Lumbini hosting street food festival to welcome New Year

LUMBINI: The Lumbini Hotel Association is organizing the 10th Street Food Festival in Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, on December 31 to welcome the New Year 2024.

Organizing a press meet in Lumbini on Wednesday, the association said that the street festival aims to attract local and foreign tourists to celebrate the New Year in Lumbini. Govinda Gyawali, the president of the association, said that cuisines from China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka, in addition to local dishes, will be served during the festival in collaboration with various monasteries in the International Monastic Zone.

The festival will showcase authentic dishes from different communities, including Tharu, Muslim, Western Terai Brahmin, Newar, Gurung, and Magar, among others. Batuk, Duck Choila, and Chuakuni from Palpa, as well as Imarti sweet delicacy, will be the major attractions of the street food festival, according to the organizers.

Sajaruddin Musalman, Mayor of Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality, expressed optimism that the street food festival would attract both domestic and international tourists to Lumbini. “The municipality is committed to supporting the endeavors of the travel trade people to promote Lumbini,” he added.

In addition to traditional musical performances such as Naumati, Biraha, and Jhumra, the street festival will also feature modern musical performances, including a DJ session, for the younger crowds.

The event is jointly organized by Lumbini Sanskritik Municipality, Lumbini Development Trust, and Lumbini Tourism Development Council.

Meanwhile, hotels in Lumbini are offering a discount of up to 15% on room tariffs on December 31, according to Purushottam Aryal, the general secretary of the association.