Gandaki, 29 January: The locals here have not forgotten the welcome they received with the Jhijhiya dance of Mithila on the occasion of the inauguration of the 33rd edition of the National Industrial Trade Fair and Information Technology (IT) Festival at the Exhibition Center in Nayabazar, Pokhara.
The festival, organized by the Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry since Magh 20, also became a shopping destination as locals were particularly attracted to Tharu and Bhojpuri dances. The festival became not only a place to observe IT equipment that reflects the revolution brought about by the unprecedented development in the field of communication and information technology, but also a place to know, understand and experience different provinces.
The ‘Ghumao Madhes: Bujuhaun Madhes’ booth set up by the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism of Madhes Province at the festival has become important for understanding Madhes. Every day, around 500 festival participants visit this booth to learn about Madhes Province and its religious and tourist destinations, said Bikash Kumar Thakur, coordinator of the ‘Ghumao Madhes, Bujuhaun Madhes’ campaign.
Coordinator Thakur, Chandrapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Uday Sapkota and others have informed the participants about tourism in Madhesh Province, the reality there, and the warm hospitality extended by the Madheshis.
On the occasion of the inauguration of the fair, Coordinator Thakur handed over a booklet containing an illustrated introduction to the religious and tourist destinations of Madhes Province to the chief guest of the program, Gandaki Province Chief Minister Surendra Raj Pandel. On the occasion, Bhijiya dance and Tharu dance, reflecting the cultural heritage of Madhes Province, were also performed.
Coordinator Thakur said that a promotional booth for ‘Ghumau Madhes: Bujuau Madhes’ has been set up on the occasion of the ongoing festival in Pokhara, the tourism capital, with the aim of promoting tourism in Madhes Province.
As a promotional material, a booklet containing illustrated information about tourist destinations in Madhesh Province has been distributed to festival participants. The booklet provides information about places of religious importance, including the Janaki Temple located in Janakpur, the capital of ancient Mithila.
The booklet mentions that the foundation stone of this temple, a cultural heritage of the people of Mithilanchal, was laid in 1894 and the construction was completed in 1991. The booklet provides pictorial information about Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Sahlesh Flower Garden, Gadhimai, Parsa National Park, Panchdhura, Dinabhadri Temple, Simraungadh, Kankalini Temple, Dhanushadham, and Bharat Lake.
The booklet discusses the places in Madhesh Pradesh such as Nunthar, Gahwamai, Chinnamasta Bhagwati Temple, Thori, Bhishwadanda, Matihani, Rauja Mazar, Kamaldaha, Chure Shivalik Mountains, Rajdevi Temple, Churiyamai, Parasnath Math, Parsagarhi, Duggdheshwarnath Mahadev, and Chandra Canal.
Similarly, information about Murtiya, Nadhiman Lake, Jaleshwor Mahadev Temple, Hanuman Temple, Baba Lake, Hattidaha Simsar, Tuteshwornath Dham, Karik Sthan Padaul, Shahid Smriti Park, Shiva Temple, Nijanand Dham, Siddha Baba Hiking, Janakpur Railway and Barhawa Lake has been provided in the booklet. It is believed that the information given about the places mentioned in the booklet will help tourists visiting Madhesh Province to gain general information about the place.
Uday Sapkota, president of the Chandrapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the festival participants were introduced to Madhes and requested to understand and visit it, informing them about its uniqueness. “We have also come here to give the message that Madhes is a destination that must be visited in all its forms,” he said. “Many natural and cultural heritages of Madhes are worth seeing.”
Stating that infrastructure development has been taking place rapidly in Madhesh in recent times, he informed that in this province, where there was only Janakpur Airport earlier, airports have now also come into operation in Simara and Rajbiraj.
In addition to the Madhes Understanding Room, another room set up to allow visitors to taste original Madhes dishes has also become an attraction of the festival. At the festival venue, along with the taste of Katiya made from Katahariya Bazaar in Rautahat, one can also taste the taste of Peda from Barmajhiya in Saptari, informed Ajay Sah Sonar, the operator of the room.
He said that people who came to the festival site ate Katiya and Peda with great interest. He informed that goat meat cooked in a clay pot is called Katiya and it has gained popularity as an original dish of Rautahat in Madhes. He informed that this dish, which is cooked in a clay pot with goat meat, onion, ginger, garlic, cumin, chili, pepper, and turmeric, over a charcoal grill, has become the attraction of the festival. He informed that tasting the Saptari Baramjhiya is also equally attractive.
Gokarna Karki, President of the Pokhara Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that the festival is being developed as a place to learn, understand and experience the diversity not only of Pokhara but also of the country. He informed that there are also booths from various provinces at the festival venue. Out of the 250 booths, there are two booths from Madhesh Province, one from the Far West, three from Koshi, and five from Bagmati. Original products from all three provinces are on sale. The festival will conclude on Magh 19(1 Feb).
