Pokhara plans street festival in New Year

By Our Correspondent,Pokhara, Dec. 13 : Preparations are underway to grandly welcome the upcoming English New Year in the tourism capital, Pokhara. The 27th Pokhara Street Festival is set to take place along the Lakeside of Fewa Lake from December 28 to January 1.

The festival has been held along a nearly three-kilometre stretch of road from Fishtail Gate to Khahare in Lakeside. 

With the slogan ‘Let’s eat on the street, dance on the street, and celebrate on the street,’ the festival is expected to contribute to the promotion of tourism in Pokhara.

The organiser, REBAN Pokhara, has been preparing for the event. 

As part of this preparation, the organisers held discussions with heads of various security agencies on Friday to strengthen the security arrangements.

 In the meeting, Kaski Chief District Officer Rudradevi Sharma said that security management had been satisfactory in the past years and assured that the administration would extend its support this time as well.

Stating that the situation this year is somewhat different from previous years, she said that no effort would be spared in ensuring tight security. 

Heads of security agencies also expressed their commitment to working in a planned manner to maintain safety throughout the festival.

Participants in the interaction included Kaski Assistant Chief District Officers Chitrangat Baral and Shiva Lamsal, Lieutenant Colonel Rajendra Pudasaini, head of the Nepal Army’s Krishna Dal Battalion in Fulbari Barracks, Kaski District Police Office Chief SP Nabin Karki, APF SP Surya Prasad Timilsina of Kalika Battalion, NID Kaski Deputy Director Mohan Bahadur Kunwar, and Baidam Ward Police Office DSP Namaraj Bhattarai, among others.

At the programme, Naresh Bhattarai, Coordinator of the Street Festival Security Committee, highlighted the strategies to be adopted by the organisers to ensure a well-managed festival.

He said that the use of internal and external roads around Lakeside during the festival period would be coordinated with the security agencies.

Maniraj Lamichhane, Head of Nepal Tourism Board, Gandaki, pledged support to promote the festival nationally and internationally.

Former REBAN Pokhara President Gopi Bahadur Bhattarai urged government authorities to monitor the festival and take action against anyone violating the rules.

REBAN Pokhara President Bishwaraj Paudel said that the organisers would coordinate closely with security agencies to prevent any untoward incidents during the festival.

Caption: Discussion with security agencies on Friday regarding the Pokhara Street Festival to be held during the English New Year.