Day 100: Nepali Cultural and Spiritual Center, Euless, Texas
📌APIA Every Day (100) - The Nepali Cultural and Spiritual Center, situated in Euless, Texas, is an upcoming project set to become a cultural hub for Nepalese immigrants and their families in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. With an estimated cost of $6 million, the project will be developed in three phases to accommodate the growing Nepali population, which now stands at around 40,000 in North Texas. Its mission is to provide a common gathering place for Nepali Hindus and Buddhists to preserve their cultural heritage, promote social and religious harmony, and practice Nepali cultural values, thereby fostering a sense of community and unity among Nepali immigrants.
The new center will feature a 15,000-square-foot community center offering various services such as medical facilities, tutoring rooms, a cafeteria, and a business incubation center. Subsequent phases will involve the construction of Hindu and Buddhist temples, meticulously designed replicas of shrines from Kathmandu, Nepal, alongside a prayer and worship hall. The final phase will focus on wedding venues for Hindu and Buddhist ceremonies.
Nepalese immigration to the U.S. has evolved over time. Historically, the community faced barriers due to restrictions on emigration from Nepal. Formal recognition of Nepali immigrants occurred in 1975, but significant increases in immigration didn't occur until factors like the Diversity Visa Program and the Nepalese Civil War, which lasted from 1996 to 2006. This violent conflict displaced many people, particularly in western Nepal, prompting more Nepalis to view immigrating to the U.S. as an option.
Despite challenges, various immigration pathways, including education visas, Temporary Protected Status, and DACA, exist for Nepali immigrants. Emerging enclaves like "mini-Nepal" in Jackson Heights, Queens, reflect the growth of the Nepali community in the U.S. Alongside centers like the Irving Nepalese Cultural Center, which has now expanded to the Euless Nepali Cultural and Spiritual Center, these institutions play a vital role in aiding integration and preserving cultural identity among Nepali immigrants in the U.S.
LEARN MORE:
AAPI History Museum: Nepali Migration to the United States
Nepalese Society, Texas: Welcome to Nepalese Society, Texas (NST)!
The Dallas Morning News: Nepali center nurtures next generation
Harvard University: Euless to Get Nepalese Community Center With Hindu, Buddhist Temples
Nepali Cultural and Spiritual Center: Euless Project
Dallas Observer: How Did Irving Become One of the Country’s Most Vibrant Nepalese Food Enclaves?
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