Musical festival draws crowd to viral mustard village

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Myagdi, Feb.1: Ratnechaur, a popular tourist village in Beni Municipality-1 of Myagdi district, was crowded with domestic tourists on Friday. A musical festival organised in the vast mustard fields, which had burst into full bloom, drew large audiences.

Known for its a “viral mustard field”, Ratnechaur attracted hundreds of visitors from Beni, Jaljala in Parbat, Baglung and surrounding areas. 

Tourists enjoyed live duet performances by the popular Indreni Group during the musical festival. Locals also showcased their traditional art, culture and attire.

The musical festival, organised to promote tourism, featured live duet performances that echoed across the village throughout the day, adding to the festive atmosphere.

Social worker and festival coordinator Netra Bahadur Mahat said the event was organised with the aim of promoting Ratnechaur as a tourist destination.

 “Through this musical festival, we aim to promote the mustard fields, strengthen the village’s identity, and honour local art and culture while boosting tourism,” he said.

Krishna Kandel, head of the Indreni programme, said the group brought the musical event to Ratnechaur to help introduce the village nationally and internationally and contribute to tourism promotion.

From December to February, Ratnechaur sees a steady flow of domestic tourists who visit the area to enjoy the bright yellow mustard fields spread across the plains. 

Visitors also enjoy views of the Dhaulagiri range in the background, along with scenic rural landscapes of Myagdi, Baglung and Parbat districts.

The mustard fields of the now-viral village have become a popular destination, especially during holidays, with many visitors making TikTok videos and short clips. 

Tourists can be seen enjoying the flat plains covered in blooming mustard, along with the neatly paved blacktopped road running through the fields. The greenery of young wheat crops growing between the yellow mustard flowers has added beauty to the area’s visual appeal.

A local, Bharat KC, said hundreds of tourists visit Ratnechaur daily to take photos and make videos, using the mustard fields on both sides of the blacktopped Ratnechaur-Arjam-Jyamrukkot road, the open mountain views and the smooth road as a backdrop.