ITAHARI: Purwanchal Mahotsab formally commenced in Itahari today. It was inaugurated by Nepali Congress senior leader and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

Prior to the inauguration, a rally started from the municipality office demonstrating the cultures of various castes and ethnic groups. Various organisations of ethnic groups, educational institutes, clubs and NGOs, security personnel, media persons and civil society participated in the rally.

The rally led by a band of naumati players marched around the city.

The artistic presentation of the students of a local school added attraction to it. The inauguration programme was attended by a considerable number of entrepreneurs of Itahari and the neighbouring districts.

Tanka Dulal, coordinator of the main organizing committee, in his welcome speech said that the Mahotsab would promote trade and business of the region. Ashok Tamrakar, president of Itahari Chamber of Commerce and Trade, Ganesh Dahal, executive officer of Itahari municipality, and others called for more such Mahotsabs.

Former PM Deuba said that the Mahotsab in the growing centre of Purwanchal would contribute to overall development of the region. More than 110 stalls related to agriculture, handicraft, herbal and local products have been put up. There is a children’s park, entertaining games and cultural programmes to be staged by artists of national repute.

On the first day of the Mahotsab, the street and the plants covered in dust in the main chowk of the city were cleaned with water from early morning. Diwas Pokharel, a local, however, said that the cleanliness of the city had been bland as the garbage was not collected in many parts of the city on Monday.

The Mahotsab will continue till December 13.