6th Lumbini Festival to begin today

By Our Correspondent, Bhairahawa, Nov. 22:The preparations for the 6th Lumbini Provincial Festival 2080 to be held in Bhairahawa with the slogan of promoting industry, trade, agriculture and tourism have been completed.

The 13-day festival being organised by Rupandehi Chamber of Commerce and Industry is scheduled to start at Anchalpur of Bhairahawa from November 22, 2023.

Organising a press conference on Tuesday, President of Rupandehi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Darpan Shrestha said that 95 per cent of the work of the festival has been completed.

As an attraction of the festival, the main gate has been constructed in the form of an airplane, he said.

Stating that tourism is the basis of Lumbini's economic development, the airport which was constructed by investing billions of rupees was not operated, he said that the shape of the airplane was constructed at the main gate of the festival to build pressure on the government to run the airport.

Shrestha said that by bringing artists from India and spending about Rs. 500,000, the shape of the airport was built.

He said that in addition to the Pashupatinath temple, the audience will get enough places for entertainment including the construction of a children's garden.

He said, "The aim is to promote new technologies of agriculture and industry and promote tourism."

Before the opening of the fair, a public awareness rally will be held on Wednesday morning.

Likewise, a monitoring committee will be formed to make people aware of the quality of the stalls that will be placed in the fair.

In the programme, the consultant and cultural coordinator of the organisation Narayan Bhandari suggested that the government start organising the festival in many places across the country.

He said, "Although the festival is going to be organised as pride of Lumbini Province, there is no support from the provincial government."

Bhandari said that there is no support from the government for all the work done at the local level to develop industry, agriculture and tourism.

There is free entry to the festival until 11:00 am and after that fees will be charged.

General secretary of the organisation Laxmi Adhikari said that they have a target to generate a turnover of Rs. 250 million during the festival.

The Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies of the federal government Minister Ramesh Rijal is scheduled to inaugurate the festival amidst a function.