MYAGDI, Jan 15: The sixth edition of Myagdi Mahotsav that kicked off on Friday and the photo exhibition at the festival is attracting a huge number of visitors. This year, the festival began with the slogan ‘Let’s conserve our culture and develop industry, business and art along with promoting tourism’. 

As a part of the festival, various photos of cultural, social, political and rural activities of Beni, Myagdi taken 50 years ago have been put on display at the exhibition. Volunteers from America who visited the area in 2022 BS had captured the people, lifestyle and natural beauty of Beni. 

About the photos on display, exhibition coordinator Bhoj Bahadur Rijal said, “The photos have been attracting a huge number of people every day as the pictures depict the situation of Myagdi some 50 years ago.” 

The photos have captured thin settlements, green forest areas, openness, people in traditional dresses and open air schools among others along with the details about local residents and the location of the photographs. Rijal added, “The photographs definitely will help in conserving age-old traditions and cultures.” 

The festival will continue till January 21, and aims at attracting around 0.15 million tourists. One can also buy locally made items at the festival. CPN Maoist Center Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who inaugurated the festival, said he was elated to see the participation of Myagdi locals in institutionalizing the history and developments made so far. 

Likewise, one of the audiences at the exhibition said, “The photographs have captured the then fourth district meeting, different elections, celebration of festivals like Maghe Sankranti and Saraswati Puja among others. They all seem like a dream to me, and I am fascinated by the view in the photographs.”