Dozens of people from Sacramento’s Nepali community gathered at the State Capitol on Sunday night to honor victims of floods and landslides in Nepal.<\/p>\n
Rescues are still underway, with more than 5,000 people missing and more than 1,300 confirmed dead.<\/p>\n
The event included a prayer for those who lost their lives in the flooding and landslides near the Chinese-Nepali border.<\/p>\n
The event was organized by the Nepali Language School of Sacramento.<\/p>\n
“We are saying that Nepal, you are not alone. We support you, we are with you,” Krishna Giri, the Chief Servant of the Nepali Language School, said.<\/p>\n
Thirteen-year-old Aava Ssrestha, a student at the Nepali Language School, served as the emcee for the event. She moved to the U.S. when she was 3 1\/2 years old.<\/p>\n
Her family still in Nepal are safe, but she said she feels the pain of families whose loved ones have not been found.<\/p>\n
“We are supporting them because there are families there who have lost their relatives’ lives. We are trying to help them and just support them in any way,” Ssrestha said.<\/p>\n
People from many different backgrounds came to the Capitol, where the event included speeches, prayers and a candlelight vigil.<\/p>\n
Jagan Mohan, president of the Indian Association of Sacramento, attended to show his support.<\/p>\n
“India and Nepal share much more than the borders. The culture, the friendship and the traditions. So, we are with the Nepal friends and brothers,” Mohan said.<\/p>\n
The local Nepali community has also held multiple fundraisers to support victims’ families.<\/p>\n
Mishan Giri said he organized a soccer match last week that raised $2,500.<\/p>\n
“Nepal is not alone. Just because we are now Americans does not mean that we don’t forget where we are from,” Giri, who is from Nepal, said.<\/p>\n
The Nepali Language School of Sacramento has set up a GoFundMe page<\/a> to help the families of victims.\u00a0<\/p>\n