The Down East Saloon will host a benefit on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 2-5 p.m. for the family of Hari Pariyar, who along with three other family members died in the plane crash near Pokhara, Nepal, on Jan. 15.
Pariyar is survived by his wife, Corrina, and their two daughters Occia Dil Kumari and Ramona Anandamaya, as well as Pariyar’s eldest daughter Sushmita from his first marriage, according to an obituary written by Corrina. She wrote that Pariyar was in Nepal to visit his first wife, Rita, and children Laxmi and Krish, and that the family was aboard the flight to Pokhara to celebrate Krish’s birthday.
Pariyar had traveled to Nepal alone this past December. Corrina Pariyar wrote that she “had wanted to travel with him, as I have mostly accompanied him,” but medical issues concerning their youngest daughter prevented the family from traveling together. After the tragedy, Corrina and Sushmita Pariyar traveled to Nepal to be amongst family and to attend a cremation ceremony “alongside the Bagmati river at the [sacred] Pashupatinath Temple” following Hindu tradition, according to the obituary.
Hari and Corrina Pariyar met in Kathmandu in 2013, and Hari immigrated to Alaska in March 2015. A month later, Nepal was hit by a magnitude-7.8 earthquake, the worst natural disaster in that area since 1934, according to reports from that time. “Hari was heartbroken by this, and as a community in Homer we came together to raise a substantial amount of money to send back to those who were suffering from that experience,” Corrina Pariyar wrote.
Pariyar’s wife described him as “very giving person” with a huge heart and a sharp intellect. “He could do what he put his mind to,” she wrote. “Just this past year he picked up carpentry and we had almost finished the construction of our own home together; this entirely by his own hands and my help.” She also wrote that he was a “dedicated landscaper” and that he loved to sing and dance.
“We fell in love dancing at the discotheques in Kathmandu. I will always remember he told me that I ‘danced like freedom,’” she wrote. “I know he will be missed by the community he found in Homer this way too.”
The event will host live music from local reggae band UPLIFT! and musicians Dave Gerard, Jim Maloney, John English and Jacques Longpre. The saloon is also sponsoring a pasta feed for $10 per plate. All proceeds will go towards supporting Pariyar’s wife and daughters.
There will be a silent auction and a live dollar auction held, as well as donation jars made available at the event. Items to be auctioned are currently being accepted for donation.
Benefit organizer Beth Carroll said of community response to ongoing support efforts for the Pariyar family, “This is what Homer does well. Whatever … divides us, when members of the community need help, we help.”
If you would like to make a donation prior to the benefit, donation jars are currently available at the Fritz Creek General Store, Cole’s Market, Panama Reds Gardening Supply, Down East Saloon and Kharacters Alaskan Bar.
For more information or to make a donation, contact organizer Beth Carroll, 907-299-4929.
The GoFundMe campaign previously reported on by Homer News is also still active. Donations can be made and words of support shared at https://gofund.me/1b2beed3.
