ITAHARI: Preparation for the Purvanchal Festival scheduled from November 30 to December 13 has been intensified. Itahari Chamber of Commerce and Industries — the main organiser — said in a press meet organised at the festival venue here today that stalls are being constructed in the open space of Biratnagar Line.

Preparation for a children’s park is also underway at the same venue. The organisers said that 50 per cent of the children’s park has been completed.

According to Jagadish Sapkota, coordinator of the campaigning sub-committee, they are building fences around the venue for security. He also said that they have speeded up the publicity about the festival by different means such as pamphleteering and announcements. Fifteen gates will be constructed in and around the city.

Separate camps of AFP and Nepal Police will be established in the venue for the security of the participants. A procession of the people of Muslim community will also be taken out before the inauguration of the festival.

Umesh Poudel, general secretary of Itahari Chamber of Commerce and Industries, said 60 stalls were already booked for handicrafts, herbal medicines, education and health including others. Altogether, there will be 125 stalls in the festival. Nationally famous artists, including actors of famous teleserials Meri Bassai and Jire Khursani will also stage performances during the fair.

Another attraction of the festival is the world’s shortest man Khagendra Thapa Magar and Nepal’s shortest woman Manju Thapa Magar.

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries and Ministry of Commerce are also the organisers of the fair. The sponsors are Sukam Power Company Pvt Ltd, Jagadamba Steel, Healthy Production Pvt Ltd Itahari and Herbal Cosmetics. PLO Lubricants, Biratchowk, Toyata House, JBS Industries, Pathibhara Lila Traders, Itahari, Asian Thai Foods are also sponsoring the programme.

The official bank of the festival is Bank of Asia, while the official media is the Annapurna Post, Nepali language national daily.