Kedarnath festival begins in Jumla

By Netra Shahi,Jumla, Aug. 29: A grand festival has begun at Kedarnath Budbudi Sthan, Sinja Rural Municipality–4, Jumla.

The festival, organised by the rural municipality, was inaugurated by Karnali Province's Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment Krishna Kumar BC on Sunday. Expressing happiness at being able to visit Kedarnath, BC stressed the need for developing infrastructure to preserve and promote Sinja's culture and history.

The Minister hoped that the festival would help the world learn about Karnali's Masto culture and Jumla's art, culture and history. He also said that if the rural municipality prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR), the provincial government would endorse it and develop the area.

The province's Minister for Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperative Bhim Prakash Sharma, who was the chief guest at the programme, said Jumla's agricultural products gave identity to entire Karnali. He also assured that the provincial government would help in the marketing of native crops like Marsi, Chinu and Kaguno,  and fruits like apple. 

Minister Sharma also officially launched the Apple Day, announced to be celebrated on Sunday, Bhadra 10, according to the Nepali calendar.

Deputy Speaker of Karnali's Provincial Assembly Yasodha Neupane called for formulating a policy for Karnali's religious and tourist destinations. 

Chairman of Sinja Rural Municipality Purna Prasad Dhital expressed dissatisfaction that locals go on pilgrimages far away while not paying much attention to such a significant site nearby. He informed that the local government organised the Kedarnath Festival to change this.

The festival began on Sunday and will end on Tuesday. This is the first edition of the festival and on the first day, around 5,000 people attended, according to the rural municipality.