The Kumaripati-Jawalakhel Road Festival will take place from Friday until Chaitra 23 in Lalitpur. This event is organized by the Kumaripati Jawalakhel Development Organization and Lalitpur Metropolitan City, with the support of the Lalitpur Chamber of Commerce. The main aim of the festival is to promote local art, culture, and tourism. It will showcase the unique culture of the area, while also giving a platform to local businesses and artisans.
This year’s festival is especially significant as it marks the first time in nine years that such an event has been held in the Kumaripati-Jawalakhel section. According to Santosh Khadka, the Ward Chairperson of Lalitpur Metropolitan City-4, this event is a great initiative for the preservation of local art and the promotion of tourism. The festival is expected to begin at Ititol, Lalitpur, and the organizers are confident that the festival will greatly contribute to the local economy by showcasing local production and cultural heritage.
The opening ceremony will take place at 1 PM, with the Chief Minister of Bagmati Province, Bahadur Singh Lama, as the chief guest. The venue will feature a stage set up at Ititol, where different performances and displays will take place. One of the highlights of the event will be the Rato Machhindranath Rath and related statues, which will be on display.
Over the course of the festival, the Kumaripati-Jawalakhel road will be completely closed to vehicles, and various ethnic costumes, local delicacies, and performances from different communities will be showcased. The event will include cultural programs reflecting various ethnic groups, and starting at 3 PM, there will be musical performances to add to the festive atmosphere.
The organizers estimate that over 500,000 visitors will attend the festival, making it one of the largest cultural events in the area. To ensure smooth traffic flow and safety, the festival organizers have coordinated with local authorities to provide parking arrangements in nearby areas like Jawalakhel, Kumaripati, and Lagankhel.
The festival was first organized in 2014 (Bikram Sambat 2071) and was considered a major success. Due to its popularity and the positive impact it had on the community, the event is being held again, this time for two days, making it even larger and more inclusive than before. The organizers believe that this initiative will not only boost local tourism but also bring people together to celebrate the rich cultural diversity of Lalitpur.
