Artists and writers from 11 countries on trek on Mundum trail

Taksar (Bhojpur), April 23: More than 40 artists and writers from all seven provinces of Nepal and 11 different countries have jointly undertaken a walk on the Mundum Trail. 

Project Director and cultural expert Dr Bhakta Rai said that the first phase of the litterateurs' conference and visit under the global project promoting the Mundum Trail has been completed.

"Artists and writers from all seven provinces of Nepal and 11 countries of the world were taken on a hike together and an international creators' conference was also held in this connection," he said.

Dr Rai expressed confidence that this trekking expedition of artists and writers will help introduce the Mundum trail to the international community.

International litterateurs expressed their happiness to have had the opportunity to visit Mundum trail while participating in the conference.

A working paper was presented at the conference covering topics such as the naming of the trail as the Mundum trail, what Mundum is, which ethnic group first settled in this area, which ethnic groups currently reside here, the climate, geography, and environment of the area, and the flora and fauna found in the Mundum trail area.

Under this global project, Nepali and foreign participants will be taken on direct visits and provided with complete information about the Mundum trail through other means, after which they will be encouraged to compose songs about the Mundum trail.

The goal is to have songs composed by domestic and foreign creators recorded by domestic and foreign singers.

From outside Nepal, participation included creators such as Dr Surendra Chamling, Prashant Thulung, Durga Rai from Darjeeling, India; Mohan Dungmali from Sikkim; Dhanraj Rai,  and Dilkumar Rai from Bhutan; Lin Zhong, Rong Zhang from China; Stephen Fodham from Australia; Zahid, Erkan Tetik from Turkey; and litterateurs from Russia, Singapore, the Philippines, Japan, Korea and other countries.

Chairman of Temkemaiyung Rural Municipality, Saroj Basnet, said that such programmes will contribute not only to the development of Eastern Nepal but also to the overall development of the nation. (RSS)