"Bunga Mahotsav", a cultural musical festival was organized at the small Newa town, Bungamati, Lalitpur on 15th October 2022, Saturday. The one-day event was organized by Parya Sampada project in coordination with ward 22, Lalitpur Metropolitan City with the objective of heritage conservation and tourism promotion. 

 

Sagar Tuladhar, Ward Chairperson welcomed all the guests and participants in Bungamati. Manjali Shakya, Deputy Mayor delighted about the activities and programs conducted in Bungamati. She highlighted rich cultural heritage of Bungamati.  Chiri Babu Maharjan, Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) thanked organizers and highlighted on the programs conducted by LMC for the conservation of heritage and tourism promotion. Bruno Deacon, UN-Habitat Regional Director for Asia and Pacific, Dr. Macro Gemmar, European Union, Head of Cooperation and Padma Kumar Mainalee, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Urban Development expressed their remarks on project activities and appreciated the program. 

 

Two publications, Folklores of Bungamati and Festivals of Bungamati, were unveiled among the locals of Bungamati on this occasion.

 

The event started with Heritage walk from 9 am to 10 am by the local guides sharing the importance of monuments, history and relationship with the tangible and intangible heritage of Bungamati. During the event, live music was performed by the bands like Kutumba, Night, Kanta dab, dab, Panchamrit, Raithane, Kalpunja, Khaltu Dhapha Nangcha Pyakhan Group, Sinhah Svam, Word Warriors and Barta Gandharba. Similarly, live wood carving demonstrations, food and cultural rituals, art and crafts etc. were displayed on the event. The visitors of all aged group participated on storytelling, board games, body art for kids, making of aila (local liquor) etc. Also, writing name on Ranjana Lipi, a traditional script was conducted in coordination with Nepal Lipi Guthi.  

Also, the women entrepreneurs supported by the Parya Sampada project from other heritage settlements like Panga, Kirtipur, Thecho, Chapagaun, Siddhipur, Thaiba and Thankot displayed the products during the event. The event hoped to promote and enhance the marketing of goods and services produced by women entrepreneurs with expand the network and connection of the women entrepreneurs among heritage settlements, providing them with the platform for the exchange of business ideas and skills. 

The event was started at 9 am and concluded at 6:30 pm. Free transportation service was provided from Jawalekhel to Bungamati and vice versa for the visitors.  

 

The Parya Sampada Project, supported by the European Union's Switch Asia. Parya Sampada project is implemented by UN-Habitat in partnership with Lumanti, CIUD, SABAH Nepal, and BARDeC.