Pokhara holds first Dashain tourism festival on Phewa lakeside, foreigners receive tika

Pokhara's Phewa Lake shore at Lakeside hosted its first-ever Dashain Tourism and Cultural Festival on Sunday.

The Women's Tourism Entrepreneurs' Forum, OTEF, organized the event at Barahi Playground on Kojagrat Purnima, the last day of Dashain.

More than two dozen foreign tourists and hundreds of Nepalis received tika, jamara, and dakshina at the festival, following Nepali tradition. Participants experienced the festival through Dashain delicacies, swings, and traditional cultural performances.

Pokhara Metropolitan City mayor Dhanraj Acharya, along with guests and senior citizens, applied tika on participants and gave blessings. Mayor Acharya said Pokhara is a destination suited for all seasons since it does not get extremely hot or cold.

Known for its mountains, lakes, and adventure sports, Pokhara is now also trying to attract tourists through festivals.

Irish tourist Ethel, who arrived in Pokhara after completing the Annapurna Circuit trek, said this was the first time she had experienced Dashain up close, having only heard about it while working with Nepalis in Australia. She said the festival, in which everyone comes together to celebrate, felt very beautiful.