ITHARI: Work for the Purvanchal Mahotsav to be held in Itahari of Sunsari from November 30 to December 13 is complete, the main organizer — Itahari Chamber of Commerce and Industries — said today. “All stalls for festival have been booked till today,” Tanka Dulal, president of Itahari Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said.

According to Sunil Agrawal, coordinator of the stall management committee, 15 stalls for automobiles, 10 for agriculture, five for information and technology, five for sandals and shoes, 16 for fast food, 11 for garments, 15 for service-oriented organizations, 10 for constructions gear, five for handicraft items, nine for hotels and nine for miscellaneous items have been booked. There will be 125 stalls.

The organizers said the festival would be formally inaugurated by former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at 1 pm on Monday. For security purposes, two teams of 25 civil police and 30 armed police personnel will be mobilized round the clock till the festival ends. “Besides, a team of 40 security guards will provide security at the stalls,” festival publicity coordinator Jagadhish Sapkota said. He said Nepal Telecom has allocated a one-line telephone for the festival. Water and electricity facilities have also been managed. Sapkota said visitors would be thoroughly entertained by different national and local artistes. National artistes and their groups like Jire Khursani team will perform for two days, Meri Bassai group for two days, Manoj Gajurel for two days, Anju Panta for a day, Himal Sagar for two days, Dhiraj Rai for two days and Aabha Mukarung for two days. The festival will also showcase cine artistes Dilip Rayamajhia and Jharana Thapa while local eastern regional music school and eastern regional music society will present their alfresco performances. Organizers said 15 welcome gates have been erected for the publicity programmes.

Over two lakh people are expected to visit the festival while the expectation of financial mobilization is over Rs 40 million. Expenditure cost for the festival will be as much as Rs 3 million rupees during the festival period.