Former Chairman of Council of Ministers Khil Raj Regmi has expressed his hopes that cultural festivals play an effective role in making Nepal-India relations sustainable. 

Speaking at the World Culture Festival organised by Art of Living Foundation in Indian Capital New Delhi on Monday, Regmi said such cultural festivals encourage people to strive for service to humanity and sends a positive message. He further said the Nepal and India have cultural ties and such festivals would be instrumental in making the relations sustainable. 

He recalled the visit by spiritual Guru Shree Shree Ravi Shankar to Nepal and said the ‘Art of Living’ helped in promoting peace, harmony and positive thoughts in the society. 

Around 35 thousand artists from 155 countries participated in the festival. Thousands of Nepali followers of ‘Art of Living’ including 150 artists marked their presence in the festival attended by 35,00,000 people. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the three-day ‘World Culture Festival’ on Friday evening and was attended by Indian lawmakers, ministers, apart from ministers, lawmakers, former heads of governments from outside India, the organiser informed.

Accompanied by his aide Rajendra Prasad Pandey, Regmi returned to Kathmandu after a four-day visit to India.