Dang Festival: exploration of Rapti's potentials

To make known unexplored potentials the five districts of Rapti zone deserve, a Trade and Tourism festival 2007 has been organized in Dang district, a gate way to Rapti zone.

Members of civil society and traders have been complaining that the districts of Rapti zone have not gotten an exposure despite having been rich with a wide range of natural, cultural, economic and tourism potentials due to the reluctance of political leaders.

They hope that this festival will give proper recognition not only to Dang district but to other four districts of Rapti zone-Rolpa, Pyuthan, Salyan and Rukum as Dang is transit point of these districts.

The Program Director of the festival Madhav Prasad Sharma says the major aim of the festival is to contribute in poverty reduction through consolidating inland market and promoting export of local and national products for the over all development of industry, trade, agriculture, education, health and tourism.

Sharma is hopeful that the festival will expose and publicize the natural and cultural heritage of Rapti zone.

Dhruba Raj Shrestha, Convenor of the Festival Organizing Committee opines that even a short duration exhibition will make notable difference to the achievement they expect as the festival will give identities to the potentials.

Dang valley known as the biggest valley of the Asia owns several historical, religious and tourism points. Some of the temples devotees visit includes Siddha Ratnanath, Ambikeshwari, Barahakshetra, Bagarbaba, Pandaweshwar, Gadhitakura and Trisiddheshwari temples and Namachhu Buddha Gumba.

Similarly, some lakes like Barhakune Daha, Jakhera Tal, Bhote Daha, Laraina Tal, Charinge Daha and Jyamire Daha are historically and naturally observable while natural Fountain situated at Purandhara Village Development Committee is another attraction for the visitors.

There will be a convergence of local and cottage products and services, exhibition and transaction of locally and nationally manufactured products, exhibition of coal mine industries and transaction of coal and showcasing and transaction of herbs, agricultural products among others.

Likewise, cultural performances, besides Dohori song competition and communal dances, will be other attractions of the festival.

The organizers of the festival are Federation of Nepalese Chambers and Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) and Dang Chambers of Commerce and Industries while Deukhari, Tulsipur, Narayanpur, Rolpa, Rukum, Pyuthan and Salyan Chambers of Commerce and Industries are co-organizers. Similarly Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is contributing as promoter of the event.

The festival is titled as 'Dang Trade and Tourism Festival and Mid West small industry and agriculture fair' with the motto of 'Industry and Trade of Mid West Dang: Development of Economy, Cultural and Tourism'. The event that kicked off from February 15 will conclude on February 23.