CHITWAN: The second Ichchakamana Orange Festival and Food Festival is set to begin today in Muglin. The festival is being jointly organized by the Chitwan Industry Association, Ichchakamana Committee, and the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association, Ichchakamana Unit, and will be held at Muglin Bazaar.
The festival has been organized with the aim of attracting both domestic and foreign tourists, according to Ramhari Kandel, Chairman of the Chitwan Industry Association Ichchakamana Committee. He informed that more than 50 stalls will be set up during the festival, and around 100 orange farmers from Ichchakamana are expected to directly benefit by selling their products.
The festival also aims to preserve and promote local art, culture, and traditions, while strengthening brotherhood, business networks, and local-level cooperation.
According to the organizers, various programs targeting orange farmers have been included in the festival. These include interactions between orange expert farmers and public representatives, an orange-eating competition, and other related activities.
Chairman Kandel expressed confidence that organizing the festival in Muglin Bazaar will help promote local products and enhance their market value.
Pujan Bhandari, Chairman of the Hotel Entrepreneurs Association Ichchakamana Unit, said that the food festival is being organized in Muglin Bazaar, an area already well known for its hotel and hospitality business. He added that visitors will be able to enjoy local Thakali and Newari cuisines, along with indigenous agricultural products grown in Ichchakamana.
Dan Bahadur Gurung, Chairman of Ichchakamana Rural Municipality, stated that orange production in the area generates an annual turnover of Rs 90 million to Rs 100 million. He said that there is no difficulty in marketing the oranges as they are well known for their quality and taste.
Chairman Gurung also informed that the rural municipality distributes orange seedlings grown from seeds every year to protect existing orchards and expand cultivation into new areas. In addition, the municipality has been providing support related to modern technology, harvesting, weeding, manure application, and irrigation management.
Chairman Gurung further stated that the Orange Festival and Food Festival will contribute to the promotion of local tourist destinations. The Ichchakamana Rural Municipality is the patron of the festival, which will continue until December 30.
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