Children's TV Evangelism
Nepal: Children's Show Celebrity Encounters "Happy" Mob
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CBN.com - NEPAL - When we think of a celebrity getting mobbed by his fans, we usually are not picturing a large floppy-eared dog wearing glasses. But in Nepal, “Happy” the mascot co-host of CBN’s Khushi Ko Sansar (English title, Happy World) has attained celebrity status with the Nepali children. When Happy appeared at a Christmas program sponsored by CAR-Net (Children At Risk Network) in Kathmandu on December 12, 2010, everyone was surprised to witness just how popular he was with the children.
Each week, Happy World, a 30-minute children’s TV program, airs in homes across Nepal, India, United Kingdom, and Pakistan. The hosts and characters weave truths and values from the Bible into the weekly shows that have won several awards for children’s TV programming and have an average daily audience of over two million viewers.
The Christmas program was held for about 1200 children, many orphans, from children’s homes around the Kathmandu Valley. The event producers asked Bipin, a local believer and businessman who loves to joke around, to play Happy. Narayan, who dubs Happy’s voice into the Nepali language for the television program, and Kripa, who dubs the voice of Didi, were also there to speak at the event.
Robert Piaskowski, CBN’s ministry partner and a leader in the CAR-Net effort, gave this account of the program:
- Bipin dressing up as Happy
- Goodbye Bipin - Hello Happy
- Happy, Narayan and Kripa
- Happy and Kripa (Didi) on stage
- Happy's Big Welcome
- Happy surfs the crowd
- Happy and his fans
- Happy and his fans
- Happy says Goodbye
“Didi took the stage while the theme song for “Happy World” played, talked to the children for a while, and then called for Happy to join her. Narayan sat behind a table next to the stage piled high with audio equipment. He watched what was going on and spoke into a microphone for Happy's dialogue, and everything went great.
Happy and Didi invited the children to send them pictures and join the Jesus And Me Club, and then wished them a Merry Christmas.
Didi asked the children to stay seated so that Happy could walk around and greet all of them. Instead, the children sitting near the stage mobbed Happy as he approached.
A couple of event workers tried to lead Happy all the way to the back of the crowd, but had to give up. Everyone wanted to touch Happy and one boy was even caught yanking on Happy’s ear.
Finally I tried to lead Happy away from the stage and crowd. No matter where we went or how much I tried to shoo away the kids, we could not away from them. So, I helped Bipin crawl into his car, still wearing the giant Happy head. The rest of our team crammed in too, and we drove off into the sunset.
Actually we stopped just around a bend so Bipin could take off the head and top part of the costume. This was Happy’s first live appearance in Nepal, and it was a great success. The kids loved him.
Please continue to pray for us as we share Jesus with the children of Nepal. Thank you – your prayers are the foundation of our work here.”
This is one example of the many ways that CBN's children's TV programming is making a difference in the lives of young children across the globe. When you partner with CBN, you help fund the broadcasts of many indigenous TV programs that present the truths about Christ to children and adults; as well as help fund clean water projects, medical missions, disaster relief, provide for orphans, and many more needs that please God. For less than 67 cents a day, you can join with CBN partners to help change the world for Christ.
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