Embassy of Nepal and Non Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) Thailand  have officially announced that they will be organizing a Nepal Festival on April 21-25, 2016 at Central World, Bangkok amidst a press conference at Royal Thai Army Club, Bangkok on Friday, March 18. The festival venue, Central World is the largest shopping complex in Thailand and the sixth largest in the world, has supported the venue for Nepal festival.

The press conference was graced by Honorable Mom Ratchawong Chirakom Kitiyakara . He appreciated the concept of Nepal festival as it honors the Thailand Nepal historical friendship and cooperation and wished for the success of the event.

The five-day Nepal Festival will start with a Grand Opening at 15:00 hrs. on April 21 at Central World (Eden 1) and end with a Nepal Earthquake Memorial on April 25 to commemorate one year of the deadly event. The memorial, which is expected to draw a mass gathering of thousands of Nepalis and their friends in Thailand, is organised to pay tribute to those who lost their lives during the earthquake and express solidarity with Nepal said the Ambassador of Nepal to Thailand Khaganath Adhikari.

Clarifying the objectives of the Nepal festival, NRNA Thailand President Dhakal said “Thailand extended a great support to Nepal during the hardship and in return we can do nothing but would like to officially say THANK YOU THAILAND FOR THEIR MILLIONS HEART TO NEPAL’’.

Echoing to what Dhakal mentioned, Nepal Ambassador to Thailand Khaganath Adhikari said Nepal Government will join to express sincere thanks to the Thai government and people of Thailand for their significant support during the hardship. Also he told the media that Government, celebrities , artists from both countries will be invited to the 5 day event.

Ambassador Adhikari also pointed that another main objective of the Nepal Festival is to promote bilateral commercial cooperation between Thailand and Nepal in the field of tourism, trade and investment. He explained that authentic bodies from Nepal such as Nepal Tourism Board, Lumbini Development Trust, Thai Nepal Chamber of Commerce will support this event to promote the commercial cooperation between two countries.

General Secretary of Thai Nepal Chamber of Commerce also expressed its full support to Nepal Festival that is first largest scale event of Nepal in Thailand in the history.

Similarly Venerable Dr. Anil Sakya ( Well known royal monk in Bangkok) said, Thailand’s support to Nepal was incredible and thanking them officially from the side of Nepal government and Nepali people is very appreciable act the organizers are undertaking. He also expressed his full support to the event.

Another speaker at the press conference was Krit Kunplin, who is the vice president of CPN group, writer of Everest Basecamp, journalist and philanthropist, said Nepal has offered the Buddha’s teaching, a way of meaningful living and beautiful mountains, so we are happy to give back to Nepal from our side. He said CPN that owns the Central World is committed to make the event a grand success together with the NRNA and Embassy of Nepal.

Likewise, Actress Catherine, Actor Patson, the first Mt Everest climber Nohng, writer Chiranan and many other celebrities stood in front of the media to express their solidarity to the 1st Nepal Festival at Central World where more than 3 millions people are expected to visit the event in five days.

In the beginning of the press conference, Nepali cultural dance was presented to give a hint to media about the cultural performances during the five-day event that was applauded by entire Thai community.

Detailing the highlights of the event NRNA Thailand President Dhakal said, Nepal festival features Nepal’s tourism, culture, gift products, food, and trade. Besides daily music and dance presentations from Nepal, the event will feature exhibitions of Nepali handicraft, fashion, travel destinations, trekking products together with business-to-business meetings. There will be an area devoted exclusively to Lumbini exhibition.

Dhakal said the Nepal Festival, as it’s an open access event, can offer opportunity to millions of Buddhists to know about the mystic and spiritually enriched country Nepal where Lord Buddha was born, through an exclusive exhibition of Lumbini.

The joint press release by the Embassy of Nepal and NRNA Thailand reads the daily stage presentations will include Nepali cultural dances, music, ethnic fashion shows, cooking shows, slides and talk shows on mountain climbing, auction of rare photos and a book release on the Everest adventure.

At a press conference held at the Army Club on March 18, Ambassador Adhikari also said that the grand opening and memorial programs are expected to be attended by top officials from both the Thai and Nepali government as well as business communities, celebrities and non-government agencies.

President Dhakal, who chairs the Thailand Chapter of NRNA, which is Kathmandu based global organization of Nepal with 72 member countries all over the world, said he will invite the global representatives of NRNA as well to the event. He added that the proceeds of the event will go to NRNA’s 1000 home projects for the earthquake victims in the worst hit areas in Nepal that is already approved by government. However, the target of the charity will be to the educational support of children’s education at the same project site.

Dhakal clarified that Nepal Festival is supported by many government and non- government entities from Thailand and Nepal including, Foreign Ministry of Thailand, Ministry of Culture Thailand, Royal Thai Army, Nepal Tourism Board, Central Patana Group , Lumbini Development Trust, Thai Nepal Chamber of Commerce, Kantipur Media House (Nepal), Thaland’s Nation Media Group and so on.

Besides dozens of media, the press conference was attended by senior officers from Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture, Royal Thai Army senior officials, Thai Nepal Chamber of Commerce Krishna Sivakriskul, many celebrities, artists, writer, philanthropists, Little Help Nepal group, Namobaoudhaya Club leaders and NRNA Thailand team.

The Vice President of NRNA Thailand Assajita Awale who is responsible for Tourism, Culture and Investment affairs of NRNA Thailand told the media that NRNA Thailand has formed 11 sub committees to prepare the festival and there is a high-level coordination committee led by Ambassador of Nepal. He proudly said that 80 percent of the preparation is already completed and all NRNs in Thailand are anxiously waiting for the big day on April 21st at Central World.

The press conference was sponsored by Samitivej Hospital, Sukumvit. The program was emceed by NRNA Thailand Spokesperson Jaswani Rana and NRNA Thailand’s friend Gaywalin Grant had emceed whereas Namoboudaya Club had supported to organize the event. Throughout the event NRNA Thailand NCC and CRCC also had mobilized the volunteers.

(For more information, please call  NRNA Thailand Media Coordinator Assajita Awale at +6689 068 4114 or nepalfestival2016@gmail.com )

Communication Department
Secretariat, Nepal Festival 2016