I came to this country with $400 in my pocket, and
now I am living the American dream!” Shrestha worked for over a year with Nepali families in
Branford, West Hartford, Stamford, Bridgeport, Storrs, and several other Connecticut cities and
towns where Nepali families have settled. For the celebration, Connecticut’s Nepali community
organized a parade, traditional music, a carnival and rides for children, and a live performance
on the Branford Green soundstage by the Nepali pop-rock band “Unplanned.” The day-long
event also included Nepali art, food, and displays, which shared information about Nepal’s
history and attractions.
Branford Community Television (BCTV) is a non-profit station that provides local public access
to our television studio and equipment. We also broadcast governmental and educational
programs on three channels for cable television subscribers in our community of 28,000
residents. Viewers can watch BCTV on cable and stream our programming on YouTube and
Vimeo. Our station is proud that the documentary “Nepal Day” was shot, produced, and
distributed by producers, interns, and staff who work voluntarily or part-time.
The Nepali community here in Connecticut has responded warmly and graciously to the
documentary and looks forward to sharing this event with the world. We hope you will take the
time to watch the video on the following link, and we look forward to hearing what you think of
our coverage of this visual spectacle and joyous event for and by the Nepali people of our state: