Khokana, a historic settlement in Lalitpur, is still known for its pure mustard oil. The taste and aroma of pure mustard oil come to mind when many people remember Khokana.

Locals say that Khokana's identity has been preserved because a wooden oil mill (coal) with a history of about three hundred years is still in operation here.

The historic 'Gabu Jya Sa' oil mill in Khokana, Lalitpur Metropolitan City-21 is still in operation. Local Kanchha Maharjan has been continuing the three hundred year old wooden mill. According to him, pure mustard oil pressed from coal is sent to the country as well as abroad.

During the Malla period, there were four historic wooden oil mills in operation in Khokana. Although three of them were closed over time, one mill has kept the old tradition alive. The building construction process has been moved forward at the initiative of Lalitpur Metropolitan City to bring the remaining three historic mills back into operation.

Maharjan said that even foreign tourists come to Khokana to observe the pure mustard oil and historical coal. As soon as you enter Khokana, you can see young businessmen producing oil using modern technology, oil mills and signboards.

According to Pavitra Kumar Dangol, the operator of Khanomi Oil Mill, there are currently 10 to 15 oil mills operating in Khokana. Earlier, oil was produced from wooden coals on a community basis, but now most entrepreneurs have started using modern mills as the cost was high and the manpower required was more, he said.

Earlier, the locals of Khokana used to produce mustard themselves, but now mustard farming has decreased. According to Dangol, earlier, the people of Khokana used to travel as far as Bhaktapur, Kathmandu, Makawanpur and Nuwakot to exchange oil and mustard. Now, as the mustard produced in Nepal cannot meet the market demand, oil is being produced by importing it from countries including India, Ukraine, he informed.