Kaski, October 01
The tourism capital, Pokhara, is set to organize the ‘Dashain Tourism and Cultural Festival’.
The festival will be held under the slogan, “Tika, Jamara, and Changa Chet – Celebrating Dashain with Tourists in Pokhara.” Program coordinator Uma Bhandari informed that the event will take place on the occasion of Kojagrat Purnima, coming up on Kartik 8 (October 24), at the Barahighat Ground in Lakeside.
According to Bhandari, the festival aims to extend Dashain—Nepal’s major festival—beyond a purely family celebration, offering tourists a direct opportunity to experience Nepali culture, traditions, culinary heritage, and lifestyle.
Tourism-related organizations in Pokhara have collectively committed their support to ensure the success of the event, which is organized by the Women Tourism Entrepreneurs Forum (OTEF). Various prominent figures in the sector emphasized that the festival should be promoted as a joint initiative of Pokhara’s tourism industry.
Key highlights of the festival include offering Tika and Jamara to domestic and international tourists visiting Pokhara, hosting a kite-flying (Changa Chet) competition, and featuring authentic cultural performances from diverse ethnic communities.
Bhandari added that traditional Nepali cuisine, arts and culture, heritage items, local products, and tourism-related business activities will also be incorporated into the event.
Hari Bhujel, President of the Pokhara Tourism Council, stated that linking Dashain with tourism provides a great opportunity to promote both local culture and tourism hand-in-hand.
“Dashain is deeply rooted in our original culture and traditions. By connecting it with tourism, we can offer visitors from around the world an authentic taste of our heritage. This is not just an event by a single organization; all tourism-related entities in Pokhara must take ownership of it as a shared program,” said Bhujel.
Jamuna Parajuli, founding president of OTEF, noted that the festival serves as a platform to showcase Pokhara’s identity and culture as a unique tourism product, emphasizing that collective collaboration is essential.
Likewise, OTEF President Mamata Neupane expressed confidence that the festival would succeed in bringing local art, culture, and traditions to tourists alongside Pokhara’s natural beauty. “Our goal shouldn’t just be showing tourists around Pokhara, but creating an environment where they return home having genuinely experienced our culture,” she said.
Rastriya Samachar Samiti
