The second people's movement was over. The country had not yet recovered from the heat of political transition. While the aspiration for permanent peace and prosperity was echoing from the streets to the parliament, the Far West launched another modest movement with a silent but profound message. That was - 'Development and Identity of the Far West'.

The Far West, which has been known as the most distant (Sudur), by weaving stories of Chhaupadi, Deuki, poverty and deprivation, was also oppressed by that identity around 2063 BS. A means was being sought to force people to look at the geography of the Far West, which had been made a symbol of backwardness rather than potential and opportunity, with new eyes. That search journey gave birth to the 'Sudur Paschim Mahotsav'.

With the common conclusion and determination of the civil society, industrialists and activists here, preparations were made to organize the festival to enrich the Far West through a cultural campaign and free it from the turban of 'backwardness'. It was promised to use the Far West Mahotsav as a means to highlight the development potential of the region and create pressure on policymakers for development. The Far West Mahotsav, which began in 2063 BS and is now in its 19th series this year, is not just a two-week festival starting on Mangsir 22 every year, but has been established as a movement for the decent development of the entire Far West.

The festival was organized by the association under the leadership of Gopal Hamal, who was the president of the Kailali Chamber of Commerce and Industry at that time (currently the mayor of Dhangadhi Sub-metropolitan City). The festival proved to be a stepping stone for a single place where culture, politics, production and market converged. In recent years, it was not the practice to organize festivals everywhere.

The aim of the festival was not to limit itself to music, but to bring the voice of the Far West to the policy-making level. As a symbol of that, a 21-point demand letter and a 21-kilogram garland were made the political message of the festival. In the first festival organized in Dhangadhi, Sher Bahadur Deuba, an influential figure in Nepali politics who has become the Prime Minister and a representative of the Far West, was invited and a 21-kilogram garland was placed with 21 demands related to the economy, infrastructure, industrial development, tourism, and investment-friendly environment of the Far West.

After wearing a 21-kilogram garland as a reflection of the 21-point demands, former Prime Minister Deuba said, ‘I am the son of the Far West, I will build one, two, three West Seti Hydropower Project.’

On Mangsir 22 of the second year, he wore the same 21-kilogram garland to the then Speaker Subash Nembang and repeated the 21-point demands. Nembang also said, ‘I will go to Kathmandu with a 21-kilogram garland.’ I will take the initiative before the relevant bodies to fulfill the demands.’

In the third year, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who was the Prime Minister in 2065 BS, was also dressed in a 21-kilogram garland and the organizers made 21 demands, saying, ‘This decade will be the decade of development of the Far West. The Far West has a great contribution to bringing about the current change.’ Many people have received martyrdom from this region in the 'people's war', and now the Far West will get justice as it is a region neglected by the centralized state.'

Thus, the organizer Kailali Chamber of Commerce and Industry reiterated its demands not only to Deuba, Nembang, and Dahal, but also to key officials at the top level of the government leadership. Former Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, former President Ram Baran Yadav, former Deputy Prime Minister Bhim Rawal, UML leader Naradmuni Rana, former Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province Trilochan Bhatta and others have been invited as chief guests while they were in office and have conveyed their demands. This year, Finance Minister Rameshwor Khanal has been made the chief guest and issues of development of the Far West have been raised.

But when the 19th series was reached, the organizers stated that only 6 demands had been fulfilled. Among the fulfilled demands, only the demands for optical fiber connection, establishment of Sudurpaschim University, organization of national sports competition, construction of ICU room at Seti Hospital, construction of auditorium and establishment of milk processing center have been fully fulfilled, said Pushkar Ojha, president of Kailali Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

He said that six other demands are in the implementation phase. The association says that the construction of international cricket stadium, Dodhara-Chandani dry port, establishment of tourism center, upgrading of Dhangadhi airport and organizing Chisapani-Gaddachauki trade have entered the implementation phase but are slow.

Nine demands have not been addressed. The demands of the association, such as the construction of an exhibition venue, upgrading of Seti Provincial Hospital, expansion of Dhangadhi Airport to regional level, making Trinagar-Gauriphanta border crossing an international border, establishment of a border crossing with China, special industrial zones, declaration of a tax-free zone for 10 years, construction of the West Seti Hydropower Project, establishment of an agricultural university and a cultural museum, have not been heard.

