Fargo-Area Bhutanese Celebrate Cultural Festival

FARGO, N.D. (AP) -- Members of Fargo-Moorhead's Bhutanese community are celebrating a cultural festival this week.

The Forum newspaper reports that the Dashain Festival kicked off Sunday afternoon at the Holiday Inn, which employs about 40 Bhutanese workers. There was traditional music, folk dancing, comedy skits and other presentations. Guest artists came from Minneapolis and Sioux Falls, S.D.

Another celebration was planned Wednesday at the CHARISM Family Center. The festival ends Thursday with the Bhutanese community receiving blessings from elders.

There are more than 700 Bhutanese in the Fargo area. The number has been steadily rising since the first refugees from the country hit by ethnic fighting arrived in 2008.

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