Kathmandu, February 8 The 8th edition of International Folk Festival is going to be held in Nepal from March 2 to 11 this year. Unlike in the past, the Festival will be organised in various places in the mofussil. The festival was capital city-centric earlier, said the organiser Everest Nepal Culture Group. At a press meet organised here today, ENCP President Ramchandra Koirala informed that the audience in Lalitpur, Banepa in Kavrepalanchowk, Trishuli in Nuwakot, Dhandingbesi in Dhading and Pokhara, among others places outside the Kathmandu Valley, would also get to watch the festival. More than 180 artistes from seven countries, including India, Bangladesh, Mexico, Estonia and Indonesia will feature with their respective cultural performances during the event. The artistes will also march in their respective national costumes in many places inside and outside Kathmandu Valley. In addition, cultural performances by foreigner artistes will be organised in various schools in the vicinity of Kathmandu Valley. The festival not only aims to promote the cultural aspects of Nepal in the international arena, but also disseminate the message that Nepal is safe for tourism, added Koirala. Also, speaking at the press meet, senior folk singer Narayan Rayamajhi argued that such cultural festivals should also be organised on the initiative of the government. ENCG has been organising the international folk festival in a gap of two years in Nepal since 2002.