The demands for the construction of Geta Medical College and Fapla International Cricket Stadium were also added later. Which are still incomplete. 'Even if only one demand was fulfilled every year, 18 demands would have been fulfilled so far, but only five have been fully addressed so far,' said Chairman Ojha, 'Six demands have gone into process, while the process has not even been started for nine demands.'

At the ceremony of the 19th series, Chairman Gopal Hamal, who started the festival, reminded that the festival was a noble movement started for the development of the Far West. He said that the festival's journey is continuous as a place to unify the art and culture of the Far West, to attract the attention of the state, and to open the package of complaints of the Far West to high-ranking officials at the policy-making level. 'Operating a medical college is the main agenda of the Far West,' the current government should fulfill it by any means,' Hamal said. 'Game-changer projects have not been completed in the Far West. The dream of game-changer roads is unfulfilled. The construction of the Mahakali Corridor, Seti Lokmarg, and Khutia Dipayal Fast Track should be prioritized. Until these demands are met, the Far West will always be in a state of shock.'

A place to sell products
The Far West Festival has become a place of expectation for producers and sellers. According to the organizers, about one million people visit the festival every year. The festival venue has become a shopping destination for many. ‘The turnover of the Far West Festival is estimated to be around Rs 150 million,’ said Chairman Ojha.

Local products, handicrafts, agricultural produce, food and drinks, various stalls and entertainment programs at the festival site have attracted consumers.

Narbir Singh Dhami from Darchula has set up a stall selling clothes made from local cotton. ‘I have been bringing Darchula products to the festival for four years,’ said Dhami. ‘Sales and earnings are good.’ Manbir Rawal from Bajhang has brought local pulses. He also says he is happy with the business at the festival. Manmati Chaudhary from Dhangadhi village in Kailali has set up a stall selling Tharu dishes.

Keshav Raj Joshi, Senior Vice President of the association, said that 550 stalls have been set up at the festival. ‘50 stalls have been made free for agricultural and industrial exhibitions, domestic and agricultural products,’ said Joshi. ‘We have also made free arrangements for local dishes and ethnic dishes. This time, we have given more importance to the stalls of local products.’ He said that the Sudurpaschim Festival is also a place to promote the sale of local products from all nine districts.

The management of the festival is not without complaints. There are also those who point out that it needs to be further improved. Although agriculture is the main sector of employment in this region, some complain that the space for farmers is shrinking. ‘It is necessary to develop the festival as a useful place to increase the attraction in agriculture,’ said Rebant Bohara, a farmer from Kailari.

A confluence of cultural promotion
The Sudurpaschim Festival has established itself as such a musical trinity that it has become a bridge for the promotion of local art and culture. And also the first choice of famous artists. This time, another excitement was added to the musical atmosphere of the festival. Singer Pramod Kharel dazzled thousands of viewers with his band ‘Pramod and Parampara’ at the festival. This was the first time that he performed with a band at the festival.

Within a few minutes of entering the stage, he heated up the field. The energetic song forced the audience to dance. The audience was also seen flowing with the emotions of some other songs and music performed by Pramod on stage.

Not only Pramod, but also the famous Deuda singer Dikra Devi Badi from the Far West, or Ibsal Sanjyal from Karnali, or other artists from Kathmandu such as Pal Shah, Rachna Rimal, Samiksha Adhikari, Prakash Saput, Shantishree Pariyar, Chakra Bam and dozens of other artists kept the Sudurpaschim Festival buzzing with musical performances. ‘More than a hundred local artists have got the opportunity to showcase their talent,’ said Prakash Chand, secretary of the association. ‘The requests of aspiring artists from Kathmandu are endless.’

The attraction of Tharu village
Another attraction of the Sudurpaschim Festival is the Tharu village exhibition. The Tharu village exhibition has been set up in a separate place within the festival venue to preserve and promote the original art and culture of the Tharu community. Anyone who goes to the festival hardly misses that place.