This Is How The Street Festival Began In Pokhara 2024 The weather in Pokhara is cloudy on Saturday. The sky has not cleared. The mountains are covered. The cold has increased as the sun has not shone.
Even in the cloudy and cold weather, Pokhara businessmen are excited to welcome the English New Year. They have blocked traffic on the 3.5-kilometre road from Shahid Chowk to Khahare in Lakeside. They have put up various food items to sell on the road, from handicrafts to books.
To inaugurate the festival, groups from the youth clubs, women’s groups, and business groups took out a rally with tableaus on Saturday afternoon.
According to festival coordinator Bikash Bhattarai, more than 60 groups from Pokhara took part in the rally with tableaus. The rally, which was held with traditional costumes and musical instruments, ended at Komagane Park in Lakeside. Where the inaugural ceremony of the festival was held.
It has been 26 years since the festival was organized to celebrate the English New Year. Rewan Pokhara President Bishwaraj Poudel said that the festival was organized in this way to fill the void of the ‘off-season’.
According to Ashish Puri, director of Prachar Nepal Pvt. Ltd., who is in charge of the concert, the concert will feature artists such as Sabin Rai and the Sarrow, Purna Rai and Dajubhai, Dong, Devendra Bablu and Firante, Inflame Band, among others. The main stage of the festival will be at Komagane Park.
In addition, preparations have been made to present cultural programs by setting up 3 stages on the Lakeside road every evening. Where local art and culture will be showcased.
According to Ashish Puri, director of Prachar Nepal Pvt. Ltd., who is in charge of the concert, the concert will feature artists such as Sabin Rai and the Sarrow, Purna Rai and Dajubhai, Dong, Devendra Bablu and Firante, Inflame Band, among others. The main stage of the festival will be at Komagane Park.
In addition, preparations have been made to present cultural programs by setting up 3 stages on the Lakeside road every evening. Where local art and culture will be showcased.
Pokhara Mayor Dhanraj Acharya said that he is also in favour of not competing with festivals.
He also claimed that he has tried to prevent the festivals from competing. Stating that the metropolis will support the street festival, he said that it will always be with the businessmen in the development and promotion of Pokhara’s tourism.
Minister for Information, Communications and Technology Prithvi Subba Gurung, who inaugurated the festival, said that activities like the street festival should be held at other times as well. Stating that Pokhara is a centre of tourism, he suggested that programs that attract tourists should be continuously conducted.
“After one program is over, another type of program can be organized. Which can attract the attention of tourists,” he said, “The flood of tourists coming to Pokhara in the new year can give a positive direction to the country’s economy.” He suggested that businessmen and all three levels of government should work together to establish Pokhara as a tourist city.