Ratnanagar festival brings 180,000 visitors till 9th day

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 20: The flow of visitors at the 12th edition of Ratnanagar Festival organised by the Ratnanagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Chitwan, at Tikauli Chaur is increasing every day. Thousands of people are observing the festival every day, said Shankar Giri, President of the Ratnanagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and coordinator of the festival organiser committee.

The special features of the festivals like agricultural products, motorboats and cultural houses in the festival are attracting visitors. Maize crops have been planted in the agricultural section of the festival area. A statue of maize and a house built from the maize stands here. Likewise, a statue of a cow with a calf sucking milk has been constructed in the agricultural complex. It also has a fish pond and a mushroom tunnel.

According to the organiser, there is a crowd of people watching and taking photos of these features in the agricultural complex. Likewise, visitors are attracted to the traditional houses of different castes built in the festival venue. According to Giri, the number of people who took a motorboat ride, which is kept for the first time in the history of the Ratnanagar Festival, was remarkable.

Similarly, the goods produced by women entrepreneurs are also relatively sold during the festival. The women have produced homemade pickles, handicrafts, gundruk and other materials and exhibit them for sale at the festival. The dairy products produced by the cooperatives have also found a good market in the festival. Agriculture and tourism have been given priority in the festival. There are 450 stalls, including industry, trade, agriculture, tourism, local art and culture in the festival.

It is expected that more than 300,000 visitors will observe the festival and the turnover will be more than Rs. 250 million, Giri said. He said that the observers have been visiting the festival as expected and the festival is getting closer to achieving its objective. About 180,000 visitors have visited by Friday, according to the organiser. Up to 36,000 visitors have observed the festival in a single day. The festival that kicked off on January 11 will continue till January 22.