A ‘Dashain Tourism and Cultural Festival’ will be held in Pokhara to give people an in-depth experience of Nepali culture and tradition. Event Coordinator Uma Bhandari said the festival will be held on Kojagrat Purnima day – October 25 – at Barahi Ghat ground in Lakeside.

The festival, organised by the Women Tourism Entrepreneurs Forum (WOTEF), aims to break the tradition of Dashain as a mini holiday break for the family and provide an opportunity for domestic and international tourists to experience Nepali culture, lifestyle, food and customs. Tika and jamara (traditional paste of vermillion and sacred barley shoots) will be offered to the tourists who visit Pokhara. Visitors are also able to join in a kite-flying competition. There will also be traditional cultural events of various ethnic groups and communities at the festival.

They will also get to enjoy local products, handicrafts, cultural items and local businesses related to tourism and traditional Nepali cuisine. It would be beneficial to link Dashain with tourism, as it would not only promote the cultural heritage of Pokhara but also tourism as well, said Pokhara Tourism Council Chairperson Hari Bhujel.

WOTEF Founding Chairperson Jamuna Parajuli said that the festival would be an opportunity to promote Pokhara’s culture and identity as part of its tourism. WOTEC Chairman Mamata Neupane stated that the festival would provide an opportunity for visitors to explore not only the natural beauty of Pokhara, but also its art, culture and traditions.