Nanda Kulu is a true "sister of the spirit" to MacroSun. She is very engaging, with a broad smile, infectious laughter and vibrant energy, all present in a five-foot frame. Gil, the owner of MacroSun International, first met Nanda in 1993 while walking along the back roads near Durbar Square in Kathmandu, Nepal. Nanda and her husband Ganesh own two musical instrument shops, one in the heart of Kathmandu's business district and the other in the popular tourist area of Thamel.

Nanda lives nearby,  in a traditional three-story home with beautiful wood carvings and old brick that dates to the 13^th century. This architecture is typical of Newari culture, the oldest tribe in the Kathmandu Valley. Nanda and her family work with local drum makers and other artisans in Nepal and Calcutta, India. Each musical instrument is hand selected, finely tuned and very popular with local Nepal musicians - and with MacroSun's customers in the United States.

Nanda's shops are cozy and densely packed with wonderful handmade wooden madals, khin or patchima, which are traditional Nepalese drums. Hanging from the ceiling are larger shamanic drums, sitars and sarangees of many sizes. On the walls are flutes and beautiful damarus, the Tibetan ones made with elaborate cloth and the Nepali ones of copper. Damarus are the instruments of Shiva often carried by saddhus and holy people.

When guests arrive in the shop, a young boy offers each a seat on a small stool and small glass of milk tea carried on a plate. Conversation in the shop is friendly and personal, and there is no pressure to buy anything. A family member is behind the counter, ready to assist.

Nanda's family is lively and energetic. She has four teenage boys by birth and two adopted

Nanda's generosity has extended to volunteer work with Mitrata-Nepal Foundation (in Neplai, mitrata means friendship), a charitable organization that helps underprivileged children attend school, get medical care and live healthier lives. Nanda also recently opened a home for orphans in Kathmandu that serves eight children.

Born in Darjeeling, India, Nanda was very poor, did not go to school and many times went hungry for lack of food. Today, Nanda is dedicated to helping children become educated and to free themselves from poverty.

MacroSun has bought many traditional musical instruments from Nanda’s shops, thus providing a market for the local artisans, helping Nanda's family and contributing to the Mitrata-Nepal Foundation. 

The relationship between Nanda and MacroSun has gone beyond business to a deep and abiding friendship, a special loving connection. It was a great honor. in the 1995 Nepalese festival of Tihar, for Gil to share "Bhai Tika" with Nanda and her family, a special kind of blessing given to brothers by their sisters. In this ritual, sisters honor their brothers with an elaborate ceremony of blessings and the sharing and giving of food and gifts. Gil was honored as a brother. 

In 1999, Nanda came to St Louis and stayed with Christine of MacroSun for six months, learning English and visiting the MacroSun International family. The following year, Christine went to Nepal to visit Nanda and share the experience of trekking in the Himalayas, puja (worship) with her family and helping with the Mitrata-Nepal project for children.

In 2002, Christine and Nanda opened the orphan's home for children in Kathmandu. During Christine's visit, she and Nanda walked high into a village to find Ishwori, an 8-year-old girl who was sick with pneumonia. Since the deaths of both of her parents, the girl had wandered from village to village to get food. Ishwori became the first girl to live in the children's home. For more information about child sponsorships and how you can help, visit www.mitrata.org.

We look forward to Nanda's son, Arun, arriving in the U.S. next year to study at the university and stay with us. The link between Nanda of Kathmandu and MacroSun International is strong, ongoing and a true cultural exchange. We are proud to have Nanda as our partner and sister of the spirit.