Jersey City Declares September Nepal Heritage Month, Honoring a Community’s Culture and Contributions

Nepalism Exclusive | JERSEY CITY, N.J.— September now holds a lasting place for Nepal in Jersey City’s civic calendar. The Municipal Council passed a historic resolution at City Hall on September 23, 2026, designating September of every year as “Nepal Heritage Month.” For Nepali Americans, the designation offers recognition of both their ancestral heritage and the work through which they help shape their American hometown—from running businesses and serving families to preserving culture and participating in public life.

Co-sponsored by Ward C Councilperson Tom Zuppa and Councilperson-at-Large Rolando Lavarro, the measure recognizes the Nepali community’s contributions to the city and creates an annual opportunity to share its history, languages, traditions and achievements with residents across communities. The city’s filed Resolution No. 26-584 records a unanimous 9–0 vote.

A Community’s Contributions Enter the Civic Calendar

The resolution recognizes a growing Nepali community whose contributions extend across entrepreneurship, education, healthcare, professional service, the arts, volunteerism and advocacy.

It also acknowledges the everyday ways heritage enriches Jersey City: through languages spoken at home, food shared with neighbors, music and dance, traditional clothing, spiritual observances and festivals that connect generations.

An annual heritage month gives those contributions a recurring public platform. It offers schools, cultural institutions, businesses and community organizations an opportunity to introduce residents to Nepal and to the experiences of Nepali Americans.

Why September Matters

September connects Nepal’s national history with its cultural calendar. Nepal Constitution Day, or Samvidhan Diwas, is observed on September 20 to commemorate the promulgation of the country’s constitution in 2015.

The period also encompasses important seasonal observances. Haritalika Teej brings women together through music, dance, prayer and traditions associated with red attire; Rishi Panchami follows Teej. In the Kathmandu Valley, Indra Jatra celebrates living cultural traditions through chariot processions, masked dances and community gatherings. Nepal Tourism Board describes it as an eight-day festival associated with the beginning of the autumn festival season.

Festival dates follow the lunar calendar and shift from year to year. Depending on the year, September may also include preparations for or the beginning of Dashain. Together, these observances provide a meaningful setting for a month devoted to learning about Nepal’s diverse heritage.

Here’s the Full Text of the Resolution

The presentation-copy text supplied to Nepalism is reproduced below without changes.

OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK

CITY OF JERSEY CITY

NEW JERSEY

Resolution

A RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER AS “NEPAL HERITAGE MONTH” IN THE CITY OF JERSEY

WHEREAS, the City of Jersey City is one of the most ethnically, culturally, linguistically, and internationally diverse cities in the United States, enriched by generations of immigrants and diaspora communities whose cultures, traditions, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, and public service contribute to the social and economic fabric of the city; and

WHEREAS, Jersey City has consistently ranked among the most diverse cities in the United States, including recognition as the nation’s most diverse city in previous national studies and continuing to rank among the country’s leading cities for ethnic diversity; and

WHEREAS, a significant portion of Jersey City’s residents are foreign-born, and numerous languages are spoken in homes throughout the city, reflecting Jersey City’s enduring identity as a welcoming home for immigrants and a place where diverse communities preserve their heritage while participating fully in American civic life; and

WHEREAS, the Nepali community of Jersey City has become a vibrant and growing part of this multicultural landscape and has made meaningful contributions to the city through entrepreneurship, professional service, education, healthcare, social services, arts and culture, community leadership, civic engagement, volunteerism, and advocacy; and

WHEREAS, Nepali Americans and Nepali-speaking residents have enriched Jersey City by sharing Nepal’s languages, music, dance, cuisine, traditional dress, festivals, spiritual traditions, community values, and commitment to family and service, while building bridges among cultures and generations; and

WHEREAS, the month of September holds special historical and cultural significance for the people of Nepal and the global Nepali diaspora, making it an appropriate month for Jersey City to recognize and celebrate Nepali heritage; and

WHEREAS, Nepal Constitution Day (Samvidhan Diwas) is nationally observed on September 20 to commemorate the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal in 2015, an important milestone in Nepal’s modern democratic and constitutional history; and

