The First Nepal festival kicked off at Central World mall in Thailand’s capital Bangkok from Friday. 

Minister for Culture Tourism and Civil Aviation Anand Pokharel, Culture Minister of the Kingdom of Thailand Veera Rojpojanarat and Deputy Minister for Tourism and Sports Chabani Tangroch jointly inaugurated the festival. 

The festival organised in co-operation of Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) of Thailand and Nepali Embassy will be held until April 25. A total of 18 stalls reflecting Nepali arts and culture have been kept at the festival. 

President of NRN Thailand Khagendra Dhakal said the amount collected from the stalls would be used to construct 1000 houses for the survivors of the last year’s earthquakes. 

He said a candlelight vigil would be organised on the last day to honour and remember over 9000 people killed by the earthquakes. 

Speaking at the inaugural, Minister Pokharel thanked the Thai government and people for extending support to Nepal and Nepali people during the earthquake. He said he heard that 60,000 Thai people visited Lumbini and informed that Nepal government is preparing to mark the upcoming Buddha Jayanti (birthday of Lord Buddha) as Lumbini day. 

Thai Culture Minister Veera Rojpojanarat said the Buddhism has connected the Nepal and Thailand and praised the cordial ties between the people of two countries. 

At the programme, Deputy Minister Chabani, NRNA Thailand central committee vice president Bhawan Batta, NRNA Thailand Patron Rajesh Hamal and President of Thailand chapter Khagendra Dhakal also addressed the programme. 

Nepali artists presented various folk dances during the programme and Thai writer Krit Kunikil also released a book written based on his experience at Mt Everest base camp during an avalanche.