KASKI: Visitors to Pokhara will get an opportunity to experience the colors, traditions and festive spirit of Dashain at a special cultural event planned for October 25.
The Dashain Tourism and Cultural Festival will take place at Barahi Ghat in Lakeside on the occasion of Kojagrat Purnima. The event is being organized by the Women Tourism Entrepreneurs Forum (WOTEF).
The festival will be held under the theme “Tika, Jamara and Kite Flying – Celebrating Dashain with Tourists in Pokhara.” Organizers say the program is designed to introduce visitors to the cultural traditions and festive practices associated with Dashain.
According to event coordinator Uma Bhandari, tourists visiting Pokhara will be welcomed with tika and jamara, two important symbols of the festival. Visitors will also be able to participate in kite flying and enjoy cultural performances.
The program will include performances representing different ethnic communities and traditions from across Nepal. Food stalls will offer traditional Nepali dishes, while local entrepreneurs will have an opportunity to display handicrafts, cultural products and tourism-related goods and services.
Organizers said the festival is intended to give Dashain a wider tourism dimension by allowing visitors to experience the festival together with local communities. They hope the event will provide tourists with a closer understanding of Nepali customs, food and lifestyle.
Pokhara Tourism Council Chairperson Hari Bhujel said cultural events such as this could help connect the city’s tourism industry with its cultural heritage.
WOTEF Founder Chairperson Jamuna Parajuli said the program would provide an opportunity to present Pokhara’s cultural identity to visitors alongside its well-known natural attractions.
WOTEF Chairperson Mamata Neupane said the festival would allow tourists to experience another side of Pokhara by bringing together the city’s art, culture, traditions and hospitality.
With Dashain falling during an important tourism period, organizers expect the event to offer visitors a chance to celebrate alongside local people while experiencing the cultural traditions that make Nepal distinctive.