CHITWAN: The 13th edition of the Sauraha Food Festival kicked off at Sauraha on Tuesday in a bid to promote tourism and food.

Inaugurating the festival, former minister Surendra Pandey said that the event will help in boosting tourism of Chitwan. He expressed the hope that the festival would be able to attract a significant number of visitors, both internal and external.

On the occasion, he informed that the construction of a city hall for the development of Sauraha has been started.

Restaurant and Bar Association, Sauraha chapter organized the event coinciding with the Valentine Day, which is observed on February 14.

The festival organized at local Sisuwal playground features 50 different kinds of foods and five display stalls, according to festival coordinator, Dhruba Giri.

The event, which will continue till Friday offers special cuisines of Tharu community such as chichar and ghongi.  Other attractions of the festival include volleyball competition, love letter writing, and best cuisine competition.