Festival to promote Chundi Ramgha as tourist destination begins

By Our Correspondent,Tanahun, Dec. 26: The first ‘Bhanu Nagar Festival’ is being organised to develop the birthplace of Nepal’s pioneer poet (Adikavi) Bhanubhakta Acharya as a literary and cultural destination in Bhansar, Bhanu Municipality-1, Tanahun. 

Organised by the Bhanu Nagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the festival began on Tuesday and will continue till January 5, 2025. 

Chandra Prasad Dhakal, President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), inaugurated the festival. 

Speaking on the occasion, Dhakal highlighted that such festivals not only provide a market for local products but also contribute to the preservation of culture, language, and tourism development. 

He emphasised the importance of promoting Bhanubhakta Acharya’s contributions, which unified the nation through  language, and highlighted the need to transform his birthplace, Chundi Ramgha, into a prime tourist destination. 

He urged everyone to work collectively to attract tourists to the area. 

Krishna Kumar Shrestha, President of the Bhanu Nagar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Coordinator of the Festival’s Main Organising Committee, said that the festival was organised to promote the largely overlooked birthplace of Bhanubhakta. 

The organisers expect more than 100,000 visitors and economic transactions worth Rs. 6.4 million during the festival. 

To ensure its success, the organising committee has formed 39 working committees under the main organising committee, informed General Secretary Krishna Chandra Koirala.

The festival features various programmes, including visits to Bhanubhakta’s birthplace, Chundi Ramgha, and surrounding areas, industrial exhibitions and sales, displays and sales of oranges, lentils, ginger, and fresh vegetables, amusement fairs, a duet song competition among popular artists, and presentations showcasing indigenous attire, traditions and culture, said Koirala.

Speakers at the event included Anand Raj Tripathi, Chief of Bhanu Municipality,  Amrit Bhattchan, President of FNCCI Gandaki Province and others. They expressed their belief that the festival would significantly contribute to establishing Bhanubhakta Acharya’s birthplace, which has been neglected, as a key destination for literary tourism.