The India-Nepal Folk Crafts Festival 2016 (INCF) kicked off at Bhrikutimandap in the Capital on Monday. The fest on its opening day also hosted Khadi-Nepal, a fashion show which saw models flaunt garments made from Khadi—a garment made popular by the Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi. The first round of the fashion show, which took place at the Park Village Resort in the Capital, had on display works by Indian designers Nida Mahmood and SABAH-Nepal. At the show, the handmade products by Baruwa-SAF Women Agriculture Co-operative were showcased as well.

Organised by South Asia Foundation in association with Council of Handicrafts Development Corporations (COHANDS), the fest aims to promote “crafts-based bilateral relationship”. The fest will have on display an array of artifacts created by a total of 50 artists from India and 30 artists from Nepal. 

The fest opened with a set of cultural programmes—classical vocal music and Bharatnatyam dance performance—put together by the students from Indian Culture Centre in Kathmandu. The opening ceremony saw the presence of dignitaries such as Industry Minister Nabindra Raj Joshi, Irrigation Minister Deepak Giri and Ambassador of India to Nepal, Ranjit Rae. 

“Cross-cultural Festival like this is an opportunity for an effective tie-up and comprehensive collaboration between Nepal and India for a larger participation in the field of arts and crafts,” the organisers stated issuing a press note, “thus providing a platform to the artisans to exchange ideas and explore a large cooperation and promote trade between the two countries.” 

The fest will also be hosting a ‘buyer-seller meet’ that aims to promote the relationship between handicrafts producers and the customers, especially foreign tourists.

The fest will draw to an end on December 23.