People of Pokhara Lekhnath Metropolitan City participated in a paddy plantation programme on the occasion of 14^th National Paddy Day, Ashar Pandhra, here in the lake city on Wednesday.

The farmers and the organiser were joined by tourists during the programme and marked the festival by splashing mud at each other and singing folk songs.

 The 15^th of Nepali month Ashar is observed as National Paddy Day. Farmers across the country observed the festival today.

Traditionally farmers gather at their fields to plant paddy saplings with great enthusiasm and enjoy Dahi Chyura (curd and beaten rice) as a special food for the day.

The theme for this year's National Rice Day was 'expansion of rice harvests in two seasons: a base for economic prosperity.'

Nepal has been observing the Day every Ashar 15 from 2005 after a Cabinet meeting on December 14, 2004 made the decision.