Kathmandu: In a move to promote and preserve age-old indigenous traditions and cultural heritage, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-1 has, for the third consecutive year, organised Nagpokhari Festival in and around the historical site of Nagpokhari. The festival, which began on August 10 and continue till August 14, will have a medley of exiting events that includes bishesh nagpuja (special worship), lakhe dance with jhanki (an ethnic entertainment show), bhakti sangeet/ sastriya sangeet (devotional songs), games, ramailo mela (fun fair), live dohori performances, performances by top ten Samsung Nepali Tara singers and nauka bihar (boating). Besides, there are various decorative stalls with traditional Nepali handicrafts, handwoven fabrics and other artefacts on display. Not to mention, the delectable Newari food items that you simply can’t let go of without trying a bite.

“We have a rich culture and we want to revitalise it. We don’t want it forgotten with western influences overpowering our own. We have a temple of Naxal Bhagwati in the vicinity, which was built during the reign of the Lichchhavi dynasty. The temple is the richest after the temple of Lord Pashupatinath, though it is in a dilapidated state and is in urgent need of renovation. We hope that the festival helps us to collect money enough to renovate it. We have other temples of historical and cultural import like Shankar Koti Mahavihar that we want refurbished and developed as tourist spots,” says Yogendra Kumar Shrestha, ward chairman, Kathmandu Metropolitan City-1.

“Nepal Tourism Board has been instrumental in contributing adequate financial assistance,” adds Shrestha. The organisers are optimistic that the festival would be a grand success. —HNS