The festival, which had a turnover of Rs 90 million and a target of attracting 250,000 visitors, achieved a turnover of Rs 112 million and was visited by 335,000 visitors.
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The 21st Lekhnath Festival, which concluded on Monday, has exceeded the target. The 12-day festival, organized by the Lekhnath Chamber of Commerce and Industry, saw a turnover of Rs 112 million. 335,000 visitors visited the fair throughout the festival period.
The festival, which aims to attract a turnover of Rs 90 million and 250,000 visitors, has exceeded the organizers' expectations, said Yubaraj Bhattarai, the festival's publicity coordinator. According to him, this is the biggest turnover in the history of the festival. Speaking at the closing ceremony,
Pokhara Metropolitan City Mayor Dhanraj Acharya said that such fairs contribute to economic prosperity. He said that the festival has made a significant contribution to the marketing of goods and services by bringing buyers and sellers together. "We should be thoughtful about how to improve the economic situation amid the damage caused to businessmen and the low morale due to the Gen-G movement and protests," he said. He informed that the plan to operate 'water sports' in Begnas Lake for the development of the former Lekhnath area would be taken forward with the help of locals. He clarified that the distance between Pokhara and Lekhnath will now be reduced as the construction of the Pokhara-Muglin road has reached the final stage and that the metropolis has not discriminated in the development of Lekhnath.
Rupa Rural Municipality Chairman Nawaraj Ojha said that the festival has helped in the marketing of products and suggested that a plan should be made for the integrated development of Rupa and Pokhara. Pokhara Metropolitan City Ward No. 26 Ward Chairman Narendra Thapa urged social organizations and businessmen to work together to make an integrated development plan.
Lekhnath Chamber of Commerce and Industry President and main coordinator of the festival, Januka Adhikari Parajuli, said that the festival has succeeded in establishing its identity by the 21st edition. She said that the main objective of the festival is to bring producers and consumers together to develop trade and tourism. Senior Vice President of the association, Gopichandra Bastola, said that this year's festival was more successful than other years.
The best businessmen, spectators and artists of various genres were honored at the closing ceremony. The association has stated that the savings from the festival will be spent on the initiative of the proposed industrial zone construction and various social responsibility activities.
