The 16th Pasgaun Festival organized in Pasgaun, Kholasothar Rural Municipality-6, Lamjung, showcased traditional products ranging from indigenous crops.

The festival featured wild products, household and handicraft items used by the Gurung people since ancient times, among other things. Local culture was the main attraction at the festival.

The people of Pasgaun organized the first Pasgaun Festival on Baisakh 16 and 17, 2060. Although the festival was stopped for a few years in between, the festival has been held annually in recent years. The 16th Pasgaun Festival, which was held for 2 days last Wednesday and Thursday, featured traditional Sarangi dance, Ghatu, Krishnacharitra, etc.

The handicraft items included Doko, Namlo, Thunse, Pundro, Perungo, Peranda, Theki, Madani, Tombyo, Chakti, Gundri, Radi, Bakkhu. Similarly, a spinning wheel was displayed. Similarly, copper and brass utensils, a large jug, a spinning wheel, and a traditional device for weaving radibakkhu (Koindo Saja) were displayed. Yam, pindalu, timur, siltimur, naramu mushrooms, bitter gourd, karkalo, gundruk, bhattamas, lentils, jhinuwa, anga rice and kaguno rice, flour, etc. were also displayed at the festival.

In the ward-level group dance competition organized by the Pasgaun Group Homestay, Ward 6 Bhujung won first place and received Rs 50,000 in cash. Ward 8 came second and Ward 7 came third. Both teams received Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 in cash respectively. They were awarded by Shatabdi women and men Dumchyo Gurung and Krishna Prasad Gurung, as well as Homestay President and Rural Municipality President Surya Prasad Gurung, Vice President Gamimaya Gurung and others.

Artist coordinator Gore Gurung said that artists including Raj Bahadur Gurung, Tas Bahadur Gurung, Kesh Bahadur Gurung, Netra Gurung, Anuj Adhikari, Savitri Shahi Thakuri, Batti Thapa Magar, Mamta Gurung gave their performances at the festival.

Homestay Chairman and Rural Municipality Chairman Surya Prasad Gurung said that such festivals are an effective medium to preserve the original and traditional culture of the village and promote rural tourism. 'If the village can be introduced to the national and international arena, tourism can be promoted.' We have been organizing festivals to introduce the village and invite tourists,' he said.

Rural Municipality Vice-Chairman Gami Maya Gurung said that the festival will boost economic activities and create self-employment for women. 'We have been emphasizing local production with the participation of women. Such festivals have become a medium to support rural development,' she said. Madhav Prasad Wagle, the chief administrative officer of the rural municipality, said that the rural municipality has been emphasizing the promotion of agriculture and tourism as well as infrastructure development.

There are more than 175 households in Pasgaun, which is located at an altitude of 1,650 meters above sea level. Homestays are operated in 21 houses. The homestay package is priced at Rs 1,200. At the homestay, you can taste the flavors of wild products, vegetables, fruits, and food grown in the villages. Homestay secretary Ratan Singh Gurung said that the stone-roofed houses built on the southern facade, revolving houses, Gurung museums, historical and religious sites are the heritages worth seeing in Pasgaun.

Similarly, after reaching Khomre Danda and Ngyojedanda above the village, you can see not only the areas around Pokhara but also the rural areas of Manang, Gorkha, and Kaski. Homestay Joint Secretary Bhakta Bahadur Gurung said that not only sunrise and sunset can be seen from here, but also dozens of mountain ranges.