Teej Festivals Cancelled Across Canada Following Devastating Nepal Floods - News Directory 3

Teej Festivals Cancelled Across Canada Following Devastating Nepal Floods

August 31, 2026 Ahmed Hassan World
News Context
At a glance
  • They are suffering, they're crying, people are mourning and we cannot just celebrate ...
Original source: globalnews.ca
Nepalese communities across Canada have cancelled annual Teej cultural festivals following devastating flash flooding in Nepal and China that killed approximately 800 people and left roughly 3,000 missing, according to reports by The Canadian Press and CTV News. The disaster struck on August 26, 2026, when a glacier collapsed in the Himalayan border region, triggering a torrent of water and debris down the Trishuli River basin. Canadian families with relatives in the region are now scrambling for updates as foreign affairs officials and local diaspora groups respond to the unfolding crisis.

Teej Festivals Cancelled Across Canadian Cities

Organizers in cities including Toronto, Brampton, and Calgary called off celebrations for the Hindu festival of Teej over the weekend of August 29–30, 2026. The traditional festival celebrates womanhood through fasting, singing, and dancing. Punam Dhungel, president of the Nepali Canadian Women’s Society of B.C., told The Canadian Press that her organization cancelled its sold-out event for the first time in its history. The group decided to redirect $15,000 in ticket sales from roughly 300 attendees to humanitarian relief efforts.

Now the main thing is how to support the victims in Nepal. They are suffering, they’re crying, people are mourning and we cannot just celebrate … so we just decided, OK, let’s cancel for now and support the victims. That’s more important for now.

Teej Festivals Cancelled Across Canada Following Devastating Nepal Floods
Photo: ca.news.yahoo.com
Punam Dhungel, Nepali Canadian Women’s Society of B.C. Sudarshan Sapkota, president of Nepalese Canadian Community Services in Toronto, told The Canadian Press that members of the diaspora are receiving numerous calls and messages from relatives trying to reach family members in Nepal. Sapkota noted that while two of his friends working on hydro-power projects were rescued safely, a third remains missing inside a tunnel. Sports clubs and community organizations across Canada have shifted their focus to soccer tournaments and other events to raise disaster relief funds.

Canadian Families Plead for Answers Amid Missing Persons Crisis

Aftermath of massive flooding in Nepal. (Associated Press)
Photo: ctvnews.ca
Global Affairs Canada confirmed that at least 30 Canadians and permanent residents are among the thousands missing in the remote disaster zone. Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated on social media that one Canadian previously unaccounted for had been located safe. Families in Canada continue to await news of loved ones trapped in the hardest-hit areas. Anoop Misra told CTV News that his wife, Swati Bagrecha, was inside a border-crossing building along the Tibet-Nepal border when the flash flood hit on August 26. Bagrecha had completed a 14-day pilgrimage and was visiting the area at the tail end of her trip. Misra reported that her phone continues to ring, and he calls it once daily to preserve battery life while traveling to India to join family. Keval Shah of Port Moody, B.C., told CTV News that he last spoke to his brother and sister-in-law, Dhaval and Megha Shah, on August 23. Rescue operations are severely hampered by thick layers of accumulated mud in the remote terrain, making access difficult for emergency workers.

Scientific Context and Government Response

Nepali American Organization of Ohio cancels Teej celebration near Kent State University
Scientists attribute the flash flood to a glacier breaking off high in the Himalayas. Anurag Maloo, a mountaineer and founder of The Voice of Glaciers Foundation, told CTV News that the sheer magnitude of the disaster is staggering and warned that the region remains unstable as further glacier breakdowns are possible in the coming days. Authorities in Nepal and China have cautioned that the death toll will likely climb as rescue teams dig through heavy debris. Nepalese authorities issued warnings on August 30 urging residents in flood-affected districts to remain on high alert for potential fresh flooding. In response to the disaster, the federal government of Canada announced $5 million in urgent humanitarian aid to support relief operations in Nepal.

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