WHEREAS, on October 1, 2025, the City of Jersey City formally recognized Dashain and Tihar through an official City Proclamation, honoring two of Nepal’s most important cultural festivals and celebrating the heritage and contributions of Jersey City’s Nepali community; and WHEREAS, the City of Jersey City has also recognized Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar, a member of the Jersey City Women’s Advisory Board, for her pioneering community leadership and her role in building bridges between the City of Jersey City and the Nepali community and advancing significant civic and cultural milestones; and

WHEREAS, these achievements reflect Jersey City’s commitment not merely to diversity in population, but to meaningful inclusion, representation, cultural preservation, civic participation, and mutual respect among the many communities that call Jersey City home; and

WHEREAS, establishing Nepal Heritage Month will provide an annual opportunity to recognize the history, culture, traditions, achievements, resilience, and contributions of Nepali people; educate the broader public about Nepal and Nepali American heritage; encourage intergenerational cultural preservation; and strengthen relationships among Jersey City’s diverse communities; and

WHEREAS, Nepal Heritage Month will further encourage schools, community organizations, cultural institutions, businesses, public agencies, and residents to participate in educational, artistic, cultural, civic, and community programs celebrating Nepal and the Nepali diaspora; and WHEREAS, recognizing Nepal Heritage Month is consistent with Jersey City’s longstanding commitment to celebrating the immigrant communities whose talents, traditions, labor, leadership, and aspirations have helped make Jersey City one of America’s most dynamic and diverse cities;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Municipal Council of the City of Jersey City that the month of September each year is hereby recognized and designated as “Nepal Heritage Month” in the City of Jersey City.

ATTEST:

Sean J. Gallagher,

City Clerk

Tom Zuppa,

Councilperson Ward C

Rolando R. Lavarro,

Councilperson-At-Large

Municipal Council names and titles:

Denise Ridley, Councilperson, Ward A

President of the Municipal Council

Rolando R. Lavarro, Jr., Councilperson-at-Large

Michael O. Griffin, Councilperson-at-Large

Mamta Singh, Councilperson-at-Large

Joel A. Brooks, Councilperson, Ward B

Thomas Zuppa, Jr., Councilperson, Ward C

Jake Ephros, Councilperson, Ward D

Eleana Little, Councilperson, Ward E

Frank E. Gilmore, Councilperson, Ward F

President Pro Tempore

Nepali Heritage in One of America’s Most Diverse Cities

The designation reflects Jersey City’s broader identity as a place where immigrant communities help shape civic, cultural and economic life.

WalletHub’s 2026 study ranks Jersey City second nationally for ethnic diversity, comparing more than 500 cities through measures of race and ethnicity, language and birthplace. Its accompanying analysis reports that only 49 percent of Jersey City residents speak English exclusively at home—a reminder of the many languages through which families maintain and pass on their heritage.

Within that multilingual landscape, Nepal Heritage Month offers a way for one community to share its experiences while strengthening connections with others. It also gives younger Nepali Americans an opportunity to encounter their heritage through public education, cultural programming and community participation.

Building on Years of Municipal Recognition

The September designation follows a series of earlier actions linking Jersey City and its Nepali community.

The city’s filed resolution recounts Council resolutions in 2015 and 2018supporting Temporary Protected Status for Nepali nationals and families affected by Nepal’s devastating 2015 earthquake; Nepal flag-raising ceremonies at City Hall in 2017 and 2021; and the establishment of a sister-city relationship with Indrawati Rural Municipality in 2019. It also recognizes the October 1, 2025, city proclamation honoring Dashain and Tihar.

These milestones connect humanitarian solidarity, cultural visibility and international friendship. Nepal Heritage Month builds on that history by establishing a recurring observance for the entire city.

Recognizing Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar’s Community Leadership

The resolution expressly recognizes Dr. Bishnu Maya Pariyar, a member of the Jersey City Women’s Advisory Board, for her community leadership and her role in strengthening ties between the city and its Nepali residents.

An Annual Invitation to Learn, Share and Participate

The resolution encourages schools, public agencies, businesses, cultural institutions, community organizations and residents to participate in programs celebrating Nepal and the Nepali diaspora.

That invitation could take shape through exhibitions, conversations with community elders, language activities, performances or educational programs exploring Nepali American experiences. Such activities would give residents opportunities to learn about one another and allow younger generations to help carry cultural knowledge forward.

Beginning with its September 23 decision, Jersey City has given that work an annual place in its civic calendar. Every September offers an opportunity to celebrate Nepali heritage and the contributions of the people who make it part of the city’s shared life.