Chitwan Mahotshav 2073 will kick off at Naryanghat on Monday with a host of events ranging from trade fair, cultural shows, food festival and water sports.

The 11th edition of the festival, which will continue till January 18, is being organised by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Chitwan (CCIC) in collaboration with District Development Committee of Chitwan and Bharatpur Sub-metropolitan City to promote local trade and tourism.

The festival being held on the banks of the Narayani River will showcase local agricultural and industrial products, and traditional cuisines in 475 stalls. Other attractions of the event are cultural and literary shows, and water sports, such as rafting.

One of the highlights of the festival is different food products made of banana, as Chitwan is one of the major producers of the fruit in the country. Visitors of the fair will also get to see a sample banana farm, where techniques of producing and processing the fruit will be exhibited. Moreover, dairy and poultry products will also be showcased.

The festival will also host a special food festival at Campus Chaur, where traditional cuisines will be served. “The event is being organised to promote the local economy and contribute to development of the district. We hope the event will also promote Chitwan’s culture,” CCIC President Rajan Gautam told journalists on Wednesday.

“So the whole idea of hosting the event is not only to entertain and amuse our guests, but also to promote local trade and culture.”

The event is expected to be attended by 500,000 visitors, including locals and foreigners. The organisers hope that transactions at the festival will surpass Rs200 million. 

The event will feature stalls where local products, automobiles, information technology products, paintings, sculptures and financial products, among others, will be displayed. “All the stalls have been covered by an insurance package worth Rs50 million,” said Gautam. 

The festival, which is held every two years, is mainly targeted at locals, Nepalis from different parts of the country, and foreign visitors who want to know more about the region, said Raju Shrestha co-chairman of CCIC. 

Tickets have been priced at Rs50 for general visitors and Rs25 for students. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal is scheduled to inaugurate the Chitwan Mahotsav.