Himalayan Orange Festival of Kolkata, good platform for Nepali products

By Our Correspondent,Hile, Dec. 13: The Himalayan Orange Festival has been held in Kolkata, India, for the past few years. 

The festival has, of late, become a good platform for promoting agricultural, domestic and tourism products from the districts of Koshi Province.  Nepal, India and Bhutan participated in the festival held in the city centre of Kolkata on December 6-8. It was organised by the Association for Conservation and Tourism. 

Agricultural products such as oranges and avocados from the Himalayan region were exhibited and sold at the festival.

However, the locals were more attracted to Nepali products than products from other countries and regions. Entrepreneurs who reached Kolkata were excited as they were able to promote and sell their products. 

Jitendra Rai, an agricultural entrepreneur from Dhankuta, said, “We face a lot of problems with our products in good countries, but by bringing them here, we could sell them, and our products were promoted. This festival was very fruitful for us and Nepal as well.” This is the sixth festival organised in Kolkata. Every year, different districts of Koshi Province of Nepal participate in the festival. 

This festival has been providing good support not only to the agricultural products produced in Koshi Province but also to the domestic and tourism sectors. 

At the festival, various products, including oranges, avocados, kiwis, and various pickles produced in cottage industries in Koshi Province, and local dishes were showcased while tourist destinations and homestays were promoted. 

 Stakeholders said that by showing these products, dishes and tourist destinations, foreigners could be brought to Nepal as tourists, Rai added. 

According to Arjun Karki, Nepal representative of the Tourism Promotion and Programme, the festival was a good platform to showcase the products from  Koshi and our tourist destinations in West Bengal. 

“The locals who want to visit here have already visited Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan. They are looking for new places, so this is a good opportunity for us,” said Karki.