Bhaktapur, 28th December: The three-day ‘Madhyapur Mahotsav’ organized by Madhyapur Thimi Municipality after 26 years has seen a huge influx of visitors. On the second day of the festival today, a large number of people have come to observe the festival from Shankhadhar Sakhwa Chowk to Balkumari, Chapacho, and Bahakha Bazaar.
There was a high presence of visitors in the stalls where local dishes such as Yomari, Bara, Chatamari, Newari Khaja were kept. The attraction of the visitors to the festival was more seen in the food stalls of Aila, Chhyang, as well as Newari dishes. Today, there was a significant presence of domestic and foreign tourists including MP Durlav Thapa, Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City Chiribabu Maharjan, leaders of various parties and people’s representatives for the observation.
Mayor Maharjan expressed the view that the large number of visitors to the Madhyapur Festival clearly shows that the local environment, including art, culture, local cuisine, and the local environment, has attracted visitors. He said that it is necessary to organize such festivals from time to time to promote religious and historical tourist areas along with art, culture, and traditions. It is stated that the festival has been organized to support tourism and economic development by preserving and promoting the local heritage.
Surendra Shrestha, Mayor of Madhyapur Thimi Municipality, said that the large number of visitors and enthusiasm for the festival has added positive energy to the promotion of tourism, highlighting the importance of the religious and historical heritage, art, and culture of the region. Stating that the festival, which began on Friday and will continue till Sunday with the concept of making the economy more dynamic by linking the heritage of Madhyapur Thimi with employment and income, he expressed confidence that the festival will help achieve economic prosperity and increase tourism activities here.
“The festival has been organized with local originality at the center, making Madhyapur’s tourism a partner in local development and achieving long-term economic prosperity in the city,” said Mayor Shrestha. “This will help improve the living standards of the locals and also contribute to the sustainable development of the city.” He said that the aim is to showcase the city’s historical art, culture, festivals, and heritage throughout the festival period, promote local original food, professions, and products, and introduce Madhyapur as a destination for domestic and foreign tourists.
Mayor Shrestha informed that the festival is being conducted with various programs and exhibitions starting from Shankhadhar Chowk and activities are being conducted in the historical settlement areas of Balkumari, Chapacho, Nagdesh, Bode, Tigani, and Nilbarahi. “We have organized the festival after 26 years to introduce Madhyapur as a tourist destination. There are more than 500 stalls in the festival within the city,” he said. “We have emphasized on showcasing local art, culture and heritage, and promoting local original professions, dishes and products.”
According to Mayor Shrestha, arts and culture, including home-made goods, 25 different types of dances, pottery making art exhibitions, and Dafa Bhajans at each Patipauwa, have been included in 105 venues. There are 26 cultural performances in Thimi, Dafa Bhajans in 50 parties, Astudhatu of Lord Gautam Buddha, performances at Pati Vihar in Chapacho and Buddha Vihar in Nadesh, Thimi Bhaila: A replica of the Jatra where you can take selfies with a dummy, and tongue piercing are on display.
Nepali currency and coins from the Lichchhavi period to the present, a 500-foot-tall clay Sukunda, the original door of Nepal’s first clay Asha heater, an exhibition of tikambaji (chiura) in Tigni, a gold window in Naghdesh, gedagudi in Balkumari, rituals from birth to death in Newari culture, and other festive dishes are among the main attractions of the festival.
